(Brisbane based)
Paul holds a Bachelor of Arts (Philosophy and Political Science) and a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) from the University of Queensland. He was admitted as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of Queensland in 2017.
Paul has a keen interest in empowering his clients to make good business and strategic decisions. He understands that quality legal advice should always take into account commercial realities and extra-legal avenues in order to secure favourable outcomes for clients.
Outside of work, Paul enjoys long distance running, cycling, and playing social squash. Paul is also actively involved in his local church and serves as a director of a Christian private school in the Moreton Bay regional area.
Since his admission, Paul has worked in numerous areas of law, primarily focusing on Property and Not-for-profit matters.
Relevant Experience
- Structuring / restructuring charities of various types – including churches, religious entities, and public benevolent institutions. In particular, Paul has distinct experience with companies limited by guarantee, incorporated associations, unincorporated associations, and letters patent bodies corporate.
- Migrating incorporated associations and letters patent bodies corporate to companies limited by guarantee.
- Making submissions on behalf of charities for exemptions from transfer duty and land tax. To date, Paul’s submissions have saved charities millions of dollars in tax liabilities.
- Advising on directors’ duties, including ACNC Governance Standards and ACNC External Conduct Rules.
- Dealing with internal ACNC appeals.
- Managing conflicts of interests and related-party transactions within charity / ministry groups.
- Advising on charitable trust obligations.
- Establishment of public ancillary funds.
- Advising in relation to the establishment and accreditation of non-state schools.
- Advising on schools’ compliance responses to the Non-State Schools Accreditation Board.
- Advising on recurrent funding conditions for non-state schools.
- Preparing Memorandums of Understanding and cooperation arrangements between schools and other related enterprises.
- Establishing public ancillary funds and other DGR-endorsed funds for schools, such as school building funds.
- Advising on and negotiating leasing matters, including:
- commercial leases;
- retail shop leases;
- lease renewals;
- assignments of leases;
- surrenders; and
- lease disputes.
- Advising on high-value sales and acquisitions of residential and commercial properties, both within the pre-contract stage and during the conveyance.
- Advising on business sales – including in the childcare, aged care, professional services, and hospitality sectors.
- Advising on structuring for profit businesses, including on shareholders agreements.
- Drafting shared services agreements and consultancy agreements.
- Not for profit & charities
- Property law
- Commercial & Corporate
- Leasing
- Employment law
- Insurance law
- Elder law
- Amendment to the Tax Ruling for School Building Funds
- A Guide to Charity Tax Concessions in Queensland
- Tax Deductible Giving for Non-State Schools
- Queensland Electronic Conveyancing (E-Conveyancing) Mandate: Implications for Not-For-Profits
- New Guidelines for Public Ancillary Funds
- Public Ancillary Funds for Private Schools
- Proposed DGR Category for Pastoral Care
- ACNC Charities Part IV: Health Promotion Charities
- How Can I Leave My Commercial Lease Early?
- Changes to the ACNC Revenue Thresholds & Related Party Transaction Disclosure Requirements
- What to do if you suspect elder abuse?
- Directors Identification Numbers: Do’s and Don’ts
- Proposed amendments to property law act in Queensland: Electronic Execution of deeds
- What do I need to know before signing an aged care resident and accommodation agreement?
- What are the main costs of moving into aged care?