LawyerLink.com.au

About Us

Herbert Geer - Melbourne Lawyers

 

Overview

Herbert Geer is a strong niche law firm working at the forefront of its selected areas of practice.The firm has offices in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane although we operate in every geographical region where the needs of our clients take us.We are committed to achieving intelligent and commercial solutions for clients through an application of specialist knowledge, technology and legal skills.Our dedicated team of over 240 people provide services in the following specialist areas to a wide range of clients: Banking and Finance, Commercial Dispute Resolution, Construction and Infrastructure, Corporate, Entertainment, Employment and Workplace Relations, Environment and Sustainability, Family, Financial Services, Intellectual Property, Property, Taxation, Technology, Workplace Services.

The success of the firm over many years demonstrates a vital ability to adapt our business in response to clients' needs and to the changing commercial environment both in Australia and overseas. Partners are actively involved in all matters and lead teams of motivated and committed staff. Herbert Geer aims to recruit people who are looking for opportunities to work on a diverse range of challenging, high quality and complex matters. We offer this in a highly personalised working environment and a culture which recognises the value of the individual's contribution to all aspects of the business.

 

Legal Services

Commercial Dispute Resolution - Accounting, Banking and Finance Litigation, Contract Disputes, Corporations law (Investigations, Litigation, Advice to directors and shareholders), Debt Collection, General Commercial Dispute Resolution, Insolvency and Reconstruction, Property disputes (including litigation), IP / IT litigation, Trade Practices.

 

Corporate Law - Corporations Act, ASX Listing Rules, Part IVA of the Trade Practices Act and the Foreign Investment Regime, General Corporate Issues & Transactions.

 

Entertainment Law - Music, Radio, Television, Film, Video, Digital Imaging.

 

Financial Services - Advice to borrowers in complex transactions, Advice to lenders in a wide range of general financing and security management arrangements, Advice in relation to real estate project financing, structured property financing and off balance sheet financing, Due diligence enquiries relating to financial structuring and report writing for lenders and borrowers, Practical advice for debt restructuring, workouts and insolvency issues for lenders and borrowers, Film financing and structuring on a cost effective basis.

 

Intellectual Property - Copyright, Confidentiality & Privacy, Trade Marks, Internet Domain Names, Website Audits.

 

Family Law - Division of Property, Parenting Arrangements, Child Support, De Facto Relationships, Binding Financial Agreements, Applications for Divorce, Spousal Maintenance, International Family Law.

 

Franchising - Advising on appropriate franchise models and setting up appropriate legal structures for franchise systems, Advising on intellectual property matters, Preparing franchise agreements, disclosure documents, distribution agreements and all ancillary documents necessary for starting a franchise including charge deeds, Documenting master franchise and sub franchise arrangements nationally and internationally, Ongoing review of franchise systems and franchise documents to ensure best practice as dictated through the change in legislative requirements and industry changes, Ongoing operations support for franchise systems including reviewing audit compliance, operations manuals recruitment manuals and other manuals, Undertaking due diligence, trade practices compliance and risk management, Corporate governance advice, Preparing employment contracts, Business sales in the franchise system, Assisting in the negotiation of franchise disputes, Issuing breach and termination notices, Preparing subleases and premises licence agreements, Documenting franchise renewals and transfers, Preparing deeds of surrender and release.

 

Leasing - Offers to Lease, Agreements to Lease, Leases, Lessor Disclosure Statements, Licences (eg ATM, car parks, seating areas, storage), Deeds of Covenant, Consents, Rights of Entry, Variations, Breach Notices, Advising on and negotiating all lease documentation and in several instances a national suite of standard amendments with landlords, Town Planning Advice, Negotiating Market and other Rent Reviews, Securing adequate tenure beyond the usual short lease term, Negotiating options to renew, Preparing subleases and licences, Negotiating surrenders and transfers and variations.

 

Pro Bono - Individuals, Charities, Non-profit Organisations.

 

Property Services - Seniors Housing, Buying and Selling, Commercial and Retail Leasing, Construction and Development, Due Diligence, Planning and Environment, Property Joint Ventures and Syndicates, Subdivisions.

 

Taxation - Advisory Services, Dispute Services, Tax Effective Structuring and Solutions, Succession Planning, Applications for Private, Product and Class Rulings from the Australian Taxation Office, Negotiating with and litigating against both Federal and State revenue authorities in disputes, Assisting in the setting up of Venture Capital Entities and Pooled Development Funds, Advising on Offshore Tax Structuring Issues and Transactions, Taxation Law, Administrative Law, Legal Professional Privilege, Freedom of Information Legislation, Court Rules.

