European Desk

Many of our European clients wish to establish a subsidiary or branch in Australia or acquire another company by share deal or asset deal. Others need to solve difficulties with distributors, unpaid invoices or employees.

On the other hand, we guide our Australian clients into the European market. We provide strategic corporate legal advice on how to enter Europe and facilitate relationships to ensure ongoing success.

Our core team is based in Sydney, supported by partners in Brisbane, Canberra and Perth.

The team is co-ordinated by our European Counsel Dr Wolfgang Babeck and supported by our affiliated law firms in Europe. Service is provided in English, German, French, Spanish and Russian.

All team members have relevant experience in the areas of corporate advisory, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, franchising, taxation, workplace relations, immigration, and equipment finance and financial services.

Our clients include governments, banks, insurance companies, investment houses, manufacturers, technology enterprises and privately held and publicly listed companies in Europe and Australia.

Our services

Services of the European Desk include:

• setting up companies in Australia for European clients (from Austria, Germany, Switzerland, France, Spain, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Netherlands and the UK)
• sales contracts and trade practices - adopting your documents for other markets
• entering joint ventures and/or franchise agreements. We recently advised on a joint venture of a Berlin technology company with Leighton Holdings
• eligibility for government grants such as the Export Market Development Grant or the Regional Headquarter Program
• identifying possible trading partners or targets for merger and acquisition activities. We have recently completed a larger takeover for a DAX listed company
• preparing international taxation strategies. We have recently advised on a holding structure in Europe for an Australian IT company
• advising on international intellectual property issues, we have recently assisted a large European medical technology company with patent issues
• employment law, employment benefits and notarial services. We have assisted head offices to reorganise their local boards.

For more information on our European Desk, please contact: