FINLAYSONS - Key Persons
Alexandra is a Partner in the Finlaysons Insurance Team, practising mainly in the defence of Compulsory Third Party (CTP) claims arising from motor vehicle accidents.
Andrew is commercially minded and a lateral thinker, approaching every matter with a focus on achieving the clients' desired commercial outcome.
He has been involved in advising a range of industry sectors including construction and infrastructure, energy, agribusiness and professional services.
Experience
Andrew has conducted litigation Australia-wide, including in the High Court of Australia, Federal Court of Australia and the Supreme and District Courts of South Australia, together with the Local and Supreme Courts of the Northern Territory.
The type of work he has conducted includes:
complex contractual and negligence disputes;
acting for major national and international banks and financial institutions in security enforcement and secured and unsecured debt recovery matters, together with insolvency practitioners in corporate restructures, investigations and asset realisation;
working closely with, and instructing, junior and senior counsel in professional negligence claims, company director actions, bank-initiated litigation and in defending actions brought against banks and insolvency practitioners, including under the Corporations Act; and
providing strategic and pragmatic risk management advice to avoid disputes or their escalation.
Experience Includes +
Andrew works on both general and insolvency based litigation matters as well as banking and reconstruction matters.
Andrew is Finlaysons' Managing Partner. In this role he leads the development and implementation of the firm's business objectives and strategic direction. Andrew is also the head of Finlaysons' Resources Team, and an integral member of the firm's Corporate and Energy Teams.
Andrew applies a depth of experience and skill in assisting clients with risk management and dispute resolution representation and advice. He acts for individual, corporate, listed and not-for-profit clients across a range of commercial and industry areas.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer - FABAL Operations
Austin is a pragmatic legal professional, experienced in a wide range of transactional and advisory work primarily in the property and finance industries.
Brett joined Finlaysons in mid-2022 and works in our Insurance team. He previously worked at South Australia's Crown Solicitor's Office as a solicitor in their civil litigation section.
Brett takes pride and understands the importance of quickly establishing rapport and good working relationships with his clients to facilitate transparent communication to manage litigation matters efficiently and effectively.
Since joining Finlaysons, Brett has worked across a range of litigation areas with a specific focus on Third Party Compensation Motor Vehicle Accident Claims, general insurance, personal injury, medical negligence and malpractice matters, and coronial investigations.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Chartered Tax Advisor With a Masters of Taxation
Briony is widely recognised and highly regarded as a senior tax specialist, and whilst her expertise is predominately in tax, she has wider depth and experience across broader commercial matters, including estates and succession planning.
With over 30 years of experience working in the health industry, both in Australia and the UK, Chris Sweet is one of the most knowledgeable lawyers working in the Australian health sector today.
Daniella is a Senior Associate in Finlaysons' Workplace team working closely with Partners and Special Counsel.
She is an experienced industrial and employment lawyer who also has an impressive track record in general commercial matters - giving her an in-depth understanding of all commercial issues arising from workplace matters. Daniella brings a wealth of knowledge and fresh perspectives that strengthens our commitment to delivering unparalleled service and comprehensive solutions to our clients across all workplace matters.
Daniella's pragmatic and creative approach to work means she provides sensible, but innovative advice on complex and discreet matter.
Experience
Daniella has experience across a range of industrial and employment matters including unfair dismissals, general protections, equal opportunity, discrimination, workplace bullying and harassment, workplace safety, award / enterprise agreement interpretation and analysis and underpayment claims. She is also experienced in drafting of workplace policies, employment contracts, contractor agreements and labour hire agreements.
She has assisted clients across a range of jurisdictions including the SAET, SACAT, Australian Human Rights Commission, Fair Work Commission, Federal Court and Federal Circuit Court.
Daniella is an integral member within Finlaysons' litigation department, specialising in employment law and workplace relations.
Skilled in the legal and commercial aspects of property acquisitions and disposals, David advises and acts for clients in financing, due diligence, environmental issues and planning as well as contract negotiations and preparation.
David has more than 28 years' experience in liability and professional indemnity insurance litigation, workers compensation advice and litigation, and both personal injury and commercial litigation.
Emily is a Senior Associate working in our Litigation, Insurance and Workplace teams.
Emily specialises in litigation in the insurance and workplace space, in particular, contractual disputes, professional indemnity and personal injury (including medical negligence, defence, public liability and CTP recoveries).
Fiona is a Special Counsel in our Insurance practice area. She has over 30 years of experience working in insurance and civil litigation, including three years in the civil service of the Crown Solicitors Office.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Head of the Property & Development Team
Gavin is the head of the Property & Development team and joint-head of the Agribusiness & Food team.
Gavin joined Finlaysons in January 2007 and he has been a Partner of the firm since 2012. Experienced and commercially driven he is consistently recognised as a market leading property, development and infrastructure lawyer in South Australia.
Experience
Gavin acts for developers, vendors, purchasers, lessors and lessees on real estate transactions and projects across a range of industries including residential, commercial and industrial property, and the agriculture, wine, defence, mining, and energy and resources industries. Gavin has also acted for property developers and financiers in respect to large, medium and small-scale residential, commercial, industrial and retail property developments.
His practice and experience includes:
Infrastructure and construction projects;
Property transactions including for residential and commercial development sites, and the sale and purchase of wineries, vineyards, and citrus, cropping and grazing properties;
Leasing (commercial, industrial, retail, vineyard, cropping and grazing properties);
Development agreements and associated advices in respect ot the life of a development
Water rights, leasing and licencing, and irrigation access, supply transactional sales; and
General real estate advice.
Experience Includes +
Guy heads up our Employment & Workplace Safety team. He is a highly skilled litigator with over 30 years of experience in workplace law, general insurance and civil litigation.
