Gain a comprehensive understanding of how to navigate the many legal & commercial issues that will make a business sale a success or a failure. Analyse preliminary contracts, learn how to value the business, understand the important employment and tax considerations in a business sale & perfect your due diligence strategy. Gain the latest legal developments & fundamental tactics when dealing with IP and walk away with a practical checklist to effectively complete the deal.

Presenters

Selwyn Black, Partner, Carroll & O’Dea Lawyers
Selwyn Black is one of Australia’s most experienced commercial law partners. He has significant business acumen, enabling him to work together with clients to achieve practical solutions. Selwyn listens carefully to clients to get the best understanding of their business, industry and goals. This enables him to help clients succeed. Selwyn has particular expertise in the establishment, sale and/or purchase and restructuring of companies, trusts and businesses. He has worked in the pharmaceutical, food, media, IT, engineering and transport industries. Selwyn is also a determined advocate and strategist in any dispute including business, compliance and estate disputes. He has also provided legal advice to a range of property developers and investors and has undertaken an extensive range of projects involving hotels, shopping centres and offices. Selwyn closely understands the needs of not-for-profit organisations. He acts for 2 industry associations, and has carried out innovative restructures, managed acquisitions and other commercial complex arrangements. He also assists with fiduciary, disciplinary, compliance and outsourcing issues. Selwyn is on the board of St Vincent’s Curran Foundation, and carries out significant pro bono work for charities.


Michael Byrnes, Partner, Swaab
Michael Byrnes is a partner of Swaab. He is a workplace relations lawyer with over 20 years' experience in assisting clients navigate employment and work health and safety issues. Michael runs specially tailored training programs and seminars for clients (including at board level). He also drafts and reviews workplace policies and undertakes complex and sensitive workplace investigations. As well as regularly presenting at conferences, Michael is often called upon for expert opinion in the media. He has appeared on numerous radio segments and regularly quoted in publications including The Australian Financial Review, The Age, Lawyers Weekly, Workplace Express, OHS Alert, SmartCompany, HRM Online and InTheBlack on workplace relations and WHS law issues. Michael is also a co-author of the LexisNexis publication "Annotated Fair Work Act & Related Legislation".


Darren Pereira, Partner, Holding Redlich
Darren Pereira is a Partner in Holding Redlich's Corporate and Commercial Group and has extensive experience in a range of corporate transactions, including: mergers and acquisitions (including takeovers); private equity; fundraisings (private and public); initial public offerings; joint ventures; financing transactions and restructures. Darren has particular expertise in cross-border transactions having advised foreign clients on all aspects of corporate finance transactions in Australia, including fundraising, takeovers, financing and securitization.


Alison Jones, Special Counsel and Notary Public, Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Alison Jones is a Special Counsel in the intellectual property practice of Corrs Chambers Westgarth, Australia’s leading independent law firm. Alison specialises in intellectual property and consumer protection law, and advises clients across all business sectors on a range of IP, regulatory and related areas including IP strategy, advising on commercial arrangements of various kinds and contract drafting, advertising and marketing, competition and consumer law issues, IP enforcement, and commercial regulatory (including food law, cosmetics, life sciences and therapeutic goods regulation, product liability risk and recall, privacy and data protection). Alison's experience in this area also includes secondments at leading companies in IP-driven sectors, including fast moving consumer goods and life sciences.


Alan Max, Partner, Pitcher Partners
Alan Max has over 20 years' experience advising private and listed clients on their corporate transactions. With a demonstrated track record in business, intangible asset and option valuations, Alan has a deep understanding of business drivers, competitive positioning and the market environment. Skilled in advising on M&A transactions, Alan enjoys the personal challenge of thinking outside the square to tackle challenges and deliver pragmatic solutions. Alan's advisory work is supported by experience gained serving on various Boards / Advisory Boards, as well as the State Leadership Group of Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). Industry appointments include the Expert's Panel of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and the Valuations Taskforce of the Accounting Professional & Ethical Standards Board. Alan specializes in: Valuations of businesses, intangible assets, options and other financial instruments for the purposes of M&A, taxation and financial reporting; Strategic value advice to enhance business value; Corporate advice in relation to M&A, divestments, joint ventures and restructuring; Independent Expert's Reports for ASX-listed company transactions; and Expert Opinions for litigation proceedings and dispute resolution purposes.


Andrew Pavuk, Executive Principal, Pavuk Legal
Andrew Pavuk is the Executive Principal of Pavuk Legal. Andrew specializes in Corporate and Financial Services Law including Business and Practice Succession, as well as Financial Services including Superannuation, Funds Management and Financial Products for over 20 years. Andrew has acted for a range of corporate clients includes SMES's family businesses and professional practices in respect to Business and Practice Succession. In respect to Financial Services, Andrew has acted on many large transactions on such diverse matters such as the drafting of the Life and Superannuation Acts on behalf of the World Bank for the Government of PNG, ING Business Life Insurance Product and the AMP Estate Planning Project. Andrew regularly presents to clients and industry associations on topical issues relating to Financial Products and Distribution, Tax and Revenue. Andrew's clients include private clients, small and large businesses, financial intermediaries, accountants, superannuation trustees and financial institutions. Andrew has also written the book Nobody Else's Business outlining strategies used by successful Business Owners to keep, sell or close their businesses for a profit.


Ken Schurgott CTA, Solicitor and Director, Schurgott & Co Lawyers
Ken Schurgott is a Solicitor - Director of Schurgott & Co Lawyers specializing in taxation matters (including State Taxes, stamp duty, payroll tax and land tax) and with extensive experience in business structuring, business sales and acquisitions, asset protection, succession planning and trust and estate law. Ken is very experienced in tax dispute matters, negotiations for settlements, mediations and conciliations and litigation. He regularly appears before the AAT and NCAT and instructs counsel in matters before the Courts. Ken has been heavily involved in consultations with the ATO and Treasury on matters involving trusts. Ken was a member of the Board of Taxation Working Group on 2011 Report on the Taxation of Collective Investment Vehicles which led to the introduction of the AMIT regime. He was National President of The Tax Institute in 2012.


Tony Arena, Managing Director, BCI Business Brokers
Tony Arena is Managing Director of BCI Business Brokers and has over 30 years' experience of business broking in Australia. He graduated in Arts and Law from Sydney University in 1976 and since then has run his own business. With his vast experience in the industry, Tony has lectured to and held seminars for over 500 agents, in the areas of Business Management, Retail Leases and Negotiation. He has delivered live seminars and webinars to the accounting and franchising industry, sharing his knowledge of business value, maximizing business value and getting a business ready for sale. Tony is a fellow of the Australian Institute of Business Brokers and is respected by the industry. Tony's experience and knowledge of the market will enhance the chances of selling your business quickly and at the price you want.


Elizabeth Gore-Jones, Principal, The Franchise & Business Lawyers
Elizabeth Gore-Jones was admitted in 1994 and commenced specialising in franchising law in 2000. She started her law firm "The Franchise & Business Lawyers" in 2012 specialising in providing commercial, business and franchising advice to franchisors and franchisees alike. She is a member of the Queensland Law Society Franchising Committee and is a past member of the Franchise Council of AustraliaTue, the Queensland chapter of the Franchise Council committee and the Women in Franchising committee. Elizabeth lectures at the Bond University PLT course explaining franchise legal practice to graduate law students. Elizabeth has a particular interest in setting up new franchise systems and assisting franchisees in dispute to reach an agreement without resorting to the court system.