Senior Associate, Johnson Winter Slattery
Viva is a lawyer specialising in privacy, cyber, technology, intellectual property and consumer law as part of a broad commercial contracting and regulatory compliance practice.
She provides strategic and commercial advice to clients on managing privacy compliance, cyber security and data governance. She also assists clients to navigate data breaches, privacy complaints and workplace privacy obligations.
Her clients include high-profile Australian and global corporates and organisations.
BA, LLM (Hons I), PhD
Robert (Bob) Austin held an academic position in the fields of equity and company law at the University of Sydney from 1969 to 1990, becoming Professor (1984) and Head of the Department of Law (1985). He has continued to teach, with emphasis in recent years on corporate takeovers, fundraising and corporate governance. He is Challis Lecturer in Corporate Law.
He was a partner with Minter Ellison from 1990 to 1998, in the M & A and corporate fields.
He was a member of the Takeovers Panel from 2001 to 2006. After serving as a Judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales from 1998 to 2010, he has returned to full time legal practice with Minter Ellison.
His many publications include Ford's Principles of Corporations Law (with IM Ramsay); Austin, Ford and Ramsay, Company Directors: Principles of Law & Corporate Governance (2005); and Austin & Black's Annotations to the Corporations Act (with Hon Justice AJ Black).
Minter Ellison Professional Profile
Partner (Construction & Infrastructure), Hamilton Locke
Veno is an expert in the legal issues facing the construction and infrastructure sectors. He has over 20 years’ experience advising clients from tenders and contracting through project delivery, claims and completion. He approaches his work with positivity and assertiveness and is driven to achieve the best possible commercial outcomes for his clients.
Veno started the construction and infrastructure practice at Hamilton Locke in 2020 and works from their Sydney office. He specialises in advising on complex transactions, as well as dispute resolution, enabling him to provide counsel across the entire project cycle.
He advises major contractors, developers and consultants across the projects spectrum – from residential and commercial developments, through to road, rail, defence, renewable energy and social infrastructure projects.
Awards and RecognitionLed Hamilton Locke’s team recognised in Construction & Infrastructure in Legal500 (2023-2025)
MembershipsMCiarb (Member of the Centre for International Arbitration, Australian Chapter)
Speaking EngagementsPresented at the Society of Construction Law Annual Conference 2024 ‘Compulsive Gambling and the Audacity of Hope’
Former contributor to Practical Guidance Immigration. Former Special Counsel, Fragomen
Farid is responsible for Fragomen's Litigation & Review Practice. Being one of a small number of solicitors and migration agents who are Accredited Specialists in Immigration Law, Farid has extensive experience in the field.
He has advised on and assisted with applications for a very wide range of visas and other approvals under the migration legislation, and regularly acts for clients in the range of Tribunals and Courts which undertake merits as well as judicial review of migration decisions. Farid oversees Fragomen's work under the Immigration Advice and Application Assistance Scheme (IAAAS). In addition to immigration law, Farid has significant experience in related administrative law areas, including Freedom of Information.
In 2013 Farid was included in the Best Lawyers list for Australia.
Barrister, Frederick Jordan Chambers
Called to the Bar in 2008, Lishan maintains a broad civil practice, with a particular focus on commercial litigation and advice. His principal areas of practice includes all aspects of commercial litigation, equity, real property, insolvency, common law and insurance claims.
Lishan has successfully appeared in a broad range of complex interlocutory matters, hearings and appeals in a wide variety of jurisdictions, including the Federal Circuit Court, Supreme Court of New South Wales and inferior courts, as well as the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT).
Barrister, Owen Dixon Chambers West
Prior to being called to the Bar, Reiko worked in Australia, the United States and Japan in cross-jurisdictional matters involving international transactions and corporate compliance. She holds a LL.B. from Waseda University and an LL.M. from UCLA Law, and was admitted as an attorney at law in the state of New York in 2011.
She regularly appears in civil, criminal and administrative law matters at all levels and in a number of different jurisdictions such as the Magistrates Court, County Court, Supreme Court, Federal Circuit Court, Children’s Court, and VCAT. She advises in matters including insurance claims, professional negligence and contractual disputes, among others.
In addition to her practice, Reiko is a Lecturer and Tutor at Monash University for Property Law, Contract Law, Administrative Law, Equity, Evidence, and Australian Legal Reasoning and Methods (LL.B. and J.D. courses).
Counsel, White & Case
Ashleigh is a Counsel in White & Case’s Global Commercial Litigation Practice.
Ashleigh advises on substantial construction disputes, with particular expertise in the infrastructure, energy and resources sectors.