Jane is Special Counsel at Finlaysons and is an integral member of the firm's Resources team and Native Title and Aboriginal Heritage practice area. Jane's dual law and geology qualifications and work experience enable her to fully understand both the legal and technical aspects of our resources clients' requirements.
Jeremy heads up our Corporate and Energy practice areas. He has a broad range of experience in disposals, mergers and acquisitions and also advises Australian and overseas companies on establishing and financing corporate vehicles and joint ventures, licensing requirements, Corporations Act requirements and ASX Listing Rules requirements.
Jessie is a member of the workplace and litigation teams. She has a broad range of experience across employment matters, workers compensation, professional indemnity, personal injury and public liability.
John is a Special Counsel with over 25 year's experience in general practice, specialising in personal injury insurance investigation and litigation.
Kathryn is joint head of our market-leading Insurance practice area. With over 30 years of experience in all areas of insurance and civil litigation, Kathryn specialises in defending catastrophic motor accident claims, fraudulent claims, medical negligence and malpractice claims, and public liability and asbestos exposure claims.
Kyra's expertise is unrivalled in her field. As an environmental lawyer with qualifications and practical experience in both Chemical Engineering and Law, she has a potent combination of skills and her clients quickly realise the benefits.
Job Titles:
- Business Law Section, Construction and Infrastructure Law Committee Member
- Business Law Section, Insolvency and Restructuring Committee Member
- Taxation Committee Member
Libby works in our Insurance team practising in insurance and civil litigation; mainly in the defence of Compulsory Third Party (CTP) claims arising from motor vehicle accidents.
Lisa is a Partner in our Banking & Finance and Corporate teams. Lisa brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her clients, having been involved in a wide range of banking, finance, insolvency and reconstruction matters, as well as complex transactional and commercial advisory matters.
Job Titles:
- Foundation Inc. Board Member
Lisa is a front-end commercial lawyer with a passion for property and hospitality. Clients come to Lisa because they know she'll get the job done - even when the transaction is complex or the deadline is tight.
Job Titles:
- Head of China Business & Migration
Luke is a Partner in our Insurance Practice. He has extensive experience defending all types of Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance claims arising from motor vehicle accidents, including those involving catastrophic injuries, fraud, wrongful death/dependency claims and pure mental harm claims.
Mark is joint head of our market leading Insurance practice area and he has more than 25 years' experience in insurance law and civil litigation generally. Mark specialises in defending catastrophic motor accident claims and he has also practised in the fields of professional indemnity, general insurance and administrative law.
Michael has spent over 35 years working solely in taxation law - he is a true specialist in his field. His deep experience in tax law means he can provide advice that considers each client's unique situation and suggest tax-effective options and solutions to help clients achieve their commercial goals.
Michael is an Associate in Finlaysons' Property and Development team. Michael specialises in commercial, retail and industrial leasing arrangements, and is also experienced in advising on property transactions and development.
Experience
Michael has experience in relation to the leasing in large commercial shopping centres and innovation precincts across the full lease life cycle, including drafting bespoke commercial arrangements, variations, extensions, assignments and surrenders.
He also has experience assisting in major property transactions, involving the transfer, development or licencing of commercial, residential, agricultural and defence real property, as well as renewable energy hubs and large scale community housing projects.
In addition to property and development, Michael has had a broad commercial background advising in general commercial law for market leading companies and firms across a variety of industries, including experience advising on corporate matters, energy, education, and technology.
Michael has a strong reputation in his communication style and a thoroughness in producing clear and practical advice to achieve commercial outcomes for his clients.
Michael is a Senior Associate within Finlaysons' Dispute Resolution and Litigation team who has worked on a range of commercial disputes with domestic and international clients across multiple sectors.
Mikayla is an Associate within Finlaysons' Property and Development team. Mikayla specialises in property transactions, as well as commercial, retail and industrial leasing arrangements.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Senior Associate
Nick is an Associate within Finlaysons' Property and Development team. Nick specialises in property transactions, as well as commercial, retail and industrial leasing arrangements.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Head of Our Wills
Nikki is the head of our Wills, Estates & Succession Planning team. Nikki has a wealth of experience at an international level. She is recognised by her peers, clients and industry publications as efficient, highly regarded and a leader in the private client practice area.
Job Titles:
- Special Counsel
- Special Counsel / Co Darwin Principal
Ralph advises clients on complex commercial disputes, regulatory compliance and insurance claims (personal injury, medical malpractice & commercial lines). His diverse client base includes individual professionals, large corporations, insurers and Government.
Prior to joining Finlaysons in 2019, Rebecca worked as an in-house legal associate within a technology company, giving her significant experience in proposing pragmatic solutions and the implementation of effective business strategies across multiple facets of a dynamic business.
Rebecca's work within Banking & Finance and Corporate & Commercial teams, has included working on matters of local, national and international importance across property, educational and banking industries, defence as well as for private businesses.
Experience
Rebecca's experience includes due diligence investigations and subsequent corporate restructuring, the advisement and drafting of various applicable documentations required for clients including, commercial contracts, and company policies and is proficient in the preparation and lodgement of property and security dealings.
Rebecca has also undertaken various client secondments in which she has advised on a range of issues including supply and procurement contracts, software licence agreements, sponsorship agreements, consultancy agreements and subcontract agreements.
Ryan is a Partner in our Property and Development practice area, specialising in property services. His significant legal expertise is complemented by his qualifications and experience in economics.
Sam is a Partner specialising in Dispute Resolution & Litigation and Major Projects. He is both a strategic general commercial litigator and a pre-eminent front end and back end construction and infrastructure lawyer.
Job Titles:
- Professionals Committee Member and Secretary