Meet Our Practical Guidance Authors

  1. Stuart Weir

    Stuart Weir

    Principal, Weir & Associates

    Stuart Weir

    Stuart Weir

    Principal, Weir & Associates

    Biography:

    Stuart is a senior commercial lawyer with more than 27 years’ of commercial legal experience including 13 years as a partner at Allens Arthur Robinson and Maddocks, and four years working in London at a senior level at Slaughter & May and White & Case.

    For the past 17 years Stuart has specialised in banking and finance work in the United Kingdom and Australia.

    He has a strong track record advising top ASX 100 companies, mid-cap and private companies, property developers and investors, lenders, government entities and multilateral institutions on complex financing transactions and related projects and commercial matters.

    Stuart's expertise has been recognised for banking and finance in 2015/16 in Legal 500 and Doyle’s Guide to the Australian Legal Profession.

  2. Florienne Moschou

    Florienne Moschou

    Senior Legal Writer - Practical Guidance Commercial

    Florienne Moschou

    Florienne Moschou

    Senior Legal Writer - Practical Guidance Commercial

    Biography:

    Florienne is a dedicated and driven professional with a diverse commercial background gained in firms and organisations across Adelaide and London.

    She practiced as a solicitor at Mellor Olsson Lawyers before relocating to London where she worked as in-house legal counsel at Elexon Ltd. Upon returning to Adelaide she worked for some years in the property sector at Urban Commercial Property Group, Taplin Real Estate and the City of Onkaparinga. She then worked at BAE Systems Australia Ltd providing commercial support in relation to defence contracts.

    Florienne has diverse practical experience in property, defence, local government and general commercial and contract law

    Contact

    florie.moschou@lexisnexis.com.au

  3. Alison Cripps

    Alison Cripps

    Head of Workplace, In-House and Technology, Practical Guidance

    Alison Cripps

    Alison Cripps

    Head of Workplace, In-House and Technology, Practical Guidance

    Biography:

    Alison is Head of Workplace, In House and Technology Group – Practical Guidance and is responsible for the strategy and content development of Cybersecurity, Data Protection and Privacy, Employment, Work Health Safety, In House Advisor and Governance. She has over 17 years of experience at leading international and national firms, including Allens, Henry Davis York, and Maddocks, as well as in-house at the Australian Securities Exchange Limited (ASX). After a diverse career in commercial litigation, in-house, and workplace investigations and conduct reviews at her own practice, Alison now managers a team of legal writers all with direct practice experience, dedicated to ensuring the content of Practical Guidance reflects the latest developments in law and practice .

    Alison is a regular commentator for LexisNexis. Some recent examples include:

    Blog series: Help! I need to create an NFT. Where do I start? A Step-by-step guide. | LexisNexis® Australia
    Webinar: Crisis Scenario Planning with LexisNexis Practical Guidance - YouTube
    Webinar: Consumer Data Rights: What Australian Businesses Need To Know? - YouTube
    Masterclass: This Is My MASTERCLASS | Decrypting crypto: Are you prepared to advise on the digital economy? - YouTube
    Podcast: China’s new Personal Information Protection Law–Key issues for Australian business | LexisNexis® Australia
    Blog: It’s election time! Will the increase in applications being made under the Government Information (Public Access) Act continue? GIPA and the objective of balance | LexisNexis® Australia

    Contact

    alison.cripps@lexisnexis.com

  4. Jacqueline Parker

    Jacqueline Parker

    Former contributor to Practical Guidance Employment. Special Counsel, formerly at Corrs Chambers Westgarth

    Jacqueline Parker

    Jacqueline Parker

    Former contributor to Practical Guidance Employment. Special Counsel, formerly at Corrs Chambers Westgarth

    Modules:

    Biography:

    Jacqueline has been involved in the drafting of or has advised on the drafting of all major pieces of federal workplace relations legislation (including building industry legislation) currently in operation as well as Victorian public sector legislation and occupational health and safety regulations. Jacqueline has twice been seconded into the federal Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations and in early 2007, left Corrs to work as a federal workplace relations policy advisor.