 

Technology - IT Procurement, Telecommunications and Networking, Website Development and Use, Website Content, Brand Protection.

 

Workplace Services - WorkCover, Occupational Health and Safety, Employment Law, Claims and Risk Management.

 

Employment & Workplace Relations - Employment Contracts, Enterprise Bargaining, Dispute Resolution, Restructuring / Downsizing / Outsourcing, Discrimination / Equal Opportunity, Workplace Policies & Training, Termination / Dismissals.

 

People

William Fazio - Managing Partner, Corporate Advisory and Major Transactions, Mergers and Acquisitions, Advice on the Corporations Act, Law Firm Management.

 

Julie Armstrong - Partner, Commercial Disputes, Business Restructuring and Recovery, Insolvency, Investigations and Prosecutions.

 

Michael Beaumont - Partner, Takeovers, Mergers and Acquisitions, Private Equity, Equity Fundraising, Corporate Governance.

 

Adam Brooks - Partner, Mergers and acquisitions, Corporate Advisory, Commercial Law.

 

Dan Brush - Partner, Fundraising, Corporate Sales, Acquisitions and Strategic Ventures, Complex Commercial Transactions, Broadcasting and Telecommunications Regulations, Web 2.0 Content Creation, Commercialization and Distribution Advice, e-Commerce, Outsourcing Projects, Digital Content, Commercialisation and Regulation.

 

Noel Callcott - Partner, WorkCover, Occupational Health and Safety, Risk and Claims Management, Employment Law.

 

Tony D'Agostino - Partner, Property Development, Property Joint Ventures, Commercial Property Acquisitions and Disposals, Strata and Community Title Developments, Hotels and Tourism, Major Leasing.

 

Paul Deschamps - Partner, Advising on procurement and tender processes, Drafting construction and infrastructure project documentation, Advising on project administration and delivery, Advising on claims, disputes and dispute resolution.

 

Kathy Dalton - Partner, Workplace Agreements, Dismissals, Industrial Disputes, Performance and Disciplinary Management, Discrimination and Harassment, Restructuring, Policies and Training.

 

Malcolm Davis - Partner, Workplace Relations & Employment Law, Strategic Workplace Relations advice, Drafting and Certification/Registration of Workplace Agreements, Employment issues arising from Transmission of Business, Defence of Occupational Health & Safety prosecutions, Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Matters, Torts of Interference with Contractual Relations and Inducing Breach of Contract, Remedies available under the Trade Practices Act.

 

Robert Gallagher - Partner, Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution, Professional Negligence Claims, Directors’ and Officers’ Claims, Shareholders, Trust and Partnership Issues, Trade Practices, Competition and Consumer Claims, Arbitration and Building Disputes, Construction, Insolvency.

 

Jacqui Gannon - Partner, Funds Management, Corporate and Commercial Transactions.

 

Michael Gatehouse - Partner, Insurance Law, WorkCover, Products and Public Liability, Risk and Claims Management, Occupational Health & Safety, Professional Indemnity.

 

Leon Gorr - Partner, Revenue Law, Taxation advice and effective structuring including income tax, CGT, GST, stamp duty and other indirect taxes for all aspects of financing and commercial transactions, Estate and Retirement planning, Taxation audits, Advising on off shore tax structuring issues and transactions, Setting up venture capital entities and Pooled Development Funds.

 

Damien Greer - Partner, Accredited Family Law Specialist, Family Law, Complex Financial and Property Settlements, International Family Law, Relationship Agreements, Issues Relating to Children, De-facto Relationships.

 

Simon Harrison - Partner, Climate Change Law, Emissions Trading, Infrastructure, Energy and Water, Environmental Litigation, Environmental Impact Assessments and Sustainable Development.

 

Graeme Hodgkinson - Partner, Intellectual Property, Technology, Media & Entertainment, Intellectual Property Development, Exploitation and Protection, Domestic and International Licensing, Distribution and other Commercialisation of Intellectual Property Assets, Digital Content and Rights Exploitation, Communications and Technology, Joint Ventures and Business Acquisitions for Intellectual Property and Technology based Businesses, e-Commerce, Media and Entertainment.

 

Leo Hopsick - Partner, Front end construction contracts, Project financing, Turnkey and Build Own Operate Transfer (BOOT) arrangements, Long term infrastructure services contracts, Contract mining agreements, Project risk analysis, Electricity industry regulation, Electricity supply contracts, Gas supply contracts, Water rights, Water industry regulation, Water supply and infrastructure contracts.

 

Peter Kay - Partner, Banking and Finance, Corporate Advisory, Commercial Law and Contracts, Debt Finance, Acquisition and Leverage Finance, Construction Finance, Mezzanine Lending and General Corporate Lending.

