On 19 September 2017 amendments, to the Corporations Act 2001 commenced which create a “safe harbour” for Directors to protect them from personal liability for debts incurred by an insolvent company in certain circumstances. Why the need for Safe Harbour Prior to the amendments, the provisions of the Corporations Act governing corporate insolvency focused on the need […]

The post Safe Harbour & Directors’ Liability for Insolvent Trading appeared first on Roberts Legal.

When you make the decision to separate from your partner, the last thing that you want to have to worry about is money. Unfortunately for many individuals the time surrounding separation can cause significant financial stress, particularly when one party to the relationship has traditionally taken on the role of parent and homemaker whilst the […]

The post Spousal Maintenance and Interim Property Settlements: How You Can Get Your Independence Sooner. appeared first on Roberts Legal.

These days everyone seems to be affected by family breakdown in some way or another. With families becoming increasingly complex everyone should have a Will – even the young and invincible! Have you ever considered in whose hands your hard-earned wealth will end up if you die without a Will? In New South Wales the […]

The post Former Spouses & Family Feuds: What happens when you die without a Will. appeared first on Roberts Legal.

Under the ATO’s Director Penalty regime company Directors can be personally liable for company obligations. The Director Penalty regime applies to unpaid “PAYG” withholding amounts and Superannuation Guarantee Charge “SGC” obligations. The effect of the Director Penalty regime is that if a company of which a person is a Director fails to ensure that the […]

The post ATO Director Penalties: What Company Directors Need to do to Avoid Personal Liability appeared first on Roberts Legal.

The shine and sparkle from the engagement is gone, but the ring is here to stay. Who gets the ring when an engagement ends? While the ring is sometimes the most expensive item to purchase for a wedding, it usually only holds sentimental value in property settlements. So, who gets the ring?? Well it depends. […]

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Disputes and withheld payments are common occurrence in the construction industry. Contractors and suppliers operate with increased risk of these occurrences if they are not prepared to use the Building & Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 1999 (“the Act”) immediately when a problem arises. I regularly get people downloading our Security of Payment Guide looking […]

The post Will your business be able to rely on the Security of Payment Laws when it counts? The single most important thing to do. appeared first on Roberts Legal.

This article explains what land is now suitable for medium density developments in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie under the new Low Rise Medium Density Housing Code and the benefits of the Code for developers and existing landowners. On 6 July 2018 the new Low Rise Medium Density Housing Code came into effect. Significantly, under the […]

The post New Rules now apply for Medium Density Low Rise Developments in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie. appeared first on Roberts Legal.

Long before I was a Construction Lawyer, I was a Construction Manager for one of Australia’s top tier building contractors. In this article I have set out some simple and practical tips for effective contract management based on my experience in both construction and law. This article will be particularly relevant for growing contracting businesses […]

The post Mid Tier Construction Contracting Essentials: How to make it and not go broke. appeared first on Roberts Legal.

The statistic isn’t a new one. Baby Boomers make up 25% of the nation’s population and yet control approximately 50% of private wealth. We are constantly being told that this generation continues to increase their wealth to the detriment of their children and grandchildren; however, this can place baby boomers in a unique position where […]

The post Borrowing from the Bank of ‘Mum & Dad’: Lessons for Baby Boomers providing early inheritances or other financial assistance and the impact of the Family Law Act for Estate Planning: Loans vs Gifts. appeared first on Roberts Legal.