Esther Gutnick is a Senior Associate in our Corporate Advisory and Franchising team with expertise in franchising law and commercial law.

Esther’s Practice

Esther handles a variety of commercial and franchising matters, acting for both franchisees and franchisors. Esther strives to provide her clients with practical, commercially-sensible advice and resolutions. She focuses her practice on:

  • Sales and acquisitions of franchise networks
  • Advising and establishment of franchise systems
  • Drafting of franchise documentation for Franchisors
  • Franchising Code of Conduct compliance
  • Assisting foreign franchisors coming into the Australian market
  • Australian Consumer Law compliance
  • Conducting franchise transactions
  • Advising on breaches and terminations of franchise agreements
  • Management of franchising disputes
  • Reviewing franchise documentation and advising franchisees
  • Sales and acquisitions of businesses, both franchised and otherwise.

Areas Of Specialty

  • Franchising
  • Commercial law
  • Corporate advisory

Industry Experience

  • Franchising
  • Retail
  • Corporate and commercial

Qualifications/Admissions

  • Bachelor of Laws Monash University
  • Bachelor of Commerce Monash University
  • 2006 – Admitted to the Supreme Court of Victoria and the High Court of Australia

Memberships

  • Law Institute of Victoria (1995)

Significant Matters

  • Assisting several international franchise systems to commence operations in Australia.
  • Assisting a large retail franchisor in managing the exit of several franchisees.
  • Reviewing and amending franchise documents to accommodate recent changes in laws, including legislation around unfair contract terms.