Best Lawyers in Adelaide, Australia

Tony has extensive experience in commercial and corporate litigation, especially intellectual property, tax and competition and consumer litigation. He acts for clients in the electricity, mining, education, telecommunications, media and medical sectors. Matters he has been involved in include claims relating to consumer protection and restrictive trade practices, review of Government decisions, corporate disputes, intellectual property advice and litigation, and a range of contractual financ...

Natalie Abela is a director in Cowell Clarke’s Dispute Resolution team, and also leads our Estate Administration and Insurance teams. Natalie practices predominantly in commercial litigation, with specialist expertise across corporate and personal insolvency, business and contract dispute resolution, probate and estate dispute resolution and defamation law. Having had significant experience in complex litigious matters for both national and international clients, Natalie also has a focu...

Shannon has been providing specialist legal advice and services to financial services providers for over 35 years. He acts for banks, mutual banks, credit unions, building societies and others operating within the sector, and he has deep experience in relation to the regulatory environment within which they operate. Shannon also has specialist experience in relation to mutual financial institutions. The areas in relation to which Shannon practices include: regulatory compliance, particularly ...

Matthew is a taxation and superannuation specialist. He works primarily with accountants, business owners, high net worth individuals and large family groups on commercial transactions, business and asset restructures, estate and succession planning and other issues involving taxation and superannuation.

David’s practice includes all areas of property, infrastructure, and contract law. He has significant experience in the negotiation and documentation of property acquisitions and disposals, and associated due diligence processes. David has significant experience acting for property developers, purchasers, vendors, government agencies, financiers, leading corporates, landlords, and tenants with respect to development projects, sales and purchases, leasing, building contracts, land divisi...

Richard Beissel leads Cowell Clarke’s Financial Services and Equity Capital Markets teams, and is a Director of our Commercial Transactions and Corporate teams. Richard advises clients on matters including financial services licensing compliance, fundraising and finance, business structuring and joint ventures, securities regulation, operations and governance, and commercial restructuring. Richard has also acted for a variety of corporations, fund managers, trustees and high net wealth ...

Fraser Bell leads the group focusing on all aspects of environmental and planning law, climate change, and contaminated land. Fraser has extensive experience in the industrial and commercial property industry and regularly advises on environmental aspects of property acquisitions and disposals. He also advises on major development projects, construction financing, management of property portfolios, and leasing. Fraser focuses on providing pragmatic, solution-oriented, commercial advice on all...

Donna is a Partner in Piper Alderman’s Private Client Services practice with significant experience in the area of estate and succession planning, wills and estates. Her expertise includes advising upon and developing estate and succession plans for individuals and businesses and advice, interpretation and drafting of wills and agreements. Donna also advises directors and trustees on fiduciary and trust issues and business structuring. She has experience advising on self managed superan...

Amanda Brady is an Associate Director in Cowell Clarke’s Dispute Resolution team and has been practising in this area since 2010. Amanda has many years’ experience in the resolution of general commercial and contractual disputes, building and construction disputes, and several insolvency, private client and estate disputes. Amanda has been involved in both small and large scale litigious matters. Her clients include individuals, small businesses, large commercial and construction ...

Geoff specialises in construction and engineering matters and regularly advises on the preparation of construction contracts and significant building and construction disputes for a number of large contractors, property owners, and government. He has experience in a wide range of building and construction disputes including claims under security of payment legislation, professional negligence claims against consultants, variation claims, time related claims and claims with respect to defectiv...

Tony is Piper Alderman’s Managing Partner. He specialises in commercial property and has particular expertise acting in relation to retail and office developments, residential and mixed use projects, commercial tenancies, community and strata title matters. Tony provides stamp duty and GST advice and negotiates with landlords, tenants, builders, financiers and the FIRB. Tony has been recommended in The Legal 500 Asia Pacific for his “ confident, timely, professional and well consi...

James is the leader of our Public M&A and Equity Capital Markets practice. He is a current member of the Australian Takeovers Panel and has extensive experience working in top-tier corporate law firms in Australia and London. James’ experience includes leading the Kain teams advising: SILK Laser Clinics (ASX:SLA) on its proposed acquisition by Australian Pharmaceutical Industries (API) (a subsidiary of Wesfarmers (ASX:WES)) by way of scheme of arrangement for approximately $180m; Ke...