    Since returning to Corrs in July 2008, Jacqueline has been involved in a broad range of litigious and non-litigious matters for both private sector and public sector clients.

  5. Geoff Earl

    Geoff Earl

    Partner, MinterEllison

    Geoff Earl

    Geoff Earl

    Partner, MinterEllison

    Biography:

    Geoff is a partner in MinterEllison's Capital Markets and Corporate Group, specialising in corporate and structured finance. He has advised financiers, PE houses, sponsors and corporate borrowers on a broad range of corporate and finance work including complex and structured syndicated financing arrangements, leveraged acquisitions and capital markets transactions.

    Having spent 7 years working in London at a top tier US firm, Geoff has broad experience acting on large multinational financing transactions (governed by both NY law and English law). Geoff also has significant debt capital markets experience, acting on numerous listed and unlisted convertible note, quasi-equity and debt capital markets transactions.

    Awards & Recognition

    • IFLR1000 – Notable practitioner (Capital Markets: Debt financial and corporate M&A)
    • Doyles Leading Banking & Finance Lawyers in Melbourne, 2020  – Recommended

    Speaking Engagements

    • French Australian Chamber of Commerce speaker – Building Sustainable Businesses (2019)
    • University of Melbourne - Sustainable Finance: Trends and Challenges panellist (2019)

    Memberships

    • Member of the Asia Pacific Loan Market Association (Australian Branch) (APLMA)
    • Member of the Banking & Financial Services Law Association Limited (BFSLA)

    Professional Organization

    MinterEllison
    www.minterellison.com

    LinkedIn
    (21) Geoff Earl | LinkedIn

    Professional Contact

    https://www.minterellison.com/people/geoff-earl

    Email: geoff.earl@minterellison.com

  6. Hannah Marshall

    Hannah Marshall

    Formerly Principal, Marque Lawyers

    Hannah Marshall

    Hannah Marshall

    Formerly Principal, Marque Lawyers

    Modules:

    Biography:

    Having literally consumed the Competition and Consumer Act, Hannah can tell you without blinking whether your advertising claims for the health benefits of cage-free, organically grown charcoal tea leaves will pass muster or leave you with a major regulatory headache. She also knows why they call it "third line forcing" and how to make the ACCC roll over like a playful puppy.v

    She’s dealt with the ACCC on airline price fixing investigations, egg cartel investigations, e-commerce market power, merger clearance, and a range of consumer matters.

  7. Nicholas Ellery

    Nicholas Ellery

    Former contributor to Practical Guidance Employment. Former Executive Lawyer, Corrs Chambers Westgarth

    Nicholas Ellery

    Nicholas Ellery

    Former contributor to Practical Guidance Employment. Former Executive Lawyer, Corrs Chambers Westgarth

    Modules:

    Biography:

    Nicholas is known for pushing the boundaries. As a front-line workplace relations lawyer, his name is linked with ground-breaking cases and high-profile industrial disputes. Nick regularly appears as counsel in the superior courts and tribunals for leading companies from a diverse range of industries including resources, construction, utilities, health, maritime, insurance and the government sector.

    Nick has been recognised by his peers and the industry as one of the leading strategists and resolvers of disputes in his field.

  8. Prudence Smith

    Prudence Smith

    Partner, Jones Day

    Prudence Smith

    Prudence Smith

    Partner, Jones Day

    Modules:

    Biography:

    Prudence Smith is a highly experienced competition law practitioner who advises clients on a full range of competition regulatory law issues. She has extensive experience in merger clearance, cartel and anticompetitive conduct investigations and litigation, ACCC immunities, authorizations, and notifications of contracts affecting competition.

    Prudence's background includes more than 14 years at the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), many of those years as an ACCC internal lawyer.

  9. Robert Walsh

    Robert Walsh

    Counsel - Asia Pacific, Fragomen

    Robert Walsh

    Robert Walsh

    Counsel - Asia Pacific, Fragomen

    Modules:

    Biography:

    Robert was formerly the Regional Managing Partner of the firm's extensive Asia Pacific practice, where he was responsible for the strategic direction and the operations of all Fragomen offices in the Asia Pacific region including offices in Auckland, Bangalore, Beijing, Brisbane, Guanhzhou, Hong Kong, Kochi, Melbourne, North Ryde, Perth, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney and Wellington.

