|
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 property in all market sectors.
Property finance
Property investment, development and construction are core areas of our
practice. Our Property Finance lawyers work extensively in these areas
they understand the laws, the market risks and the financial drivers in
the property and development world that are fundamental to equity and
debt providers alike.
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-related 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.
|
Firm Profile
