Find Lawyers in Australia for Agriculture and Rural Affairs
Practice Area Overview
An agriculture and rural affairs practice can service a wide range of clients ranging from corporations of varying sizes involved in agribusiness, non-government organisations like the National Farmers Federation and its constituent members (such as Australian Dairy Farmers, Australian Livestock Exporters Council, Cotton Australia, GrainGrowers, and so on), and Government Departments like the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources.
What does a day in the life of an agriculture and rural affairs lawyer look like? A lawyer in this practice area could be working on the provision of high level advice to Government on trade or biosecurity issues, or acting for a company or individual on the sale or purchase of grazing and farming properties (including contract negotiation, due diligence, and contract preparation), advice about water entitlements; compensation for the compulsory acquisition of land or entitlements; advice about the import or export of agricultural products; and advice about various forms of land tenures, including native title.
Dealing with Government is a big part of legal practice in this area. This can involve assisting clients with obtaining approvals to export agricultural produce, assisting with obtaining Foreign Investment Review Board approval of sales and purchases, and obtaining other regulatory approvals.
There is a significant cross-over between this area of practice and environmental and planning law. Lawyers practising in this area can provide assistance with land and vegetation clearing laws, advice about the environmental approvals and licences that may be required to establish a particular kind of agricultural industry, and even dealing with actions taken by Government authorities to control noxious weeds and other environmental pests.
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...
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 (...
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...
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...
Peter Slegers leads Cowell Clarke’s Tax & Revenue and Agribusiness teams. Peter has more than twenty years’ experience in advising on tax and superannuation law, private and public trusts, succession planning, and supporting clients with reviews and audits from the Australian Taxation Office. Peter has also delivered comprehensive advice and guidance to clients within the agribusiness sector on matters from restructuring to succession planning. Peter recently co-authored The T...
Simon is a respected corporate and commercial lawyer with extensive expertise on a broad range of transactional and advisory matters. He acts for Australian and international corporations, fund managers, high net worth family offices and private clients. He has been involved in many corporate projects including asset and share sales and acquisitions, equity capital raisings and diligence investigations. He has drafted and negotiated a broad range of commercial documentation including Governme...
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