Gerry is the leader of our M&A (Private) and Equity Capital Markets (Private) practices. He has been advising on capital raising transactions, mergers and acquisitions and capital structuring for over 30 years in key financial markets including Sydney, Hong Kong and London. He is a trusted advisor to our clients. Gerry’s experience includes leading the Kain teams advising: sportsmed on the sale of their hospital to Burnside War Memorial Hospital; SILK Laser Clinics (ASX:SLA) on its ...

Sarah is an experienced Transactions lawyer who is valued by clients for her attention to detail, commercial acumen and dedication to achieving the best commercial outcome for them. Sarah’s transactional experience includes; Advising Best Doors and Reliance Doors on their business sale to Swiss listed company Dormakaba; Advising sportsmed on the sale of their hospital to Burnside War Memorial Hospital; Leading the due diligence team in relation to Kelsian Group’s (ASX:KLS) $698m (...

John is a Special Counsel in the firm’s Insurance practice and is nationally recognised in the area of dust diseases litigation. John has over 15 years’ experience in insurance and civil litigation. John’s work involves complex legal, scientific and medical issues in the specialised field of toxic torts. He has extensive experience involving asbestos related claims, general insurance matters including property damage, negligence and motor vehicle insurance, public liability,...

Rob Comazzetto is the Managing Director of Cowell Clarke and a Director in the firm’s Insolvency and Reconstruction team. Admitted as a lawyer for over 30 years, Rob has worked both in industry and legal practice and continues to sit on the board of several companies. The experience which Rob brings from being involved in commerce is reflected in his practical approach to issues and the often stressful situations faced by clients. He always focuses on finding a resolution that maximises...

Brett Cowell is a founding partner and the Chairman of Cowell Clarke and is a Director of the firm’s Corporate and Commercial team. Brett’s passion for science, technology, and innovation has enabled him to support corporate and business clients in growing and protecting their tangible and intellectual property assets. Brett has very broad-based experience, with a particular interest in advanced manufacturing, defence, ICT, life sciences and technology businesses on a national and...

With over a decade of experience specialising in commercial litigation and dispute resolution; Lauren’s clients rely on her to deliver commercial certainty in Transaction Disputes. Lauren’s recent experience includes: Advising a manufacturing client in an arbitration relating to a commercial construction contract dispute; Advising SILK Laser Clinics (ASX:SLA) on its proposed acquisition by Australian Pharmaceutical Industries (API) (a subsidiary of Wesfarmers (ASX:WES)) by way of ...

Tom is a Principal in the firm’s disputes practice. Tom joined DMAW Lawyers in April 2007 as a senior associate, following previous roles at Clifford Chance in London and Hicksons Lawyers in Sydney where he acted in major litigation matters. Tom specialises in commercial disputes. He has acted in a full spectrum of complex commercial litigation, construction, superannuation, transport and trade matters. Tom's experience includes advising and representing a variety of clients, ranging fr...

Glenn is a principal in the firm’s corporate practice. Glenn provides advice to public and private entities throughout Australia on a full range of corporate and business law issues. This includes capital raisings, listings, mergers by acquisition and schemes of arrangement, ASIC, ASX and legislative compliance, capital reductions and other securities issues and transactions. He acts for large and medium sized corporates, both listed and unlisted, providing advice on a full range of bus...

James is a corporate practitioner with significant experience in corporate transactions, corporate governance, directors’ duties and compliance with the Corporations Act, ASIC requirements and ASX Listing Rules. His practice has a strong focus on mergers and acquisitions, takeovers (both for bidders and targets), IPOs, other capital raisings and corporate structuring and reconstructions. James also focuses on financial services, including financial services licensing, registered and unr...

Jon advises liquor and hospitality industry clients and has extensive experience advising clients in respect of liquor licensing and gaming, frequently appearing before the Licensing Court and the Liquor and Gambling Commissioner. He deals with applications to the Licensing Authority in respect of a range of applications including in respect of new licences, corporate structures, licence transfers, landlord re-entries and variations to existing licences, and represents objectors to licensing ...