Ashleigh has over 10 years’ experience in top-tier construction practices in Melbourne and London. Her broad practice includes assisting with contract administration and claims development, mediation, adjudication, litigation and domestic and international arbitration.
Ashleigh has extensive in-house experience, including secondments with INPEX, Built and the National Broadband Network.
Speaking EngagementsAshleigh lectures in ‘Avoid and Manage Construction Disputes’ in the Master of Construction at the University of Melbourne.
Former contributor to Practical Guidance Corporations. Formerly Partner, Piper Alderman
Craig is a corporate law specialist and has extensive experience in advising on corporate and securities law, as well as general commercial matters. Craig has significant experience in corporate advisory, including advising on directors duties, corporate governance, and mergers and acquisitions for private, public and ASX listed companies in a variety of industries, including mining and resources, technology and financial services.
In addition, Craig has advised many private and public companies in relation to their capital raising needs, from angel or venture capital funding for early stage entrepreneurs and start-up companies, to IPOs for companies in biotechnology, resources and information technology.
Contributor to Practical Guidance Commercial. Partner, Hamilton Locke
Seema is passionate about solving complex, multifaceted problems and leveraging her knowledge of the law to help achieve successful outcomes for her clients. She takes an innovative approach to her work and continually works to foster her relationships with clients, colleagues and other professionals.
Seema has over 20 years of experience acting for clients across a range of industries including telecommunications, resources, financial services, professional services, transport and construction . She has advised clients on matters relating to M&A, private equity, tax structuring, property transactions, employee share schemes and general tax advisory.
Seema specialises in the tax-effective structuring of mergers and acquisitions, both cross-border and within Australia. She has advised on the Australian structuring aspects of various private equity funds, including their initial fund establishment, the acquisition, restructure and divestment of portfolio companies, and fund remuneration arrangements. Seema has also represented clients in managing tax reviews and audits from the Australian Taxation Office.
Partner, Piper Alderman
Simon practises in Piper Alderman's Corporate division. He utilises his drafting skills on a broad range of corporate and commercial transactions for major Australian corporations, Australian and international private clients and SMEs.
Simon has been involved in many business and share sale and acquisition projects, as well as general corporate and commercial advisory work, having drafted and negotiated a broad range of commercial documentation including Government funding agreements, supply contracts, commercial collaboration and alliance agreements, service agreements and licensing and distribution arrangements.
Former contributor to Practical Guidance Insolvency & Restructuring, Partner, Piper Alderman
Thomas is a Partner of Piper Alderman Lawyers and the head of Piper Alderman’s Sydney Insolvency team. He is recognised as a leading restructuring and insolvency practitioner, as well as an expert in Personal Property Security Act (PPSA) litigation and securities enforcement.
Thomas’s expertise includes advice and representation to company boards, liquidators, receivers, administrators and bankruptcy trustees, with specific expertise in voidable transaction claims, remuneration and priority issues, statutory and regulatory compliance and stakeholder negotiations.
Thomas also regularly assists directors of companies in financial distress, bringing to the table not only his industry connections and knowledge of the technical rules and regulations, but also years of real world experience in assisting company directors to work their way through the commercial realities of a financial crisis.
During his career, Thomas has acted in a number of high-profile insolvency and turnaround matters across a range of industries including property, retail, manufacturing, logistics, information technology and communications, automotive and aviation. Thomas is also active with industry associations and is a member of the Law Council of Australia, the Australian Restructuring Insolvency and Turnaround Association (ARITA), the Turnaround Management Association (TMA) and others.
He is also the author of a widely distributed bulletin on updates in insolvency law and practice and is known throughout the industry for his pragmatic approach.
General Counsel and Company Secretary, QBE Insurance; Practical Guidance In-house Consulting Editorial Board member
Tatyana is Australia Pacific General Counsel and Company Secretary at QBE Insurance, based in Sydney. She leads the Legal Department which is responsible for strategic and operational support for each of QBE’s businesses across the Australia Pacific region. Prior to joining QBE, Tatyana was admitted to the NSW Bar and was General Counsel and Company Secretary for the Aussie Home Loans group of companies.
Tatyana has extensive experience in financial services regulation, insurance, banking, finance, litigation, Royal Commissions, communications, government relations. Governance, legal risk management and company secretarial responsibilities across the Australia Pacific region.
Law Society of NSWWomen LawyersAustralian Insurance Lawyers Association
Panellist Deloitte Intangible Value Summit – harnessing intangible assets to evaluate organisational and national performance 15 November 2023.Panellist Dentons Future Leaders in Law 7 September 2023.
