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News Corp

Acting for News Corp Australia in a world-first defamation case brought by a former youth offender, Dylan Voller, in which the High Court held that media outlets are publishers of comments made by third parties on their Facebook pages.

Celebrity agreements

Drafting and advising on advertising celebrity agreements, sponsorship agreements and promotional agreements.

Personal injury claims

Acting for the insurer in defending personal injury claims for damages arising from incidents that occurred in the heavy transport sector.

South Australian Government

Acting for the South Australian Department for Infrastructure and Transport in relation to the outsourcing of Across Government Facilities Management services worth $1.7 billion.

Licella Holdings

Acting for Licella Holdings Limited in relation to its commercialisation of its patented Cat-HTR technology for conversion of waste feedstocks into biofuels including licensing of international and Australian joint venture entities and advising in relation to participation in a CRC-P Partners Agreement.

Teacher's Pet

Advising on production of Australia’s most downloaded podcast “The Teacher’s Pet” about a man accused of murdering his wife in 1982. Providing extensive pre-publication advice through the production phase of the podcast, and dealing with a journalist’s involvement in the criminal trial of the accused, who was found guilty of murder 40 years after his wife disappeared.

Litigation funder

Advising a litigation funder in relation to a proposed class action involving allegations of very significant underpayment to employees across a chain of hospitality businesses.

Burswood Care

Advising Burswood Care on the $25 million Duncan Street, Victoria Park Nursing Home development. This involved providing strategic advice and advocacy through Council, JDAP and ultimately SDAU process and resulted in the SDAU approving a new 4 storey, 120 bed, high care facility with significant variations to the existing planning framework.

Court litigation

Representing numerous Australian and international companies with household brand names brands in high stakes litigation in the Federal Court of Australia.

Norman & Associates

Advising Norman & Associates, in their role as Development Manager, on securing approvals for waste water treatment and disposal system and project advice related to the freeholding of 432 licensed allotments at the Fishermans Bay, South Australia, existing development.

Television broadcasters

Acting for three broadcasters challenging the imposition of a no-fly zone over public protests that stopped a media helicopter from filming them. The no-fly zone was revoked.

Solar project

Partner Jae Lemin has experience advising Standard Chartered Bank and GuarantCo, on the project financing of the 28 MW Teknaf Solartech solar project in Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh. The project was the first utility-scale, grid-connected solar project in Bangladesh and won “Asia-Pacific Solar Deal of the Year” at the Infrastructure Journal awards.

Immunity application

Acting for an ASX-listed company in an immunity application to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) relating to cartel conduct engaged in by a subsidiary of the company.

Dexus

Acting for Dexus on the acquisition and development of a 127 hectare industrial estate at Ravenhall, Victoria, including drafting and negotiating complex lease documentation for tenants such as Amazon, Scalzo Foods, HelloFresh, eStore Logistics and Electrolux.

Oklo Resources

Advising ASX-listed gold explorer, Oklo Resources Limited, in relation to its acquisition by Canada-based gold miner, B2Gold Corp, in a cash and scrip deal valuing the company at A$90 million.

Energy360

Assisting Australian biogas systems provider Energy360 on its acquisition by energy giant AGL. Thomson Geer advised Energy360 on all aspects of the deal, including due diligence, drafting and negotiation of the transaction documents and implementing the acquisition.

Kirin Holdings Company

Advising Japanese food and beverage giant Kirin Holdings Company, Limited on its A$1.8 billion acquisition of Australian healthcare company Blackmores.

Testamentary capacity

Representing an executor to defend a claim by a disappointed beneficiary brought on the basis that the deceased lacked capacity to make a will.

Agribusiness transactions

Acting on and drafting documentation for land transactions (sales, purchases, leases, share farming agreements etc.), water transactions (sales, purchases, leases etc. of water entitlements) and rural business transactions.

s50 Antitrust regulation

Regularly advising clients on whether transactions are at risk of substantially lessening competition, and if so, advising on the appropriate approach to the regulator, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

Electrification of mining fleet

Acted for Liebherr Australia in negotiating an agreement for the joint development and supply of hydrogen fuel cell and battery electric mining haul trucks to Fortescue Future Industries.

Rohde & Schwarz Australia

Advising integrated communications solutions provider Rohde & Schwarz Australia on the awarding of a major contract to supply the integrated communications systems for Australia’s new Hunter class frigates being built in South Australia by BAE Systems Maritime Australia.

Queensland University of Technology

Acting for Queensland University of Technology in relation to rationalisation of its complex intellectual property ownership and commercialisation agreements with respect to gene edited bananas including drafting and negotiation of a Master Commercialisation Agreement with Australian Banana Research Pty Ltd, and subsequently acting in relation to drafting and negotiation of new research agreements.

ARCH Emerging Markets Partners

Advising UK-based investment advisor ARCH Emerging Markets Partners on the cornerstone investment.