Paul is a principal in the firm’s disputes practice. Paul has particular expertise in: all aspects of industrial relations and workplace law, and work health and safety; privacy, data and cyber/information security and response; risk management advice and the investigation and resolution of corporate and commercial issues and disputes; advice and representation of clients in competition and consumer law matters; and insolvency matters. Paul is a key member of the Cyber Alliance Group &n...

Michael specialises in statutory litigation in both the state and Commonwealth jurisdictions. He has regularly been included on AFR's Best Lawyers Australia list, most recently in the 2019 edition (published 2018). What he does Michael acts for employers and insurers in statutory litigation matters and provides strategic advice on minimising claims liability. He runs litigation in the AAT and Federal Court, as well as the South Australian Workers Compensation Tribunal and the District and Sup...

Greg is a qualified mining engineer as well as an experienced lawyer with over 20 years’ involvement in multi-commodity projects throughout Australasia. Greg’s clients appreciate his ability to understand their technical and operational imperatives as well as the legal and business environment in which they operate. He has worked on numerous large underground and open pit metalliferous and coal mines throughout Australia and also acted as an in-house lawyer for Santos Limited. He ...

Will is a taxation specialist at Piper Alderman who provides state, federal and international taxation advice to a range of corporate, commercial and private clients. Much of Will’s work involves the provision of specialist taxation advice in the context of corporate restructures, business sale transactions and private client advisory. Will also advises the charities sector in relation to a range of taxation and governance issues. In addition to advisory work, Will also manages disputes...

Bronwyn is a commercial lawyer with specialist expertise in the areas of intellectual property, privacy, regulatory and competition and consumer law. Her practice traverses public and private industry sectors including automotive, higher education, health, manufacturing, medical devices, energy and resources, government, financial services and ecommerce, from start ups through to multinational groups. Bronwyn’s intellectual property practice includes advising on all matters of ownership...

Tom has expertise across the firm’s practice areas of property development, town planning, infrastructure and projects, pollution licensing and environmental approvals, water and natural resources, land valuation and compensation for compulsory acquisition, liquor licensing, real property and local government and administrative law. Having spent nearly 15 years practicing exclusively in these areas, Tom is widely recognised as a leader in the field. He has advised on a vast spectrum of ...

Michael leads our growth activity, combining his product, market and client experience. He is an experienced corporate lawyer who has advised some of Australia’s biggest corporates and funds on their most complex and strategically critical transactions. Michael’s practice includes advising on corporate mergers and acquisitions, capital raises, alternative asset fund establishment and deployment as well as foreign investment and financial services advice. Michael has a particular f...

David litigates, manages and resolves disputes for a wide range of Australian and international clients in all Australian jurisdictions. Practising primarily in complex corporate, commercial and regulatory matters, David’s expertise extends to practice in corporations law, intellectual property, competition and consumer law, franchising, agribusiness and education. Inducted as a Distinguished Fellow of the International Academy of Mediators in May 2014, David has been an accredited medi...

Mark is a specialist banking and finance lawyer with over 30 years’ experience. He advises and acts primarily in matters involving corporate lending, loan syndication, Corporations Act compliance and commercial contracts. Mark also advises on privacy issues relating to the Privacy Amendment (Privacy Sector) Act 2000. Mark has extensive experience in public listed company transactions and has provided advice on a wide range of matters to a number of high profile companies and government ...

Tom has over 20 years’ experience and is a partner based in Piper Alderman’s Adelaide office. Tom commenced his career in Piper Alderman’s Adelaide office before working in Piper Alderman’s Sydney office for 14 years. He has specialist expertise representing clients in recent Royal Commissions, ICAC / Ombudsman enquiries, regulatory hearings and enquiries, corporate fraud investigations, disputes involving breach of fiduciary duties, defamation and reputation managemen...

As a highly skilled commercial lawyer Tim advises clients on efficient and effective business structures that facilitate access to the capital necessary for growth or acquisition. Capital Structuring extends to business restructuring whether solvent or insolvent and to enable generational business succession or exit. Tim provides pragmatic advice that has seen him develop key client relationships across a range of industries including manufacturing, construction, agri-business, technology, to...

