Chris serves as a trusted advisor, helping you navigate your most critical commercial, financial, and legal challenges. Chris’s goal is to protect your business interests throughout your career and provide a strategic roadmap for your leadership team when you are no longer at the helm.
About Chris
With over 30 years’ experience, Chris provides practical, commercially focused solutions backed by deep technical knowledge and strong governance insight.
Chris has a Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor of Laws, and a Master of Laws (Hons) from The University of Sydney. He practises in the areas of Commonwealth and State taxes, corporations law, trust law and commercial law. His equity specialty is in tax law. He has advised the Australian government since 2008 on a number of international tax reform proposals, as well as being an advisor on corporate private equity and joint venture projects.
Chris is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is a Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia and the Tax Institute.
Until late 2024, Chris was for six years the Vice-Chair and a non-executive director of ADHD Australia Limited, the peak national NFP body for ADHD. Chris’s experience includes governance standards in the NFP sector. Since 2022, Chris has been Chair of the Metallicum Minerals Group, an Australian leader in the critical minerals processing industry with projects in Australia and overseas, demonstrating Chris’s experience in corporate governance, international relations and global mining and minerals processing laws and regulations.
Services
Chris advises and represents clients in complex disputes, including significant revenue matters and appellate proceedings, and offers strategic guidance on structuring, governance, and regulatory issues.
With particular expertise in tax and equity, Chris combines deep technical knowledge with a practical, commercially focused approach. His experience extends to international tax reform and high-level corporate transactions, enabling him to deliver clear, effective solutions in complex and evolving legal environments.
- Taxation Law
Advising and representing clients in complex Commonwealth and State taxation matters, including disputes, structuring, and strategic tax planning. - Revenue Disputes & Appeals
Acting in significant tax controversies and revenue matters, including appellate advocacy in superior courts and the High Court. - Corporate & Corporations Law
Providing advice on corporate structures, directors’ duties, shareholder issues, and regulatory compliance. - Trust Law
Advising on the establishment, administration, and dispute resolution of trusts, including trustee duties and beneficiary rights. - Commercial Law
Delivering practical, commercially focused advice across a broad range of business transactions and disputes. - Equity
Specialising in equitable principles as they apply to taxation, trusts, and commercial relationships. - International Tax Advisory
Advising on international tax reform and cross-border taxation issues, including work with government and institutional stakeholders. - Private Equity & Joint Ventures
Supporting complex corporate transactions, including structuring and advisory work for private equity and joint venture projects. - Governance & Regulatory Advice
Providing strategic guidance on governance frameworks, with particular expertise in the not-for-profit sector.
Recent High Court appearances
- Tasty Chicks Pty Ltd v Chief Commissioner of State Revenue (NSW) (2011) 245 CLR 446 (appeared as leading counsel for the appellant-taxpayer: appeal allowed)
- ALH Group Property Holdings Pty Ltd v Chief Commissioner of State Revenue (NSW) (2012) 245 CLR 338 (appeared as leading counsel for the appellant-taxpayer: appeal allowed)
- Boensch v Pascoe (2019) 268 CLR 593 (appeared as leading counsel for the appellant-trustee: appeal dismissed)
- Chief Commissioner of State Revenue (NSW) v Benidorm Pty Ltd [2021] HCATrans 067 (appeared as leading counsel for the respondent to an application for special leave to appeal from NSW Court of Appeal at [2020] NSWCA 285 – decision under appeal affirmed as correct; legislation amended to reverse the effect of the decisions of the Court of Appeal and the High Court by the enactment of s. 8AA of the Duties Act 1997 (NSW)