QBE Insurance (Australia) Limited
tatyana.virgara@qbe.com
Barrister
Neil’s practice is predominantly in the area of civil litigation with a focus on personal injuries cases. Prior to joining the independent bar, he was a solicitor at Bradford & Co.
In 2013 Neil completed a Master of Laws at the University of Western Australia with his primary research area being negligence liability. He has a special interest in trial and appellate advocacy and has appeared on behalf of clients in most courts. Neil’s notable cases include New South Wales v DC [2017] HCA 22 (led) (abuse of minors), Engine Protection Equipment Pty Ltd v Miller [2018] WASCA 55 (workers’ compensation), Cullen v Woodside Energy Pty Ltd [2021] WADC 56 (workers’ compensation), Gentle v Wright [2021] WADC 63 (landlord and tenant) and Jenner v Mundrabilla Roadhouse Pty Ltd [2021] WADC 59 (occupiers’ liability).
Neil is a member of the RSPCA’s pro bono legal panel and is the current Western Australian State President of the Australian Lawyers Alliance. Outside of work Neil is a fixed wing pilot and has ambition of mustering from the air.
David has practised as a commercial barrister at 5 Wentworth Chambers since 2015. Prior to being called to the Bar, David was a Senior Associate at leading international law firm, Allens, specialising in corporate insolvency and restructuring.
David has a wide-ranging commercial litigation practice, specialising in high-profile and complex commercial disputes. These include regulatory matters and cases involving novel issues in corporate insolvency, equity and trusts. David appears regularly in the Federal Court, the NSW Supreme Court and the NSW District Court, both unled and as junior counsel. David’s advice is regularly sought in relation to issues arising in corporate insolvency.
Former contributor to Practical Guidance IP, Principal, formerly at Shelston IP
Jack is a registered Australian and New Zealand Patent Marks Attorney and registered Australia Trade Marks Attorney with over 26 years of experience primarily in patent law and practice in Australia and New Zealand.
Jack’s primary focus is on the development and active management of local and global patent portfolios for enforcement, licensing and strategic commercial positioning. He works with executives, managers, in-house attorneys, inventors, and principals to develop and implement patent strategies and ensure that those strategies are integrated with the organisation’s overall business plan.
Jack’s technical specialties include computer-implemented inventions, process control, integrated circuits and electronic components.
Former contributor to Practical Guidance Criminal. Solicitor and Accredited Criminal Law Specialist, Couper Geysen
Julia began her career working as a taxation and management accountant in major accounting firms, investment banks and public companies both in Australia and London. She then spent 7 years working as a Senior Financial Investigator with the WA Police and the Crime and Corruption Commission in Brisbane, primarily focusing on organised crime and confiscation proceedings.
Julia commenced practice as a criminal lawyer in 2007 at a boutique criminal law practice. In 2014 she established a criminal law division within an existing firm. She represents clients in all areas of criminal law with a special focus on financial and white-collar crime.
In 2014 Julia successfully completed the program run by the Queensland Law Society to become an Accredited Specialist in Criminal Law.
Former contributor to Practical Guidance Commercial. Founding Partner, Somerville Legal Solicitors & Notaries
After becoming qualified in 1975, Tim became a partner in a medium size city firm. In 1983 Tim established Somerville & Co. The firm rapidly grew to be the largest firm in North Sydney.
Tim is an accredited specialist in business law and provides business and taxation advice to small and medium sized businesses. He was president of the North Metropolitan Law Society from 2005 to 2009 and has served on the Law Society Committee for specialist accreditation in business law.
Former contributor to Practical Guidance Commercial. Managing Partner, Meyer Vandenberg Lawyers
Christine is the Managing Partner of Meyer Vandenberg Lawyers.
With extensive experience in commercial and property law, she provides expert advice to the ACT Government, land owners and developers, banks, and builders.
Christine acts for a number of Canberra’s leading property developers including Geocon, Art Projects, the Village Building Company, Empire Global, and Zapari.
Christine leads a team of 10 property lawyers and paralegals.
Christine specialises in sales contracts, construction contracts, commercial and retail leasing, business structuring, lending and securities, stamp duty and GST. Christine undertakes property work for ACT Government agencies including Suburban Land Agency, Housing ACT and the Asbestos Response Taskforce.
Christine teaches several construction contract subjects at the Canberra Institute of Technology.
Awards & Recognition
2020, 2019 Best Lawyers Australia – Leasing Law2019, 2018, 2017, 2016 Doyle’s Guide – Leading Property and Real Estate Lawyers Canberra2018, 2017 Doyle’s Guide - Leading Property and Real Estate Law Firm Canberra
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