Partner Profiles

Peter Kennedy: Partner - Commercial, Commercial Litigation, Insolvency and Reconstruction. Peter practises in the areas of Business Services, Commercial Litigation, Insolvency & Reconstruction. Peter's expertise includes:  Major reconstructions and insolvencies; Advising clients on diverse business law issues; Commercial advice and strategy and Workouts and negotiations with government, banks and corporate borrowers.      Peter develops close relationships with his clients, assisting a broad range of clients in the management of their business and personal affairs. Peter has developed and trained a team of highly experienced Commercial Litigation and Insolvency lawyers who support him and enable Madgwicks to handle complex litigation and corporate reconstructions. Peter has a Master of Laws degree in the areas of Company Law and Taxation.

Graeme Levy: Partner - Commercial Law, Corporate, Insolvency and Reconstruction, Commercial Litigation. Graeme has over 35 years experience in commercial and corporate law, insolvency and reconstruction and commercial litigation. He has experience across many industry sectors particularly manufacturing, distribution and services industries, in both the private and public sectors. Graeme's expertise includes:  Business acquisitions and disposals, management buy-outs and capital raising; Business acquisitions and disposals, management buy-outs and capital raising; Contract negotiation and documentation; Corporate advisory, compliance and governance and  Commercial litigation, insolvency and reconstruction.          His in-depth experience and knowledge has been applied to many complex commercial transactions, insolvencies and commercial disputes. Graeme's greatest strength, according to his clients, is the ability to provide a commercial overview at the outset and evaluate the risk and key issues.  This has saved his clients time and money.  His extensive insolvency experience has allowed him to review all types of businesses enabling him to advise as to the best business structure for any situation.  Because of his experience in both front and back end work, he can act as a true business advisor. Graeme's commercial approach and relationship orientation ensures that his clients achieve positive and commercial outcomes.

Rod Gillam: Partner - Business Services, Corporate and Energy. Rod has over 21 years experience and practises in the areas of business services, corporate/commercial law and energy. He has experience in advising business clients in a broad range of areas including:   Acquisitions and sales;   Joint ventures; Corporate governance; Trade Practices; Asset protection and succession planning and  Complex contractual matters. His clients include businesses involved in the energy industry, manufacturing and services industries. Rod heads the Madgwicks' Energy Team.  He has advised energy industry participants on a wide range of significant commercial matters.  These include acquisitions, regulatory compliance, connection agreements, power purchase agreements and ISDA contracts. Rod is a commercial lawyer who is committed to effective client outcomes.  He recognises the need for a relationship driven ethos and has many long-term relationships as testimony to that.  He has acted as a virtual in-house counsel for many of his clients.

Lorna Gelbert: Partner - Accredited Property Law Specialist Lorna has over thirty years experience in a diverse range of property matters. In recent years, she has worked extensively for property trusts and developers in major transactions acquiring, disposing of and developing substantial commercial property assets across a number of States. As well as the property aspects, this work includes: Negotiating and drafting a wide range of commercial agreements such as property investment and loan agreements; Profit share agreements;   Joint venture arrangements, Leases and agreements for lease and loan and security documentation. Lorna has a particular expertise in aged care and retirement villages, including the acquisition, sale, management and development of facilities involving a detailed knowledge of the relevant legislation. She is a property law specialist, accredited by the Law Institute of Victoria. Lorna is also a member of the Law Institute's Specialisation Board Property Law Advisory Committee and a member of the Property Committee at the Law Institute.

