Barrister at St James Chambers
Areas of Expertise
- Taxation & Revenue
- Administrative Law
- Trust & Estates
- Equity & Judicial Advice
- Corporations Advice
With diverse financial and legal skills, Louise has 30 years of experience in commercial law, specialising in taxation. Her wealth of experience has been acquired though the following positions and appointments:
- Partner in a major law firm (Clayton Utz)
- Partner in a major accounting firm (Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu)
- Director of a boutique merchant bank (Grant Samuel)
- Trustee of the Commonwealth of Australia's Superannuation Schemes
- Member of the Takeover Panel and the Corporations Markets and Advisory Committee.
Since being admitted as a barrister in 2006, Louise has focused on trust and estate matters, complex tax audits and settlements, cross boarder tax advice, Goods and Services Tax disputes, international tax issues, capital gains tax disputes, fraud and evasion matters and applications for judicial review under the Judiciary Act and the Administrative Decisions Judicial review Act. Prior to coming to the Bar, Louise specialised in infrastructure projects, hybrid instruments, leverage leases, capital raisings and cross-boarder taxation advice on financing arrangements.
In 2008, Louise appeared before the Australian Senate Economics Legislation Committee public hearing on the 'Inquiry into Tax Laws Amendment (Public Benefit Test) Bill 2010' which concerned the reform of not for profit sector.
Louise led the team of Advisors to the Southern Cross Consortium (consisting of Macquarie Bank, Commonwealth Bank of Australia and Hochtief Airport Gmbh) for the successful bid for the Sydney Airport Corporation. This transaction was the largest Government trade sale in Australian History and the world's largest airport privatisation. In the carriage of the matter Louise advised on the first arrangements under the newly enacted Debt /Equity and Thin Capitalisation rules as well as structured the listed securities ("FLIERS") that were part of the financing structure.
Louise writes regularly for the Australian Financial Review and The Australian Newspaper on taxation matters. Louise has also commented regularly on National Television on business taxation issues and other issues impacting the efficient operation of business in Australia (view Publications).