David Prior B.A. LLB Director
David has been in practice as a solicitor for over 25 years. He has wide experience in conveyancing, family law, wills, estates and commercial litigation. David now practices almost exclusively as a commercial lawyer. He has acted for a large number of clients involved in the sale and purchase of various businesses, from large franchises to small corner shops. David also deals extensively in protecting the assets of business, including its commercial intellectual property and brand assets.
David’s advice is directed at protecting clients’ businesses while ensuring their growth. This can be achieved through effective structuring of your business using trusts, including the creation of a variety of discretionary trusts and unit trusts, buy/sell agreements, shareholders agreements and business succession agreements. David can prepare and draft extensive licensing agreements for your business, especially in the areas of IP law and franchising. David has drafted a variety of charitable trusts for not-for-profit organisations, including disability organisations.
Warwick Ryan Master of Labour Law. B.Sc. LLB Director
Warwick has drafted hundreds of AWAs and dozens of collective agreements in the last 5-8 years for industries as diverse as manufacturing, construction, sales, education, finance, publishing, printing, aged care, medical centres and more.
AWAs and collective agreements are drafted with a view to protecting your business and clarifying and simplifying your obligations as a business owner.
Warwick also advises employees on numerous issues associated with employment, from discrimination through to OH&S.
Warwick provides specific and detailed advice to employers to assist in reducing the Workers Compensation premiums for their business through a multiplicity of techniques which are uniquely suited to each workplace. Warwick can negotiate with WorkCover and insurers on your behalf in the circumstance of an audit, and has had particular success in reducing employers' workers compensation premiums by strategic negotiation with insurers for re-categorisation and splitting of rates. Furthermore, Warwick has been very effective at holding insurance companies accountable for the claims estimates (and therefore the claims loadings) they place upon businesses' policy premiums.
Warwick also has particular expertise regarding sub-contractor/employee issues and can clarify the issues involved in this relationship for businesses.
Warwick has been involved in applications to the District Court, Supreme Court, NSW Industrial Commission and the Chief Industrial Magistrate’s Court. Applications include:
• Unfair Dismissals
• Unfair Contracts Claims
• Prosecutions for breach of occupational health and safety
• Disputes with the Department of Industrial Relations in relation to award issues
• Defending prosecutions in the Chief Industrial Magistrate’s Court in relation to alleged breaches of awards.
All of these matters involve specific and detailed analysis of the employment issues involved. The combination of Warwick’s experience and education (through to a Masters level) enables him to provide specific and practical advice in response to complex legal circumstances.
Warwick is also active in the business community as a 3 year President of the Erina Chamber of Commerce and as voluntary director for a local charitable disability service.