ACS Professional: Essential Legal and Accounting Advice for your Tech SME

Phillipa has over 20 years of local and international experience (having lived and worked in both the United Kingdom and United Arab Emirates) in business and commercial law, property, construction, intellectual property and the not-for-profit sector.

Michelle is an experienced workplace relations lawyer who has advised both employer and employee groups in state and federal jurisdictions. She has expertise in establishing strategic employment standards and in managing workplace disputes in social enterprises and NFPs.

Michelle’s legal experience is augmented by her many years of direct management experience in large retail organisations, managing all aspects of the employment life-cycle for large groups of employees. She has the practical experience to provide pragmatic advice about how to navigate the complexities and risks that exist in employment relations. Having worked in the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission, Michelle is skilled in assisting employers to navigate matters in that jurisdiction, such as worker's compensation, long service leave and wage disputes for private employers not covered by the Fair Work Act.

Michelle has a particular interest in workplace bullying and has assisted employers to investigate complaints, manage bullying conduct and negotiate resolution of employee bullying applications.

Michelle has considerable experience in:

• Preparing employment contracts;
• Advising on award interpretation;
• Advising on employee entitlements;
• Drafting, implementing and applying workplace policies;
• Conducting workplace investigations;
• Advising on managing ill and injured employees;
• Advising on employment disputes;
• Advising on employee performance management;
• Discrimination in employment;
• Advising on termination of employment;
• Conducting bullying investigations; and
• Representation in the FWC for unfair dismissal and bullying applications.

Andrew has extensive experience in proving advice on commercial matters and in commercial litigation. He combines his detailed understanding of insurance principles and a focus on commercial objectives that mean you will get sensible, commercial and cost effective advice to help you achieve your objectives or resolve your dispute.

Andrew has practised throughout his career in commercial litigation/commercial dispute resolution. He has provided commercial and dispute related legal services to individuals, small-medium businesses, large corporations and bodies corporate. Before becoming a Director of Active Law, he previously worked for a leading Insurance based Law Firm advising national Insurers in respect of professional negligence, public liability and product liability matters as well as policy interpretation Professional Indemnity Claims. Andrew has also worked with a large national firm, primarily in leasing disputes, trade practices and misrepresentation matters, contract interpretation disputes, insolvency and general commercial litigation.
 
Prior to entering the practice of law, Andrew was a scientist having graduated from Griffith University with first-class honours. It is this scientific grounding that has developed Andrew’s analytical approach and his ability to comprehend varying circumstances and principles quickly. Coupled with his depth of legal experience, he can quickly identify commercial risks and provide meaningful and practical advice to avoid or resolve commercial disputes.
 

Scott takes a collaborative approach with his clients, so he can truly understand their business and the key drivers to ensure we are developing the strategic direction for their future. Not just looking at fancy graphs.

With over 13 years of experience in the Financial Sector, he has learned early that clients’ requirements differ greatly, and that there is no one-size-fits-all approach for a business.

Scott believes spending time with a good advisor before starting a new venture is a must and stresses the importance of getting it right from the start as it is a lot harder and more costly to make changes once a business is up and running.

He is well-informed on all aspects of technology and innovation and have a special interest in AI, Machine Learning and data analytics and is looking forward to seeing what possible applications technology will bring to clients’ businesses and the financial sector in the future.

Asif Joowalay, Senior Manager - William Buck, provides business and corporate advisory services to a range of different industries and types of businesses. His focus is on business valuations, due diligence and development for property enthusiasts.