Matthew Hawke is Special Counsel in Cowell Clarke’s Building, Construction & Infrastructure and Dispute Resolution teams. Matthew has broad experience in construction advice and disputes (including construction contract drafting and advice), compulsory acquisition disputes, and the construction industry security of payment regimes across Australia. When not working in the construction space, Matthew supports clients in negotiating or litigating their general contractual, misrepresen...

George is a taxation and transaction advisory specialist. George acts for a range of clients in relation to their obligations under federal, state and international taxation systems, corporations law and regulatory matters in various sectors including government, funds management, financial services, energy & resources, agriculture, property development and not for profit. George advises private, public, government and not for profit clients on taxation matters, structuring, mergers and a...

Luke is one of South Australia's leading workplace lawyers. He advises a range of employers on employment and work health and safety (WHS) issues and is known for his practical and balanced approach. The AFR's Best Lawyers in Australia named Luke as Lawyer of the Year for Occupational Health and Safety Law in 2019. He is also named on the Best Lawyers in Australia list for Occupational Health and Safety. What he does Luke's experience working in private practice, government and in-house roles...

Daniel is a principal in the firm’s transactions practice. He acts on mergers & acquisitions, corporate and commercial matters for a broad range of business clients, ranging from SMEs to some of the largest businesses in South Australia. He works across a variety of industry sectors, including financial services, property, energy and resources and manufacturing. Daniel regularly leads projects involving: share, asset, business and property sales and purchases; corporate structuring ...

Bianca specialises in mergers and acquisitions, foreign investment and corporate governance. In addition, her practice involves providing general corporate and commercial advice to clients throughout the lifecycle of their businesses. She has positioned herself as a trusted advisor to a variety of Australian and international clients ranging from private family businesses and not for profits to large corporates and fund managers. Her clients appreciate her pragmatic strategic approach and abi...

Rod is a leading succession and trusts practitioner in Piper Alderman’s Private Client Services team. His expertise includes advising on trust law, including charitable trusts and foundations, will trusts, self-managed superannuation funds (SMSFs) and trust related corporate, property and commercial issues. For more than two decades he has advised family businesses on succession strategies and related dispute resolution. Rod regularly represents trust beneficiaries and institutional and...

Andrew is one of a handful of lawyers in South Australia experienced in working with large international banks and major financial institutions. He has worked with major clients in most states and industries and been a part of some of South Australia’s largest financing transactions. For Andrew, every transaction is an opportunity to exceed his clients’ expectations. Thriving in the cut and thrust of commercial banking and finance, Andrew goes the extra yard to complete complex tr...

Chris practises in a diverse range of property law, with a strong focus on major commercial acquisitions and leasing as well as renewable energy and infrastructure projects. Chris regularly acts for vendors, purchasers, landlords, tenants and developers. He has expertise in the preparation of numerous property documents with varying levels of complexity including contracts for sale, leases, easements, encumbrances, land divisions and caveats. He also regularly undertakes property related due ...

Caroline is the partner in Holman Webb’s Adelaide office and has a wealth of experience in insurance law having practiced for more than 20 years in general insurance and workers compensation. Prior to practising law Caroline was a Registered Nurse for 10 years which both extends and deepens her legal practice. Caroline’s principle areas of practice are toxic tort litigation, management liability, statutory liability, employment practices and workers compensation.

Michael specialises in corporate and personal insolvency law and is recognised as one of Australia’s leading insolvency lawyers. He acts regularly for banks, financial institutions and other secured lenders providing advice in relation to the security enforcement. He acts for insolvency practitioners in all types of personal and corporate business restructuring and insolvency administrations. Michael is regularly engaged to act for companies and directors providing advice on the restruc...

Karl has over 20 years' experience practising as both a barrister and a solicitor advising on a broad range of workplace legal issues. His practice specifically focuses on industrial relations, employment law, Work Health and Safety law, and workers' compensation. Karl has advised the Commonwealth Government statutory agency, Safe Work Australia, on a range of issues involving Work Health and Safety laws and has an interest in the governance of safety (due diligence), regulatory compliance, a...