Gold Coast Lawyers Capability Statment Stone Group Lawyers

CAPABILITY STATEMENT

Stone Group Lawyers Pty Ltd A.C.N. 161 443 812

Gold Coast Suite 1305 “Southport Central” 56 Scarborough St, Southport Qld 4215 T 1300 088 440

Brisbane Unit 1, 32 Windsor Street, Hamilton, Qld 4007 E [email protected]

Postal PO Box 145, Southport Qld 4215 W www.stonegroup.com.au

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OUR OFFICES

BRISBANE OFFICE

Level 36 ‘Riparian Plaza’

71 Eagle Street, Brisbane

Q 4000

GOLD COAST OFFICE

Suite 1305

56 Scarborough Street, Southport

QLD 4215 Australia

CONTACT

BRISBANE

1300 088 440

GOLD COAST

(07) 5635 0180

EMAIL

[email protected]

WEBSITE

www.stonegroup.com.au


Gold Coast Suite 1305 “Southport Central” 56 Scarborough St, Southport Qld 4215 T 1300 088 440

Brisbane Level 36 ‘Riparian Plaza’, 71 Eagle Street Brisbane QLD 4000 E [email protected]


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ABOUT STONE GROUP LAWYERS

Stone Group Lawyers is a commercial law firm with offices on the Gold Coast and in Brisbane. It offers expertise in

corporate, commercial, planning and environment and litigation legal services.

The philosophy for SGL is simple: complex ideas; simple solutions. We act for a range of clients from SME’s to publicly

listed blue chip corporations. We are serious about delivering on our philosophy and obtaining the required results for

our clients to succeed.

Our lawyers are sourced from both international and domestic top tier firms and we are able to offer an unparalleled

premium service at a fraction of the cost of our competitors.


Gold Coast Suite 1305 “Southport Central” 56 Scarborough Street, Southport Qld 4215 T 1300 088 440



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CORPORATE AND COMMERCIAL LAW

Stone Group Lawyers has expertise in corporate, securities and commercial matters. Our answer to a dynamic and

changing corporate market is:

forward strategic thinking;

execution in a timely way; and

Technical excellence

This enables us to achieve the best results for our clients.

We may assist in:

Company Secretariat

• Incorporation and de-registration of companies;

• Preparation of notices and minutes for meetings of directors;

• Reviewing statutory records;

• Maintenance of minute books and statutory registers; and

• Preparation and lodgment of all ASIC prescribed forms.

Corporate Governance

• Compliance and advice with the Corporations Act 2001;

• Employee share and option schemes;

• Establishment of dividend reinvestment plans;

• Share Purchase Plans (SPP’s); and

• Buy-sell agreements.





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Corporate Compliance

• Australian Taxation Office (ATO);

• Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC);

• Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC);

• Australian Stock Exchange (ASX);

• Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB); and

• Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA).

Mergers and Acquisitions

• Restructuring for asset protection;

• Restructuring for business growth;

• Tax driven restructuring;

• Capital raisings (Debt and Equity markets);

• Takeovers;

• Venture capital and seed capital shareholder and management buyouts;

• Facilitation of exit strategies; and

• Establishment of individual and business structures such as joint ventures, partnerships and trusts.





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MINING AND RESOURCES

Our team has and continues to act for some of Australia’s largest corporations in the mining and resources sector and

indigenous land councils in advisory, transactional and litigation matters. Our holistic experience in mining and resources

law enables us to provide strategic and highly competitive advice on the following advisory matters:

• Carbon and mining taxation advice;

• Environmental Impact Statements;

• Mining and petroleum leases;

• Exploration permits;

• Environmental authority;

• Infrastructure negotiations & agreements;

• Federal government environmental;

• Native title and aboriginal cultural heritage;

• Indigenous Land Use Agreements (ILUA’s);

• Capital raising and project finance;

• Conducting thorough due diligence of tenements, approvals and agreements and advising on all regulatory

requirements; and

• Agreements for strategic alliances, sale and purchase agreements, option agreements, royalty agreements,

access agreements and commodity agreements.