TGA submissions

Drafting and advising on submissions to the Therapeutic Goods Administration in response to complaints under the Therapeutic Goods Advertising Code.

Corporate collapse

Acting for the liquidators of a high-profile corporate collapse and associated proceedings to recover unfair preferences, obtain court approval for litigation funding and act in contested proceedings concerning proofs of debt and the application of rights of set-off under the Corporations Act (2001) (Cth).

LBT Innovations

Assisting ASX-listed LBT Innovations throughout the development, prototyping, and commercialisation of its medical technology products. Recently assisted in concluding a A$6 million joint venture based in Switzerland to develop and distribute a diagnostic imaging device.

Ingenia Communities

Advising Ingenia Communities on its acquisition of five rental retirement villages and a tourist park. The purchases incorporated 274 senior village rental units and 236 cabin and camp sites. The units are located throughout New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania.

Trustee appointment

Appointed by the NSW Supreme Court as a trustee for sale of a parcel of rural land in NSW during the course of a dispute by the owners of the land.

Priority disputes

Acting for the liquidators of a listed entity in relation to priority disputes with PPSA creditors, providing advice as to vesting of interests under the PPSA, undertaking public examinations and acting in relation to a variety of proceedings, including uncommercial transaction proceedings and breach of director’s duties claims.

Altus Strategies and Alphastream Capital

Advising UK and Canadian listed Altus Strategies plc and United Arab Emirates specialist mining and streaming company AlphaStream Capital on their joint acquisition of a gold royalty portfolio from Newcrest Mining Limited valued at US$37.5 million.

Hawthorn Football Club

Assisting with the detailed review of its governance arrangements to take into account changes in corporate governance practices, technology and legislation and on its membership terms and conditions.

Codafication

Advising Codafication on deployment of Codafication’s proprietary Virtual Assist, Crunchwork, and Unity Cloud business automation platforms-as-a-service, particularly with Suncorp, QBE, IAG, and other significant insurers and brokers.

Australian Express

Involvement in one of the largest civil trade practices cases in Australia’s history involving allegations of contravention of Part IV of the then Trade Practices Act.

Land sale

Advising a Local Government on conditional land sale provisions incorporating the redevelopment of a strategic CBD landholding in accordance with the requirements of the Local Government, including ensuring compliance with statutory provisions relating to a major land transaction.

Mineral Resources

Lead adviser to Mineral Resources in relation to its proposed development and operation of a 25mtpa iron ore export transhipment terminal in the Port of Ashburton.

GeelongPort

Acting for GeelongPort in negotiating a complex Agreement for Lease and Lease with TT-Line in relation to the relocation of the Spirit of Tasmania ferry from Melbourne’s Station Pier to Geelong.

Irrigation schemes

Acting for irrigation schemes and unincorporated associations in relation to their irrigation infrastructure, constitutions including rights and obligations of members and the transfer of water entitlements between outgoing members and incoming members.

Australian Finance Industry Association

Acting for the Australian Finance Industry Association (AFIA) on the drafting, development and consultation of the AFIA Car Rental Code of Practice. The Code for members of AFIA, who have approximately 75% of the total market share by revenue of the car rental market in Australia, went live on 1 March 2018.

Iconic building

Acting for a university as proprietor in relation to the major refurbishment of an iconic building and surrounds, and associated long term leasing arrangements, including advising and documenting arrangements for relocation and pop up/temporary accommodation.

Incannex Healthcare

Advising on acquisition of medicinal cannabis research and development company APIRx.

Trade mark infringement

Representing companies to protect their trade marks from infringements by competitors, as well as defending their trade marks from claims against them.

MACA Ltd

Thomson Geer advised Perth-based ASX-listed mining and infrastructure services company MACA Ltd on the approx. A$350 million takeover bid announced by Thiess.

Eden Fishermen's Club

Acting for Eden Fishermen's Club in negotiating entry into a major joint venture development project involving the construction of a new clubhouse and establishing a lifestyle living community, creating a 'destination' for the NSW South Coast.

Wind farms

Advising New Zealand wind farm companies on the regulatory regimes for the establishment of wind farms in Australia.

Flight Centre Limited

Advising in relation to the establishment of the Escape Travel franchise, structure, documents (internal and external), including disclosure and other necessary documentation.

Construction finance

Advising on senior and mezzanine financing of construction of a 123 lot mixed residential and commercial development in Bondi Junction, Sydney.

Unfair contracts

Advising clients on the application of the unfair contracts regime under the Australian Consumer Law, including conducting contract review, assessing risk and drafting necessary amendments.

MMA Offshore

Advising leading marine and subsea services company MMA Offshore on its acquisition by Cyan Renewables by way of scheme of arrangement for A$1.1 billion. The deal is reportedly the largest takeover deal in the wind power segment in the Asia-Pacific region for 2024.