 

Chris Kelly -  Partner, Construction and Major Projects, PPPs, Facilities Management, Airports, Roads and Transport, Tolling, Street Lighting, Hospitals, Schools, Residential Towers, Energy from Waste Plants.

 

Richard Large - Partner, Insurance Litigation, WorkCover, Occupational Health and Safety, Risk and Claims Management, Employment Law.

 

Henrik Lassen - Partner, Commercial Dispute Resolution, Banking and Finance Litigation, Property Disputes, General Contractual and Commercial Disputes, Misleading and Deceptive Conduct, Injunctions - primarily in the Supreme and Federal Courts.

 

Daniel Lilley - Partner, Property Services, Commercial Property, Large Scale Residential Towers, Industrial Estates, Shopping Centres, Retirement Villages, Mixed use and community title developments, Resorts, Marinas and related industries.

 

David Marriott - Partner, Property Services, Property Development, Leasing, Sales and Acquisitions, Urban Regeneration.

 

Kylie Matthews - Partner, Commercial Property, Property Investment and Development, Public / Private Partnerships, Joint / Co-venture related investment vehicles, Property Management, Asset Sales and Acquisitions, and Retail and Commercial Leasing.

 

Tom May - Partner, Taxation Law, Tax Disputes and Audits, Tax Litigation, Tax Planning, Succession Planning, Trusts, Forestry and Agribusiness.

 

Bruce McGregor - Partner, Leasing (Retail and Industrial), Franchising and Licensing, Business Sales and Acquisitions.

 

Peter Nankivell - Partner, Commercial and Business Law, Banking, Finance and Security Advice, Insolvency and Recovery Proceedings.

 

Marina Papas - Partner, Commercial Law, Taxation Law, Sales and Acquisitions, Commercial and Business Law, General Corporate, Wills, Trusts and Estates, Leasing.

 

Graham Phillips - Partner, Telecommunications, Information Technology, Intellectual Property, Competition Law, Regulated Access, Administrative and Constitutional Law.

 

Doron Rivlin - Partner, Commercial Law, Construction & Infrastructure Projects, Dispute avoidance in all stages of project delivery, Major construction and commercial litigation including court, adjudication and alternative dispute resolution, Preparation of tender and contract procurement, Joint venture, partnering and management agreements.

 

Alex Roth - Partner, Banking & Finance, Insolvency, Commercial & Business Law.

 

Vicki Sharp - Partner, Property Law, Planning & Environmental Law, Acquisition and disposal of property, Commercial, Industrial and Retail Leasing, Corporate Real Estate, Property Development, Property-related merger & acquisition and float work, including due diligence and transaction implementation, Property advice to the health and transport industry sectors.

 

Chris Singleton - Partner, WorkCover, Insurance Litigation, Specialist knowledge of labour hire agencies and duty of care, Common law and the Accident Compensation Act, Occupational Health and Safety.

 

Steven Smith - Partner, Banking and Finance, Corporate, Commercial and Business Law, Aged Care,
Entertainment and Media Law, Licensing and Intellectual Property, Property Law and Leasing.

 

Alice Spizzo - Partner, Development and Major Projects, Sustainability, Planning and Environment, Litigation and Strategy, Government.

 

Jayne Steele - Partner, ASX, Capital Raising, Competition Law, Corporations Act, Corporate Governance, Directors' and Officers' Liabilities, Mergers and Acquisitions, Trusts and Business Structures.

 

Teresa Torcasio - Partner, Mergers & Acquisitions, Supply and Distribution Agreements, Tenders and Strategic Procurement, Share and Business Sale and Purchase Agreements, Complex Joint Venture Projects, Partnership and Agency Agreements, Shareholder Agreements, Franchising, Insolvency and Reconstruction.

 

Peter Townley - Partner, Accredited Property Specialist, Property development, Projects (commercial, industrial, residential), Body corporate, Construction Law.

 

Michael Truelove - Partner, Mergers & Acquisitions, Major Transactions, Corporate & Commercial Law.

 

Yan Li Wang - Partner, Taxation Law, Taxation advice and structuring including income tax, CGT, GST, stamp duty and other indirect taxes for all aspects of financing and commercial transactions, Estate and retirement planning, Commercial and Corporations Law, Trusts.

 

Robert Wilcher - Partner, Environmental & Planning Law, Sustainable development issues (such as green leases and ratings) in commercial and residential development, Land contamination and brown field redevelopment, Climate change, biodiversity trading and related emerging environmental markets, Waste management, pollution control, environmental impact assessment, environmental audits of corporate transactions and operations, Asbestos and related occupational health and safety issues.

 

---