Philip has over 40 years of experience as a trusted adviser to overseas enterprises doing business in Australia and Asia-Pacific. Fluent in Japanese, his experience includes senior roles with a large international law firm in its Sydney office and other offices in the Asian region. He has spent two years in Tokyo on secondment to the head office of a major Japanese corporation and has travelled extensively on business throughout Asia, Europe and North America.
Philip has wide experience in corporate law, business law and transactions relating to the Asian region. This work includes corporate advisory, statutory compliance, capital raising, mergers and acquisitions, real estate projects, commercial agreements, joint ventures, business visas and the establishment of new businesses in Australia.
He and his team work regularly with the Austrian Foreign Trade Office, the German-Australian Chamber of Industry and Commerce, the Finland-Australia Chamber of Commerce, the Danish Consulate-General, the Swiss-Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and commercial representatives of other countries in Europe, Asia and North America. He has also served as Chairman of the Council of The Scots College, Sydney, President of the National Federation of Australia-Japan Societies and President of the Australia-Japan Society of NSW. In 2024, Philip was honoured with the Japanese imperial award of the Order of the Rising Sun for his service to the relationship between Australia and Japan.
Expertise
Experience
- Major Japanese manufacturing and distribution company Advising on all aspects of its operations in Australia.
- Chinese investor in agribusiness sector Advising on foreign investment process and regulatory system in Australia, drafted and negotiated acquisition agreement and all supporting documentation.
- Worldwide acquisition in technology and services sector Providing advice on due diligence, preparation and negotiation of all Australian documentation and co-ordinated transaction for the Asia-Pacific region.
- The first Significant Investor Visa applicant for New South Wales Advising on all aspects of sponsorship and application, leading to the first successful grant of permanent residence.
- Major investor in property sector Providing advice on structured financing and all supporting documentation for an innovative acquisition of Australian commercial property.