How are complex assets treated in family law property settlements? This practical family law session guides you through the key tax, valuation and structuring issues involved in dividing trusts, companies, business interests and self-managed superannuation funds. Explore recent ATO developments affecting Division 7A arrangements, examine common tax traps in business and company settlements, understand the impact of Caldwell & Caldwell on discretionary trust interests, plus examine critical SMSF compliance, valuation and superannuation splitting issues. Gain practical strategies to identify financial and tax risks, collaborate effectively with accountants, valuers and other financial experts, and achieve better outcomes in complex family law property matters.

Presenters

Andrew Davies, Principal, O’Sullivan Davies Family Lawyers
Andrew graduated from the University of Western Australia with a B. Juris and LLB, was admitted to the Supreme Court of Western Australia and has been practising Family Law for over 40 years. He is nationally accredited as a Family Law Specialist, mediator, an FDR Practitioner and is also qualified as a Reg 67B Arbitrator. Andrew has presented numerous papers and lectures at state, national and international conferences and has been a guest lecturer at Murdoch University Law School, a fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL), a former executive member of the Asia-Pacific Chapter of IAFL, former Chair of the Family Law & Family Rights Section of LawAsia, current Chair of Australian Institute of Family Law Arbitrators and Mediators (AIFLAM), a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and sits on the executive committee of the WA Chapter.


Peter Crump, Senior Consultant, Private Wealth, BDO Australia
Peter Crump is a Senior Consultant at BDO Adelaide. As a licensed financial adviser he provides his clients with ongoing advice and support to make their lives less stressful when it comes to money related matters. A lifetime spent in superannuation has given Peter a deep understanding of anything related to superannuation, including self-managed superannuation funds, which is a specialisation. Peter has been providing expert advice and evidence on Family Law superannuation related issues for over 20 years and is a regular presenter on these issues. A previous Chairman and board member of the SMSF Association, Peter has numerous professional credentials, including Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of Australia, Chartered Tax Adviser, SMSF Specialist Adviser and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER.

Chris Ardagna, Partner, Pitcher Partners
Chris Ardagna is a partner in the tax consulting group of Pitcher Partners Sydney and has been advising on tax issues affecting large privately-, owned businesses and listed companies for over 15 years. Chris re-joined the firm in December 2018, having previously been a partner from 2007 - 2011. Prior to re-joining the firm, he was a tax partner at a boutique law firm for a number of years. Chris has experience in advising clients on a broad range of tax issues, including tax efficient structuring for investing in and out of Australia, corporate reorganisation strategies and cross-border employment issues. In addition, Chris has considerable experience dealing with disputes with the revenue authorities, including managing reviews and audits, seeking private rulings, objecting to assessments, appealing objection decisions and settling disputes with the revenue authorities. Chris has also been working with high wealth families and privately held groups in relation to business succession and estate planning matters for almost 10 years. Having been involved in a number of family disputes arising from both a lack of planning for generational change and poorly drafted estate plans, Chris draws from that experience to ensure the appropriate estate and succession plans are in place for clients. This experience extends to: Structuring and managing inter-generational wealth transfer during the principal's lifetime; Structuring new and updating existing estate plans including the use of testamentary trusts ; Business succession planning including structuring buy-sell agreements, shareholder/unitholder agreements, and employee equity arrangements ; General asset protection strategies; Resolving disputes involving trust and estate assets and entitlements both through negotiation and litigation.


Susan Pearson, Partner, Pearson Emerson
With over 35 years’ experience in family law, and as one of the first lawyers to be accredited as a family law specialist by the Law Society of New South Wales, Susan is consistently recognised as one of the leading family lawyers Australia-wide. In 2021 Susan was once again recognised in Doyle’s Guide to the Australian Legal Market as one of only five pre-eminent family lawyers in Sydney and one of only four leading family lawyers for high-value & complex property matters) in New South Wales. Susan is a Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL), and a Contributor to the World Bank Women, Business and the Law & Civil Society Organisation Reports. a Contributor to the World Bank Women, Business and the Law & Civil Society Organisation Reports.

Julie O’Reilly, Partner, Business Advisory, William Buck
Julie O’Reilly is a Partner in Business Advisory at William Buck, providing strategic accounting, taxation and structuring advice to business owners, families and professional practitioners. She has extensive experience advising on asset protection, succession planning, transaction structuring and the financial complexities that can arise through divorce and separation. Known for her practical, commercially focused approach, Julie helps clients navigate complex financial decisions with clarity and confidence