Rick Goldberg: Partner - Corporate, Intellectual Property, Superannuation. Rick has over 18 years experience in corporate and commercial law. His particular areas of practice include: Funds management, superannuation and regulatory compliance; Capital raising, including IPOs, private equity, managed investment schemes, and excluded offers; Technology commercialisation and protection in IP and IT, and General business transactions including acquisitions, joint ventures and licensing. Rick's clients include ASX listed public companies, trustee companies, responsible entities, industry super funds, IDPS operators, stockbrokers, fund managers, as well as family owned private businesses.  Rick adds value to his clients through his broad range of industry experience covering finance and investment, manufacturing, information technology, marketing and retail. Rick's detailed approach to his clients’ complex issues, typically in a highly regulated environment, ensures all avenues are investigated and the most appropriate solution is reached.  Rick enjoys assisting his clients to maximise the returns and value from their intangible intellectual property.  The strategic risk management advice and compliance programs that Rick provides his clients are also particularly valued. An example of Rick's recent experience is acting for a public property trust from inception with its initial establishment, licensing and registration with ASIC, various capital raisings by the trust, growing to nearly $1billion under management, and its proposed ASX listing Rick has completed a Graduate Diploma in Commercial Law, is a past Vice President of the Victorian Society for Computers and the Law and an active member of several other industry associations..

Angelo Conti: Partner - Financial Services, including Banking & Finance, Insolvency & Reconstruction, Construction and Commercial Litigation. Angelo has broad based skills in the financial services including specific expertise in Banking & Finance, Insolvency & Reconstruction, Construction and Commercial Litigation. Angelo's practice includes: Advising and preparationof facility anc finance documentation for a wide variety of financing transactions, both secured and unsecured, including in relation to construction projects, Documenting and advising on structured finance transactions; Complex insolvencies and corporate reconstructions, including acting for the liquidators, administrators and trustees and  Commercial litigation including dealing with management  disputes, claims against directors for alleged breaches of duty and disputes concerning mergers and acquisitions.

Michael Norbury: Partner - Commercial Law and Revenue. Michael has over 22 years experience in the areas of commercial law and revenue law (income tax, state taxes, GST, international tax).  He is highly regarded by his diverse range of domestic and international clients, throughout Australia, NZ, Singapore and the US. Michael's practice includes: Mergers and acquisitions; Public Floats; Joint ventures and corporate start-ups; Corporate governance; Asset protection and succession planning; Technology and biotechnology contracts; Complex contractual matters, both drafting and negotiating; GST, stamp duty, income tax; Business structures and franchising and Intellectual Property. Michael continues to practise across many industry sectors, in particular, the biotechnology, retail, manufacturing and services industries. Clients appreciate Michael's thorough approach and his commitment to developing an intimate knowledge of the industry sectors his clients operate within and their businesses in that context.  Such an approach ensures the provision of a commercial overview at the outset, which ultimately provides cost savings to clients. Michael is admitted in all Australian states and New Zealand and he is a Fellow of the Taxation Institute of Australia.  Michael is also a member of the Collins Business and Social Club Committee, a South African business club and  is Chairman of the "W" Class Trams Committee, National Trust (Vic) where he was responsible for leading the charge in retaining "W" Class trams in Melbourne.

Peter Crawford: Partner - Property Prior to joining Madgwicks as a partner in April 2007, Peter conducted a successful practice as a sole practitioner in suburban Melbourne.  Peter has in excess of 20 years experience in commercial property and general commercial law and has acted for private and corporate clients in substantial matters involving the acquisition, development, sale, leasing and management of major commercial properties both within Victoria and interstate. Peter has a thorough knowledge of the law relating to the leasing of commercial properties including the Retail Leases Act 2003. Peter has also developed a substantial hospitality practice with particular emphasis on motels and caravan parks. He has significant expertise in these industries and a detailed knowledge of the legislation pertaining to them. Peter regularly represents parties in the acquisition, sale or management of hospitality businesses within Victoria and interstate. This work includes advising as to appropriate business structures to be adopted, drafting any necessary documents required for the structure, advising on leasing issues and working closely with accountants and other advisors to ensure the best outcome for each client. Peter is an Associate Member of the Victorian Caravan Parks Association and is regularly called upon to advise the Association on legal issues relating to the operation and management of caravan parks. He also has extensive experience relating to leases granted under the Crown Land (Reserves) Act 1978.