    As an experienced commercial lawyer, Robert has significant experience in providing immigration and other legal advice and visa services to companies in sectors such as financial services, mining and resources (including off-shore oil and gas), information technology and telecommunications, retail, science and engineering, and health. Robert's clients include Australian and multi-national companies in the sectors listed above and he is responsible for the firm's compliance and litigation practices.

  10. Aarthi Sridharan

    Aarthi Sridharan

    Solicitor, King & Wood Mallesons

    Aarthi Sridharan

    Aarthi Sridharan

    Solicitor, King & Wood Mallesons

    Modules:

    Biography:

    Aarthi is a lawyer specialising in competition and consumer law investigations and litigation. She has worked on a number of litigious matters for private sector, public sector and not-for-profit clients and has advised generally on the competition and consumer law aspects of commercial transactions and endeavours. Aarthi has assisted a number of clients in responding to investigations by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and other regulatory agencies such as the Australian Securities and Investment Commission.

  11. Elena Stojcevski

    Elena Stojcevski

    Partner, Hamilton Locke

    Elena Stojcevski

    Elena Stojcevski

    Partner, Hamilton Locke

    Modules:

    Biography:

    A commercially-focused senior litigator, Elena specialises in complex construction and commercial disputes, and has significant expertise in arbitration, litigation, expert determinations and dispute resolution boards. Elena has particular expertise in delay and programming disputes, having led these aspects of litigation for clients on several matters. 

    She is known for her strong commercial acumen and ability to distil complex legal issues into clearly understandable principles.  In addition to her strong legal skills, Elena is well-practised at leading large multi-disciplinary teams of lawyers, experts and consultants.  She consistently endeavours to foster relationships with her clients and colleagues by taking a collaborative and interactive approach to her work. 

    Elena has been recognised within the Legal 500 rankings for ‘consistently demonstrating exceptional performance throughout engagement. She exemplifies dedication, professionalism, and a deep commitment to achieving outstanding results for her clients.’ 

    Elena has completed a Masters of Construction Law at The University of Melbourne, which supplements her extensive construction litigation experience. She has also attended the National University of Singapore’s leadership development programme.

    Memberships
    Society of Construction Law  
    Women in Property 

    Speaking Engagements
    Society of Construction Law – National Conference  
    University of Melbourne, Construction Law Masters  

  12. Seema Sandhu

    Seema Sandhu

    Contributor to Practical Guidance Commercial. Partner, Hamilton Locke

    Seema Sandhu

    Seema Sandhu

    Contributor to Practical Guidance Commercial. Partner, Hamilton Locke

    Modules:

    Biography:

    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.

  13. Shaun Pascoe

    Shaun Pascoe

    Director, Pascoe Criminal Law

    Shaun Pascoe

    Shaun Pascoe

    Director, Pascoe Criminal Law

    Modules:

    Biography:

    Admitted to practice in September 2004, Shaun was appointed a partner of the law firm Doogue O’Brien George in 2013 (one of Victoria’s largest criminal defence firms).  Shaun is a Law Institute Accredited Criminal Law Specialist, an accreditation he has held continuously since 2012.  In July 2020, Shaun launched his own firm, Pascoe Criminal Law, a boutique criminal defence law firm based in Melbourne.

    Professional Organisations & Memberships

    Awards & Recognition

    • Accredited Criminal Law Specialist (2012)

    Professional Contact

    Email: shaun@pascoecriminallaw.com.au

    Phone: 03 9668 7600

  14. Peggy Wong

    Peggy Wong

    Head of Commercial Group, Practical Guidance

    Peggy Wong

    Peggy Wong

    Head of Commercial Group, Practical Guidance

    Biography:

    Peggy is the Head of Commercial Group – Practical Guidance and is responsible for the content development of a number of practice areas. She works closely with a team of in-house legal writers all with direct practice experience and dedicated to ensuring the content of Practical Guidance reflects the latest developments in law and practice. Peggy comes from a commercial litigation background and has practised for over 10 years as a solicitor in Australia and Hong Kong.

