Areas of Expertise
Bill is a Senior Associate in our Dispute Resolution & Advisory team and has valuable expertise in a wide range of general commercial disputes. He focuses on corporations disputes (including shareholder oppression and breaches of directors duties), trust disputes, real property disputes, debt recovery and insolvency. Bill has worked on litigation matters in the Federal Court and various state based tribunals and courts, including instructing senior counsel at final hearings in the Court of Appeal of the Supreme Court of New South Wales.
Prior to being admitted as a lawyer, Bill was awarded the New Colombo Plan Scholarship, a signature Australian Government initiative offered through the Department of Foreign Affiars and Trade. As a part of his scholarship, he lived in Hong Kong for 18 months where he studied at the City University of Hong Kong, improved his Chinese (Mandarin) language skills and interned at ANZ Banking Group and QBE Insurance Group.
Bill’s in depth knowledge of the law surrounding commercial disputes and understanding of tribunal and court rules and procedures allows him to develop strategies that help clients efficiently and effectively resolve disputes without resorting to litigation. When litigation is unavoidable, he manages the litigation process from inception to completion.
Qualifications/Memberships
- Bachelor of Business (Finance), Bachelor of Laws (UTS)
A word from Bill
People enter into personal and business relationships with the expectation of achieving successful outcomes, and in most cases, successful outcomes do eventuate. However, there are occasions where disputes arise and what was meant to be a pleasant journey can become an extremely stressful and unpleasant experience.
I enjoy being a trusted advisor to my clients to help minimise the risk of such situations. I guide clients towards resolution in the most commercial, pragmatic and cost effective manner. This approach allows them to move forward confidently and pursue new opportunities.
I recognise that certain disputes cannot be resolved without litigation and I am always mindful of Sun Tzu’s quote “the supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting”.
Career highlights
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Acting for a property developer, who was the defendant at first instance and respondent in the Court of Appeal of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, in successfully defending claims brought by a contractor regarding monies owed under an alleged ‘construction contract’ and payment claim. The Court found in favour of the client, the contractor was not awarded any monies and ordered the costs of the client be paid by the contractor.
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Acting for the the liquidators of two companies, in circumstances where one of the companies was a corporate trustee, and succesfuly obtaining court orders on an urgent basis to appoint the liquidators as receivers and manager of the trust. This enabled the clients to continue trading the corporate trustee and deal with the property held by the trust.
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Acting for the aggrieved shareholder of a company and unitholder of a trust in successfully obtaining urgent court orders injuncting the defendant from dealing with property held under trust and appointing a receiver and manager to the corporate trustee and the trust to sell the property.
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Acting for the founder of a private company who became the subject of shareholder oppression and successfully negotiating a favourable buyout for the client at mediation prior to the commencement of any court proceedings.
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Acting for a former director of a company which went into liquidation, defending court proceedings commenced by the liquidator of the company and successfully negotiating a settlement for the client so the proceedings as against the client were discontinued.
Specific areas of focus
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Commercial Litigation and Disputes
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Partnership and shareholder disputes including oppression claims
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Corporations disputes and potential breaches of directors/fiduciary duties
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Commercial contract, real property and trust disputes
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Insolvency and debt recovery