Australian Securities Exchange

Advising ASX on the acquisition of new technology from a Swedish company to support and operate a new share trading platform.

Submarine contractor

Advising on a large safety due diligence project for a large contractor involved in the sustainment of the Collins Class submarine fleet. This work included the delivery of a governance safety system to ensure leaders can deliver excellence in the governance of safety and compliance with its due diligence obligations under the harmonised Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws.

Becton Property Group

Acting on the development of “Divercity” at Waterloo, Sydney, a 30,000m2 multi-tower residential property project, advising Becton Property Group on initial set up, titling, financing and selling of residential and mixed use lots.

Security of payment

Acting on large infrastructure related adjudications under Security of Payment legislation ranging from A$1 million to $80 million in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Northern Territory, and Western Australia.

Luxury goods conglomerate

Assisting a global luxury goods conglomerate on a range of privacy and surveillance matters, and advice on compliance framework and enforcement matters.

Enforcement of foreign arbitral award

Representing US and Australian companies resisting enforcement of a foreign arbitral award made in Singapore at both trial and appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of Victoria. 'First of kind' defence in Australian courts based on 'double recovery' as breach of public policy.

Dragontail Systems M&A

Advising food technology company Dragontail Systems on its acquisition by restaurant company Yum! Brands via a scheme of arrangement for A$93.5 million.

Product disclosure statement

Reviewing a major insurer’s product disclosure statement and heavy motor insurance policy with an emphasis on the use of plain English terminology and formatting suitable for online sales and promotion.

Defence contractors

Advising defence contractors in connection with the Australian Government’s Offshore Patrol Vessel Program and the Future Submarine Program.

Royal Commission

Acting for aged care providers in relation to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.

Chris O’Brien Lifehouse Project

Advising Chris O’Brien Lifehouse Project on the A$260 million Lifehouse facility for the provision of integrated cancer services in a new purpose-built facility on the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital campus in Sydney.

Australian Pharmaceutical Industries

Advising Australian Pharmaceutical Industries (Priceline) on performance management programs; dealing with long-term absentee employees; and enterprise agreements at distribution centres across Australia.

Major club – assisting with diversification projects

Assisting major club hospitality group with diversification projects including establishing an innovation and incubation hub, and facility for manufacture of pulp-based products, with international licensors and distribution channels.

Domino’s Pizza

Thomson Geer advised Domino’s Pizza Enterprises on its acquisition of Domino’s Pizza in Malaysia, Singapore and Cambodia for A$214 million with an earn-out of up to A$142 million.

Tribunal hearings

Representing AFL clubs, club officials, players and spectators in the AFL Tribunal in contested hearings and hearings on penalty.

Dee Why RSL Club

Successfully defending Dee Why RSL Club which was the subject of a major disciplinary investigation into the conduct of gambling activities.

Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corp

Advising the Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation on the establishment of a renewable energy project partnership in Western Australia with ACEN Corp worth more than A$1 billion.

ANZ

Advising ANZ in relation to the leasing of helicopters to the Victorian police and New South Wales ambulance services.

Sporting club

Assisting a prominent Australian sporting club client to respond to a privacy related complaint lodged with an Australian regulator. The matter involved analysis of the legal risks and regard to the various nuances of the situation and the personalities involved, to arrive at a response that resolved the matter efficiently and commercially with the complainant and the regulator.

Mark Moran Vaucluse

Advising on the development of the retirement living, aged care and wellness precinct, Mark Moran Vaucluse.

Roshana Group

Advising Roshana Group on the $15 million Valencia Nursing Home redevelopment. This involved providing strategic advice and advocacy through multiple SAT mediations and JDAP meetings to facilitate approval for a 120 bed redevelopment of an existing aged care facility in the City of Kalamunda.

J. G. Boswell Company

Advising J.G. Boswell Company on the sale of one of Australia’s largest land, water and infrastructure agribusinesses, Australian cotton grower and producer Auscott Limited to Australian Food & Fibre following a competitive sale process run by PwC.

Regulator engagement

Advising and representing clients in actions against them by regulators such as the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission alleging misleading or deceptive conduct in relation to advertising claims.

Leighton Holdings

Partner Scott Castledine acted for Leighton Holdings (now CIMIC) in its defence and $70 million settlement of a securities class action arising out of a $1 billion profit downgrade in connection with AirportLink in Brisbane, a Desalination Project in Victoria and investments in the Middle East.

Havilah Resources

Advising ASX-listed Australian minerals explorer, Havilah Resources Limited on the proposed A$205 million acquisition of its Kalkaroo Project by OZ Minerals.

Domino’s Pizza Enterprises

Advising in relation to all documentation for new franchisees, leases, franchise sales, disposals, acquisitions, ACCC, ASIC and other regulatory compliance and Domino’s IPO, and its international expansion.

