Andrew Downie, Barrister, Victorian Bar
Margaret Ryan, Sole Practitioner in intellectual property and consumer protection law Margaret Ryan received the University Medal in Law from the University of Sydney and commenced her career in Intellectual Property when she worked as a Research Assistant to the late Federal Court Justice Sheppard, who specialised in IP. She was trained in the IP departments of two large commercial law firms, was called to the Bar and has spent almost 20 years with a specialist IP firm, practising in commercial IP law, IP litigation and conducting trade mark oppositions before the Trade Marks Office, including performing her own advocacy. She is a qualified Trade Marks Attorney. Margaret has lectured and tutored in IP at Victoria University and has contributed to the copyright sections of The Laws of Australia and The Law Handbook. Margaret has recently established a sole practice in IP and consumer protection law, undertaking IP commercial and dispute resolution work and trade mark oppositions, and can consult on IP issues.
Neil Brydges, Special Counsel, Sladen Legal Neil is a Special Counsel in the business law area, with a particular focus on taxation advice and disputes. Taxation law is a complex area. Neil’s aim is to provide technical expertise to clients, commercially applied and in a friendly and approachable manner. Neil’s practice involves advice, audits, disputes, and transactions. The client mix includes both family groups and business enterprises. Neil also regularly assists professional advisors, including tax agents, accountants and financial advisors, to understand complex legal issues and help them to better assist their own clients. Neil is a Chartered Tax Advisor with The Tax Institute and accredited as a specialist in taxation law with the Law Institute of Victoria.
Denise Tan, Senior Associate, Sladen Legal Denise is a Senior Associate in Sladen Legal’s business law team and has developed her tax career by providing taxation advice across structuring and disputes. She has extensive experience in indirect tax matters (with a focus on state taxes) relating to asset holdings, corporate restructures, mergers, asset and corporate acquisitions. Her experience is varied and covers low to high value private and public transactions. Denise has provided advise to clients including medium to high net worth individuals, accountants, financial planners, public and self-managed superannuation fund trustees, property developers, infrastructure companies, REITs and private and publicly listed companies. Aside from her previous experience in a big 4 accounting firm as a Senior Manager, Denise has also worked in the Victorian State Revenue Office and is familiar with the administration, policy and legal application of state taxes. Denise prioritises understanding her client needs and places a high importance in the objectives of the client. She aims to utilise her experience to provide client specific solutions in a holistic manner.
Phillip Magness, National Forensic Technology Manager, Corrs Chambers Westgarth Phil is one of a limited number of people who can combine investigations experience, forensic expertise and an understanding of the law to offer clients a complete package of service. Phil was a member of the Australian Federal Police for 17 years and is recognised as one of Australia’s leading forensic technology practitioners. He has worked on some of Australia’s largest investigations, inquiries and prosecutions and has given evidence and expert reports in over 100 cases. He leads Corrs Forensic Technology where he assists clients with the acquisition, analysis and reporting on vital evidence within computers, servers, mobile telephones, GPS systems, CCTV and other electronic storage devices. As a member of Corrs Cyber, he also assists clients with data breach investigations and security advice.
Professor Jonathan Clough, Assopciate Dean (International), Faculty of Law, Monash University
Andy Shaw, LIV Accredited Specialist in Business Law, Lawyer, Fraser Barrett Baird Lawyers Andy regularly assists clients with the purchase and sale of businesses. He is an experienced mergers and acquisitions lawyer who can help manage all aspects of the transaction process for his business clients. He also has particular expertise in assisting clients with their business succession needs. He commonly drafts partnership style agreements to help address the key governance issues faced by businesses, and to provide business owners with tailored and appropriate exit mechanisms.
Helaine Leggat, Principal Lawyer, Sladen Legal Helaine is one of only a handful of lawyers in the world to hold the CISSP, CISM, CIPP and CIPP/IT credentials*, in simple terms, in addition to her law credentials Helaine has earned some of the world’s most esteemed certifications in cybersecurity, privacy and information security. Helaine has specialised at the leading edge of these disciplines since 2000 and has provided services to public and private sector organisations globally across all sectors. Helaine’s focus is on uniquely differentiated legal services founded on a belief that cyberlaw is empowering and that it is essential to know one’s rights while meeting one’s obligations. Her understanding of the relationships between people, information, technology, global business, and cyberspace, will drive the cyberlaw practice at Sladen Legal.