Practice areas
Specialist tax law expertise tailored to your needs
I am dedicated to providing personalised and effective legal solutions for your needs. Explore each practice area to learn more about how I can assist you.
Tax advice and structuring
Strategic-thinking and decision-making by a senior and experienced tax practioner is a large part of providing sensible, reliable and risk-managed tax advice.
I provide advice on all domestic tax-related issues with a focus on restructuring business groups and obtaining roll-over relief under the CGT laws.
I specialise in advising on Division 7A and the taxation of trusts.
I also advise on all indirect taxes, such as stamp duty, land tax, payroll tax and GST.
I work closely with the Australian Taxation Office and State Revenue Offices in negotiating payment plans and settling debt matters, including advising directors who have been issued with DPNs.
I also provide general commerical legal advice and am able to litigate any commercial matters in any jurisdiction.
Tax Audit and Litigation
Over 35 years in the law I have developed an enviable reputation in managing tax disputes from the commencement of an ATO or SRO review or audit, objection and litigation.
I manage white-collar crime investigations with the Federal and Victoria Police.
My focus is on resolving tax disputes without the need to resort to costly, complex and highly stressful hearings.
I have decades of experience in litigating tax matters before the Administrative Review Tribunal, Federal Court and Supreme Court.
These including substantive tax disputes, tax debts as well as settling matters using Alternative Dispute Resolution.
As with all litigation, the focus is on keeping costs to a minumum, whilst attempting to settle a matter or to put on the best case for hearing.
Tax Agent Services
The Tax Practitioners Board is now active in examining the conduct of registered tax agents and their compliance with the Tax Agent Services Act 2009.
A tax agent's practice is their life and livelihood and must be protected at all costs.
I have many years' experiencing in assisting tax agents navigate their way through TPB investigations, preparing written submissions and negotiating sanctions.
In many cases, tax agents will be compelled to attend formal interviews before TPB investigators, and I advise the tax agent during that process.
If necessary, and in the event of an order terminating the registration of a tax agent, I appeal such outcomes to the Administrative Review Tribunal and have been successful on many occasions.
Trust and Estates Disputes
I advise clients on matters pertaining to the constructions and intperetation of trust deeds.
I can also advise trustees or beneficiaries about their respective rights and obligations under a deed, especially if an aggrieved beneficiary is involved and, if necessary, can commence litigation proceedings to have the matter resolved by the court.
The death of a loved one can unfortunately also bring about its own stresses when beneficiaries want to contest their inheritances or bring about Part IV TFM Claims. My involvement in these matters takes on a dispute resolution focus. It is better to resolve a dispute and leave money for the estate rather than squander funds on legal costs.
I can also advise on the tax consequences of any inheritance or devise under a will.