Commercial Law
Strategic and Commercially Driven Legal Advice
David is a Special Counsel in Robinson Gill’s Commercial Law team and an Accredited Specialist in Commercial Law, accredited by the Law Institute of Victoria. Recognised for his commercially focused approach, David is known for delivering practical, strategic advice that aligns with his clients’ business objectives.
David is particularly recognised for his ability to understand both the legal and commercial incentives behind a transaction. His approach to legal practice is shaped by a genuine interest in understanding how businesses operate, the commercial drivers behind transactions, and the practical outcomes clients seek to achieve. Clients value his ability to balance technical legal analysis with commercially focused solutions.
Extensive Experience in Significant Commercial and Cross-Border Transactions
David has extensive experience acting in a broad range of commercial transactions, including business and share acquisitions, joint ventures, commercial leasing, cross-border transactions, and private lending matters. He regularly advises private businesses, high net worth individuals, developers, and overseas investors on sophisticated commercial arrangements across multiple industries.
With a strong understanding of both Australian and Chinese business cultures, David is particularly well positioned to advise Chinese clients investing or operating in Australia. He has built an extensive network within the Chinese and broader Asian business communities and regularly acts on cross-border commercial matters.
Successful Cases
Corporate, Acquisitions, Joint Ventures
- Assisted in structuring, negotiating and drafting unitholders agreements for property development joint ventures.
- Assisted in the structuring and negotiation of hotel development joint ventures involving international stakeholders, including drafting and reviewing transaction documents and investment arrangements.
- Acted for a local childcare operator on the acquisition of multiple childcare centres from liquidators, including transaction structuring, due diligence, negotiations, and reviewing and negotiating transaction documents.
- Assisted major Chinese corporations in establishing Australian subsidiaries and entering into joint ventures, including advising on Australian regulatory compliance and negotiating joint venture agreements with local partners.
- Acted on acquisitions and joint ventures involving medical clinics and healthcare businesses.
- Advised a Chinese agricultural supply company on the acquisition of shares in an Australian agribusiness, including transaction structuring, shareholders agreement negotiations and risk management relating to existing liabilities.
Finance, Private Lending & Australian Credit Licence
-
Provides ongoing legal assistance to non-bank lenders in relation to the provision of development and construction loan facilities, including drafting loan and security documentation and assisting with financial close settlements.
-
Advised a Chinese law firm on debt enforcement strategies, assignment and novation issues involving Australian entities under external administration and insolvency processes.
-
Assisted mortgage broker businesses with reviewing and negotiating aggregator agreements and related commercial arrangements.
-
Advised private lenders and finance businesses on Australian Credit Licence (ACL) requirements, including regulatory compliance obligations and structuring lending arrangements for property development and commercial finance transactions.
Leasing
-
Provides ongoing legal assistance to shopping centre landlords in relation to retail leasing matters, including drafting and negotiating new leases, renewals, assignments, variations and surrenders.
-
Represented tenants in significant retail leasing disputes with shopping centre landlords, including disputes involving substantial monetary claims and complex leasing issues.
-
Assisted childcare developers with the preparation and negotiation of agreements for lease.
-
Represented a hospitality and restaurant operator in resolving a major dispute with a shopping centre landlord, successfully avoiding lease termination and litigation.
-
Represented tobacco retail businesses in disputes with landlords relating to significant insurance claims, successfully resolving lease termination disputes on terms acceptable to the client.
Renewable Energy
- Advised Chinese investors on the joint investment and development of solar PV projects with Australian partners, including FIRB advice and the negotiation and drafting of convertible loan agreement, shareholders’ agreements, EPC contracts and related project documentation.
- Acted on the acquisition of shares in an SPV holding a solar PV project utilising a microgrid solution as an alternative to traditional grid connection infrastructure.
- Assisted in the acquisition of a solar project involving the installation of cryptocurrency mining facilities on an existing solar farm, including negotiation of transaction documents, power purchase agreements and colocation arrangements, and advising on regulatory.
- Advised on the acquisition of a solar PV project in South Australia, including structuring completion conditions relating to upgraded electricity connection capacity.
- Assisted in the structuring, negotiation, and documentation of renewable energy joint ventures, including shareholders agreements and investment arrangements.
- Advised clients on funding arrangements for renewable energy businesses, including structuring joint ventures, preparing facility and security documents, and advising on compliance and risk protection strategies.
- Acted on the acquisition of solar projects from companies in liquidation, including negotiations with liquidators, conducting legal due diligence, and reviewing and negotiating transaction documentation.
- Advised a major Chinese corporation on expanding its solar manufacturing and supply business into Australia, including business structuring, FIRB and compliance advice, corporate governance, and preparation of operational documents such as power purchase agreements and rooftop solar leases.
International Business & China-Australia Advisory
- Acted for a Chinese law firm in conducting legal due diligence and preparing legal opinion reports for a major Australian entertainment business.
- Advised clients on foreign investment compliance issues across a range of transactions and cross-border investments.
- Advised major Chinese media and advertising businesses on their expansion into Australia, including regulatory advice and preparation of commercial agreements.
-
Assisted Chinese supplier businesses with drafting and negotiating distribution agreements with Australian distributors.
-
Assisted Chinese businesses with Australian trademark applications and protection of intellectual property rights in Australia.
Qualifications
- Juris Doctor (The University of Melbourne)
- Bachelor of Commerce (The University of Melbourne)
- Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice
Memberships
- Law Institute of Victoria
- Eastern Solicitors Law Association
- Australian Asian Law Association
- Australian Shanghai Business Association
- Commercial Law Advisory Committee
More from David.
Australian Credit License: What is it and do I need one?
