Sarah-Jayne Rayner
Sarah-Jayne is an accomplished Work, Health Safety (WHS) lawyer with more than 11 years’ experience in litigious, regulatory and strategic, WHS matters. She has acted for public and private sector clients, officers and individuals across a wide range industry sectors in all Australian jurisdictions. Throughout her career SJ has acted for clients during regulatory investigations […]
Justin O’Callaghan
Justin O’Callaghan is a front-end construction and major projects Partner in Hamilton Locke’s national Energy, Resources, Construction and Infrastructure (ERCI) team, based in Brisbane. He advises owners, developers, sponsors and contractors on major capital projects. His work starts with procurement and contracting strategy, carries through the drafting and negotiation of the delivery contracts, and stays […]
A 30% minimum tax on discretionary trusts: time to reconsider long-held assumptions?
The Australian Government’s proposal to introduce a 30% minimum tax on discretionary trusts has the potential to represent one of the most significant changes to the taxation of private groups and family businesses in decades. However, at the time of writing, the proposal remains just that: a proposal. Need to know: A proposed 30% minimum […]
Will Australian employee payroll reforms break the camel’s back for businesses?
Recently implemented employee payroll reforms are set to materially change the cash flow landscape for Australian businesses. Considered in isolation, these reforms may seem innocuous and well intentioned, however, they come at a time when many businesses’ cash reserves are already coming under strain on multiple fronts, whether from geopolitical uncertainty, economic downturns, inflationary and […]
Beyond the drag-along: Shareholders’ agreements, constitutions and control in public and private companies
In part one of this series – No shortcuts to control: The Takeovers Panel slams the door on constitutional drag-alongs – we examined the Takeovers Panel’s landmark declaration in Mobile Asset Holdings Ltd, which confirmed that drag-along provisions in a public company constitution give rise to unacceptable circumstances.. That decision raised a broader question: how […]
When ‘made for export’ is no defence: OEM manufacturing and trade mark risk for Australian businesses in China
For Australian businesses that manufacture goods in China for export, China’s trade mark landscape has shifted in ways that demand attention. A legal protection many companies once relied upon, the so-called “OEM exception”, can no longer be taken for granted, and the consequences of getting it wrong range from customs seizures and supply chain disruption […]
Annalie Mitchelson
Annalie has over two decades of experience advising corporate taxpayers with a focus on tax litigation, dispute resolution, and R&D tax disputes. Her experience includes acting in complex tax matters involving transfer pricing, anti-avoidance and R&D disputes, and the detailed collation, analysis and presentation of compelling evidence to drive a successful resolution of disputes. Annalie […]
No shortcuts to control: The Takeovers Panel slams the door on constitutional drag-alongs
In a landmark decision, the Takeovers Panel has declared for the first time that drag-along and tag-along provisions proposed for insertion into the constitution of an unlisted public company give rise to unacceptable circumstances due to breaches of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth). The decision sends a clear signal: Chapter 6 cannot be sidestepped through […]
Federal Budget impact on Employee Share Schemes
Background and proposed changes The changes proposed by the Federal Budget will materially alter how employee incentive arrangements are structured in private companies. Under the Budget measures, it is proposed that the 50% capital gains tax (CGT) discount will be abolished from 1 July 2027 and replaced with cost base indexation. A minimum 30% tax […]
Water Rights in New South Wales: The cost of non-compliance has never been higher
Are you confident your water use is lawful? For many agricultural water users in New South Wales, the answer may be more uncertain than they realise. A regulatory landscape that is rapidly shifting There has been a marked and growing focus on water compliance in New South Wales. On 1 January 2026, significant changes took […]
NSW Parliament passes WHS Digital Work System Duty
Key Takeaways The NSW Parliament has passed the Work Health and Safety Amendment (Digital Work Systems) Bill 2026. This is the first time that digital work systems have been directly addressed in Australian WHS Law. The reforms will largely commence on a yet-to-be-announced date or dates, to be appointed by proclamation. Digital work system is […]
Lisa Ward
Lisa Ward is an experienced real estate and agribusiness lawyer with nearly twenty years’ experience in the legal industry, specialising in property law across the agricultural sector. With a proven track record advising on complex, high-value transactions across Australia, Lisa brings a proactive and pragmatic approach to her work. Lisa works as a trusted adviser […]