    Peggy comments on the latest legal developments for LexisNexis. Some recent examples include:

    Contact

    peggy.wong@lexisnexis.com.au

  15. Cloe Hammon

    Cloe Hammon

    Senior Legal Writer - Practical Guidance Competition

    Cloe Hammon

    Cloe Hammon

    Senior Legal Writer - Practical Guidance Competition

    Biography:

    Cloe has more than eight years’ experience providing legal advice across a variety of sectors. Cloe practiced as a solicitor in the Competition and Regulatory team at King & Wood Mallesons in Melbourne, before relocating to Sydney. In Sydney, Cloe worked as a solicitor in the competition practice at Ashurst. Cloe has since worked in-house at BlueScope Steel where she developed diverse practical experience in competition, consumer and contract law. Most recently, Cloe was Legal Writer for Practical Guidance Competition at LexisNexis.

    Contact

    clotilde.hammon1@lexisnexis.com.au

  16. Michael Perry

    Michael Perry

    Former contributor to Practical Guidance Personal Injury New South Wales. Barrister, Denman Chambers

    Michael Perry

    Michael Perry

    Former contributor to Practical Guidance Personal Injury New South Wales. Barrister, Denman Chambers

    Biography:

    Michael has practised continuously at the NSW bar since 1989.

    Over the last 10 years, his practice has been dominated by Torts/ Negligence/ Common Law work, including cases under the Civil Liability Act, Work Injury damages, Motor Accidents legislation and Professional Negligence Law.

  17. Margaret Diamond

    Margaret Diamond

    Former contributor to Practical Guidance Work Health & Safety. General Counsel and Team Leader, Harmers Workplace Lawyers

    Margaret Diamond

    Margaret Diamond

    Former contributor to Practical Guidance Work Health & Safety. General Counsel and Team Leader, Harmers Workplace Lawyers

    Biography:

    Margaret graduated from the University of Sydney with honours in law in 1993. She worked in both the commercial and employment and industrial practices of one of Australia's largest law firms before joining Harmers Workplace Lawyers in 1996 (as a founding member of the firm).

    Margaret provides advice in relation to terms and conditions of employment, discrimination claims, termination of employment issues and award interpretation, in addition to assisting clients with strategic industrial relations planning.

    Margaret provides vital support for clients in a wide range of employment-related litigation. She has undertaken dedicated and thorough research and prepared detailed papers and submissions in a number of leading cases run by Harmers over the past decade. These involve two of the largest sexual harassment claims in Australian history; the largest unfair contract case in Australian history; defence work in one of Australia's largest safety disasters; and the preparation of detailed analysis for recovery of entitlements for employees involved as victims of one of Australia's largest corporate collapses in the Global Financial Crisis.

  18. Nicholas Lakatos

    Nicholas Lakatos

    Former contributor to Practical Guidance IP, Registered Australian Patent and Trade Marks Attorney and New Zealand Patent Attorney, formerly at Shelston IP

    Nicholas Lakatos

    Nicholas Lakatos

    Former contributor to Practical Guidance IP, Registered Australian Patent and Trade Marks Attorney and New Zealand Patent Attorney, formerly at Shelston IP

    Biography:

    Nicholas is a registered Australian Patent and Trade Marks Attorney and a registered New Zealand Patent Attorney who has been in the industry for over 10 years.

    Nicholas primarily works in the fields of communications technology and electrical engineering patents.

    Nicholas previously worked with a leading international telecommunications company. Prior to this, Nicholas completed a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) majoring in Telecommunications and a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Finance and Econometrics.

    Nick has been involved in providing commercial advice, patent drafting and all aspects of prosecution across a number of technology fields in a number of patent jurisdictions, including matters in the following fields: electrical components (particularly supercapacitive components), electrical fault detection devices, traffic signal controllers and software-based inventions including financial and social networking type inventions.