Estate dispute

Representing an estate to defend a claim by friends of the deceased for the entire estate comprised of multiple properties to be transferred to them due to representations apparently made by the deceased during their lifetime.

Cronos Australia

Advising on a merger with CDA Health, one of Australia's largest distributors of medicinal cannabis.

CTP Regulator

Advising the CTP Regulator in relation to the entry of insurer Youi into the South Australian compulsory third party insurance market.

ATO negotiations

Advising accountants and clients in negotiations with the ATO on substantive tax matters, including tax planning, structuring, penalty minimisation, and audit case management.

QBiotics

Advising on the $130 million merger of the QBiotics Group, by the use of two schemes of arrangement to tophat existing companies, Qbiotics Limited and EcoBiotics Limited, with a new holding company, QBiotics Group Limited.

Defamation

Successfully defending the publisher of The Daily Telegraph and The Sunday Telegraph in defamation proceedings brought by former sport journalist Josh Massoud. The NSW District Court found the media had made out its truth defence and proved that Mr Massoud was a bully who threatened and intimidated his work colleagues.

Barley Australia

Advising the peak body for the Australian barley and malting industry, Barley Australia, on its merger with Grains Australia. Thomson Geer advised Barley Australia on the terms of the merger and on intellectual property matters.

Tax law

Advising on tax law administration, including appearing on behalf of taxpayers before ATO investigations, and dealing in white-collar crime including offences under the Criminal Code Act and the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Parade College

Working with Melbourne school Parade College to partner with English Premier League champions Manchester City to launch the first Manchester City Football School in Australia.

Fashion designer

Advising a well-known fashion designer to understand the Australian privacy and surveillance landscape and how it applies to their retail operations in Australia. The client was developing global surveillance policies and consents for its personnel, and we provided Australian law review.

GeelongPort

Acting for GeelongPort in negotiating a complex Agreement for Lease and Lease with TT-Line in relation to the relocation of the Spirit of Tasmania ferry from Melbourne’s Station Pier to Geelong.

Genesis Resources

Advising gold miner Genesis Minerals on its acquisition of the Gwalia gold mine in Western Australia from fellow miner St Barbara for A$628 million and on a A$470 million capital raising by Genesis to fund the acquisition.

Southern Palladium

Advising Southern Palladium Ltd on its successful dual listing on the Australian Securities Exchange and Johannesburg Stock Exchange after an oversubscribed A$19 million initial public offering.

Cardinal George Pell

Acting for a large number of media organisations, editors and journalists in relation to contempt of court charges relating to reporting of the conviction of Cardinal George Pell on historic child sex offences, which have since been overturned on appeal.

National sport organisation

Drafting Member Protection Policies including membership applications, Code of Conduct, training materials, management guides and tribunal rules. For a State constituent of the same organisation, advised about constitutional reform, including drafting new constitutions for the umbrella body and its affiliate clubs.

Concessions

Advising health, educational, charitable, and religious groups on obtaining federal, state and territory revenue concessions for restructuring of their tax exempt entities and dealing with revenue authorities to obtain concessions.

Barley Australia M&A

Advising the peak body for the Australian barley and malting industry, Barley Australia, on its merger with Grains Australia. Thomson Geer advised Barley Australia on the terms of the merger and on intellectual property matters.

Arbitration

Arranging arbitrations to resolve “on risk” disputes between two life insurance companies.

InterGrain

Acting for InterGrain, a wheat, barley and oat breeder, in relation to multiple strategic alliances and technology commercialisation, including most recently in relation to the acquisition of a crop breeding program and commercialisation licence.

South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute

Assisting with various commercial tasks including its establishment and then advising on clinical trial agreements, fundraising, and privacy law compliance.

Major developer

Acting for a major developer in respect to A$1.2 billion in debt facilities. Works included drafting and negotiating loan note subscription agreements, syndicated facility agreements and associated securities, comprehensive due diligence and providing advice on complex financial structures and trust arrangements.

Insurance products

Advising on issues relating to the marketing of insurance products, including the wording and structure of advertising and related intellectual property issues.

Training

Developing and implementing training packages for aged care providers and retirement village operators.

Pro-invest Australian Hospitality

Successfully acting for Pro-invest Australian Hospitality Opportunity (ST) Pty Ltd (as trustee) in defending a $6.1 million Supreme Court of Queensland proceeding commenced by contractor Built Qld Pty Ltd.

Lone Star

Advising Lone Star on its proposed (but ultimately unsuccessful) disposal of a controlling stake in Korea Exchange Bank (to both Kookmin and subsequently to HSBC for approximately US$3 billion).

About us

Thomson Geer is one of Australia's largest independent corporate law firms. We are trusted by companies, governments and institutions to act for their commercial and legal interests.

Thomson Geer acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.