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PROPERTY, PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT

Our team specialises in the following commercial property matters:

• Commercial and retail leasing;

• Acquisitions and due diligence;

• Contamination and remediation;

• Local government enforcement and show cause matters;

• Infrastructure and development agreements;

• Development approvals;

• Planning and Environment Court appeals and other litigation;

• Land Court (valuation disputes);

• Native title and aboriginal cultural heritage;

• 'Green Energy' projects; and

• Climate change law advisory matters.





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LITIGATION

Our litigation group prides itself on a highly aggressive and competitive strategy for its clients. Our experience allows us

to deliver the best legal and commercial outcomes. The practical advice we provide sets us apart from our competitors

and we are able to provide cost effective results. Our lawyers have been heard in all state and territories and with

experiences in tribunals, commissions, courts and in appellate bodies. Our lawyers provide confidence an essential

ingredient in a succesful commercial disputes.

Our litigation team is trained to recognise and manage the early signs of a dispute. Where disputes can be resolved

without court intervention, our team has the expertise to take advantage of alternative dispute resolution processes such

as mediation, negotiation, expert determination, arbitration and litigation.

Our team regularly represents our clients in:

• Banking and finance litigation;

• Compliance and regulatory action by the ACCC, ASIC, APRA, ATO and professional boards;

• Contractual disputes;

• Corporations law (shareholders, AFSL issues);

• Defamation;

• Employment;

• Debt recovery;

• Property; and

• Commission inquiries complaints.





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OUR PEOPLE

Nicholas Stone – Legal Practitioner Director LLB(hons) BBus

Admissions

Supreme Court Queensland, Australia

Supreme Court Australian Capital Territory, Australia

High Court of Australia

High Court of New Zealand

Supreme Court of Vanuatu

Biography

Nick is an experienced transaction and litigation lawyer with expertise in corporate, property and international law. Nick

offers his experience from the pedigree of top tier international and domestic firms. He has represented governments,

domestic and foreign companies in complex litigation cross border and other strategic transactions and regulatory

matters including:

1. advising clients on public and private mergers and acquisitions, equity capital markets and joint venture arrangements

throughout financial centers in Australia and abroad

2. Nicks area of specialty and interest is in advising clients on mid to large capital mining and resources transactions

where he provides effective and technically excellent advice across a range of simple and complex legal matters;

3. his advice extends to conducting litigation in State and Federal Courts for matters involving contractual, securities,

banking and finance disputes for Defendant and Plaintiff parties.

Nick recognises that business life is about much more than transactions and he prides himself on becoming a trusted

adviser, establishing long-term and deep relationships with clients.





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Michael Leith - Special Counsel LLB BIntBus (Bond)

Admissions

Supreme Court of Queensland, Australia


New York, USA

Biography

Michael is an experienced transactional lawyer with expertise in property, mining and resources, planning and

environment litigation, environmental law and commerce. Specifically, Michael has played a vital role in the following

matters:

BHP Billiton - providing advice with respect to Mining Lease and Environmental Authority amendments;

Xstrata - providing town planning advice and representation in the negotiation process with respect to the

local Council’s decision to impose infrastructure charges as a condition of a development approval;

Mirvac - representing Mirvac in the Planning & Environment Court in an appeal against Brisbane City

Council’s decision to impose excessive infrastructure charges as a condition of a development

approval. We successfully reduced the infrastructure charges by over $800,000;

Morgan Stanley - preparation of an environmental due diligence with respect to their proposed purchase of a $1b+

asset;

City Pacific - attended to the revision of the company’s asset base consolidation;

QGC (British Gas) - provided advice with respect to compensation issues arising out of the compulsory acquisition of

land for a gas pipeline;

Australia Post - prepared a property due diligence over a potential site in Northern Queensland. We discovered and

addressed various land contamination issues and advised on an appropriate course of remediation

of the contaminated land; and

GCCC - appeared for the Council in various Planning and Environment Court appeals against Council’s

decision to either refuse an application for development or its decision to impose conditions on

development approvals.

