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Holding Redlich Firm Profile Print E-mail

A unique national Australian commercial law firm

 

“Holding Redlich is the only Australian law firm likely to be simultaneously acting for an investment bank in a $200 million corporate acquisition, advising an industry superannuation fund on governance issues and amendments to its trust documents, negotiating gas supply agreements for a major capital city, acting in all aspects of a $500 million commercial property development, representing a refugee in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal on a pro bono basis, defending an international accounting firm in a Supreme Court negligence case, and negotiating a television deal for one of Australia’s leading comic performers.” Chris Lovell, National Managing Partner, Holding Redlich. 

Holding Redlich has a unique personality which distinguishes us from other law firms.  It is a personality based on a strong commitment to ethical behaviour, trust, respect for the individual, a strong sense of our obligation to society, excellence in everything we do, and a resolve to work as partners with our clients. 

Founded over 30 years ago as lawyers for the labour movement and its members, we have developed and grown into a leading national Australian commercial law firm with offices in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. 

Four aspects of what we do and how we do it differentiate us from other law firms.

 

Breadth of client base

First, there is the breadth of our client base - from large corporations to trade unions; from major government departments to small companies; from large superannuation funds to individual employees.

And then there are the artists, writers, film makers, actors and politicians, including a former prime minister, who proudly call Holding Redlich their lawyers. 

 

Specialisation

Second, there is our specialisation.  We focus on seven industries - property, construction and infrastructure, media and entertainment, information technology, technology and biotechnology, superannuation, and energy and resources.  In superannuation, we have a strong commitment to industry, public sector and self-managed funds.

By concentrating on these industries, we have acquired a considerable depth of knowledge of how they operate and the challenges they face. 

This industry focus gives us the unique ability to provide our clients with every type of service they require.  Our commitment is to add value to our clients’ businesses by providing advice and services that are practical, perceptive and cost-effective.

 

Our people

The third feature of Holding Redlich’s personality is our caring and supportive work environment.  For many years and well before it became fashionable, we have encouraged our people to achieve a realistic balance between work and life.

We have always encouraged our partners and staff to contribute to the community by accepting positions of responsibility in community and arts organisations.  A number of our lawyers serve on, or have served on, boards and committees of government, statutory, arts and community bodies.

A workplace of equality and respect for the individual is also a high priority.  We have run an enlightened and generous maternity leave program for many years, making the firm a leader in this field.  In 2006, our Parenting Partner program won the Outstanding Initiative/Result for the Advancement of Women Award from the federal government’s Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency. 

Another initiative is the Holding Redlich Social Justice Fund (a sub-fund of the Melbourne Community Foundation) to which staff make monthly contributions from their salaries.  Our firm matches these contributions dollar for dollar.  The Fund is managed by a committee of our staff (rather than by our partners).

Current projects of the Fund include assisting disadvantaged adolescents in Sydney, refugees from Africa to gain traineeships and apprenticeships in Melbourne, and homeless young people in Brisbane.

 

Social justice

And fourth, there is our belief that law firms have a role in society which extends beyond providing legal services and generating fees. Through provision of pro bono legal services and other support we seek to contribute to the creation of a better, fairer society.

We have strong relationships with the Public Interest Law Clearing Houses in Sydney and Melbourne, the Refugee and Immigration Legal Centre, the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service, the Environmental Defenders’ Office and the Arts Law Centre from which we accept referrals for pro bono assistance for individuals and not-for-profit community organisations.

Sponsorships include the Monash University Castan Centre for Human Rights Law, and the University of Melbourne Centre for Labour Relations Law, the Darebin Community Legal Centre, as well as eight universities.

 

COMMERCIAL PRACTICE

The strategic solutions we devise for our commercial clients are based on a sound knowledge of the industries they operate in, the business and commercial context and specialist knowledge of all relevant legislation.

Another factor in our continuing success in the commercial sector is that we forge close partnerships with our clients based on trust, while devoting considerable time and effort to ensure that quality permeates everything we do.

Further, our dedication to personalised service helps us to maintain a leadership position in our chosen areas of practice.

The commercial areas in which we have extensive experience and significant depth of expertise include:

Practical business-oriented advice is the cornerstone of our commercial practice.  We focus on the issues, ensuring genuine cost efficiency by using only those resources that are critical to success.

The ability to view each deal, contract and negotiation from multiple perspectives, leading to the design and implementation of innovative solutions, is a hallmark of our service.

Administrative law 

We have a thorough understanding of administrative law and regulatory issues relevant to the public and private sectors.

Commercial dispute resolution 

We aim to minimise the disruption that a dispute causes while achieving the best possible commercial outcome.  We also recognise that litigation can be enormously expensive and look for solutions that will produce the optimum result at a reasonable cost.

Construction and infrastructure 

We provide a wide range of construction and infrastructure services for all types of projects including engineering, facilities management, operation and maintenance, joint venture and consortium participation, financing, leasing, alliancing, PPPs and corporate work, as well as the effective management and resolution of disputes. 

Corporate 

We advise public, private and high net worth entities on all aspects of corporate law in acquisitions, mergers, restructures, public and private fundraising, private equity,  and venture capital with the aim of achieving commercial and effective strategic outcomes.

Employment and industrial relations 

Our employment and industrial relations group aims to protect and enforce the rights of employers and employees with emphasis on mutually beneficial long term outcomes. 

Energy and resources 

We have a growing practice in energy and resources including in respect of transmission pipelines, pricing and competition issues, energy trading, hard rock mining, coal seam gas, petroleum exploration, clean coal, and renewable energy, including solar and wind. 

Franchising 

Our franchising team offers objective legal advice to franchisors and master franchisees, through our understanding of the issues involved in establishing and maintaining an effective franchising network.

Information technology 

Our expertise in information technology includes advice on the acquisition and disposal of companies and businesses, product development, procurement, outsourcing, e-commerce, trade practices, regulatory compliance and privacy.

Insolvency 

We have created a team of experienced legal advisers with specialist skills in close to 15 business areas to provide a seamless insolvency service to clients. 

Intellectual property 

Always with the aim of improving the competitiveness of our clients, our intellectual property team advises on domain names, designs, licensing, copyright, trade marks, patents and trade practices, as well as brand protection. 

Media and entertainment 

We provide high level services in all aspects of film, television, media, broadcasting, advertising and marketing.  We won the award for Media and Entertainment Law Firm of the Year at the 2005 Australian Law Awards.

Occupational health and safety  

We act for principals, developers, contractors, managers and consultants in both the public and private sectors.  Our clients range from major institutions and government entities to specialist consultants and subcontractors.

Planning and environment 

We provide advice on all aspects of planning, the environment and contaminated land issues to town planners, planning consultants, government departments and agencies, local authorities, developers and construction companies.

Privacy  

We provide advice to advertising and media clients and companies in other industries on privacy legislation, audits and compliance, privacy statements and responses to complaints about breaches.

Property and projects 

We offer clients an expert, comprehensive national service in all aspects of the acquisition, financing, development, management, sale and lease of commercial property in all market sectors.

Superannuation and financial services 

We advise many industry, public sector and corporate superannuation funds on all issues relating to superannuation, including compliance and governance and public offer documents.  We also offer a Self-Managed Superannuation Fund Service to planners, lawyers and other professionals who establish and manage their own or other people's funds.  We advise a number of major funds on their investment structures and their Australian and international investments.

Trade practices 

In addition to running compliance programs we advise on and litigate the restrictive trade practices and consumer protection provisions of the Trade Practices Act.

 

PRIVATE PRACTICE

Our private client practice covers the following areas:  conveyancing, employment, family, personal injury and estate planning including wills and probate.  In Melbourne, we also have a substantial personal injury and transport accident practice. 

Many of our lawyers are accredited specialists in these areas.

Our origins in the labour movement and our commitment to the protection of rights underpin the values and culture that characterise all our services to our private clients.

 

PUBLIC INTEREST

Consistent with our values, our partners and staff dedicate time and funds to strengthen our community through support for human rights, social justice and the arts. We contribute to the community through:

  • provision of pro bono legal services to individuals and community groups
  • direct financial support to organisations promoting human rights and social justice
  • Support for established and emerging arts organisations with sponsorship or pro bono legal services.

The arts  Linked to our extensive media and entertainment practice, Holding Redlich is a strong supporter of a number of established and emerging arts groups through sponsorship or the provision of pro bono legal advice.

Our partners and staff regularly lecture on legal areas impacting on the arts and film. We accept requests for assistance and referrals  from the Arts Law Centre

Human rights  Holding Redlich has acted in a number of major public interest cases. The Stolen Generations litigation and the action taken to free the asylum seekers on the 'Tampa' are examples in past years where we acted to preserve or enhance individuals' rights. 

The firm is currently representing traditional Aboriginal land owners and the Bawinanga Aboriginal Corporation in a constitutional challenge to the Commonwealth’s intervention into NT Aboriginal communities. 

We have assisted  individual clients on a pro bono basis in numerous matters, including refugee and immigration appeals;  employees and consumers suffering discrimination on grounds of race, disability or gender; victims of inappropriate or predatory credit provision; Aboriginal organisations  and individuals in heritage, contractual and property-relayed matters.

We also advise a number of community organisations in a wide range of matters, including establishment issues, trusts, tax issues, employment, defamation, dispute resolution and contracts.

The firm sponsors the Distinguished Visiting Fellow Program for the Castan Centre for Human Rights Law at Monash University and provides placement for students undertaking the Centre’s Advanced Professional Practice (Human Rights) undergraduate subject.

 

Contact details

Chris Lovell, National Managing Partner

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Phone +61 (0)3 9321 9999

 

Lou Farinotti, Managing Partner, Melbourne

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Phone +61 (0)3 9321 9999

 

Ian Robertson, Managing Partner, Sydney

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Phone +61 (0)2 8083 0388

 

Michael Byrom, Managing Partner, Brisbane

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Phone +61 (0)7 3135 0500