Previous Employment

Minter Ellison Lawyers, Clarkekann Lawyers & Mallesons Stephen Jaques





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Nicholas Coundouris – Lawyer LLB (Hons), B.Com, Grad Dip LP

Admissions

Supreme Court of Queensland

Biography

Nicholas is a dispute resolution and commercial lawyer with Stone Group Lawyers and has a keen interest in banking

and finance, construction & body corporate litigation. Nicholas regularly appears in all federal, state courts and tribunals.

Nicholas acts for body corporates, management rights & construction corporations and individuals in all dispute

resolution processes. Nicholas has developed a reputation for providing clients commercial outcome driven advice in

dispute matters and identifying key strategies in complexed disputes.

Nicholas is committed to providing high quality litigation advice in an efficient and cost effective manner.

Stacy McStay – Lawyer LLB (Hons), B.Com, Grad Dip LP

Admissions


Biography

Stacy is a commercial lawyer and property lawyer at Stone Group Lawyers. Stacy graduated with a Bachelor of Laws

from Bond University in 2010 and was admitted to the Supreme Court on 6 June 2011.

Stacy has extensive experience in commercial, intellectual property, and property law and regularly assists clients in

contractual and acquisition work in business sales and purchases, commercial sales and leasing, construction and trade

mark applications and oppositions. Stacy is a clear thinking commercial lawyer who understands commercial outcomes

for clients and works strategically and efficiently towards achieving these outcomes.





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Francesco Maconi - Lawyer LLB (Hons) BA (Griffith)

Admissions

Supreme Court of Queensland, Australia


Biography

Frank is a Commercial Lawyer at Stone Group Lawyers. He has experience in all aspects of commercial, property and civil litigation. Frank’s background is in regional legal practice where he worked on high-profile matters and attended court from the beginning of his career. Francesco has also worked at top-tier level in Brisbane City and overseas where he gained invaluable experience in cross-border client matters. Frank has worked on matters which include: BHP Billiton -Employment Agreements and redundancy arrangements. Bank of America – Meryl Lynch -Finance Agreements, cross-border transactions. Harbrew Cranes - Litigation, purchase and sale of business assets and subsidiary companies. Nacional Financiera, S.N.C. - General Advisory Work. Francesco is fluent in Italian and Spanish.

Richard Carter Tate – Special Counsel B.A LL.B Dip.Ed. (University of Tasmania)

Admissions

Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory


Biography

Prior to entering private practice, Richard worked in the International Law Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs

and Trade and then worked as a legal research officer in the Parliamentary Library in Canberra. He has also been the

private secretary to the Tasmanian Deputy Premier, Education Minister and Attorney-General.

Richard is special counsel and legal adviser to clients such as the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and he

regularly deals with issues of property purchases, leasing, international law and general legal advisory with the

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Richard advises and assists in a wide range of property matters including leasing and more complex issues in

succession and international law.





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Zane Gray – Lawyer LL.B (Hons) B.Int. Bus GDLP (Griffith) LLM (UQ)

Admissions


Biography

Zane is a lawyer and has joined the Corporate and Banking & Finance team. Zane has spent the past four years working

with a top tier international finance institution in New York in the USA. Prior to his international engagement, Zane has

acted in house to a domestic construction company. His unique experience is a valuable asset to Stone Group Lawyers

who are utilizing the skills of practitioners with experience in international markets.





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HOW TO CONTACT US

BRISBANE

1300 088 440

GOLD COAST

(07) 5635 0180

EMAIL

[email protected]

WEBSITE

www.stonegroup.com.au

Gold Coast Lawyers Capability Statment Stone Group Lawyers

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