About John

John is a founding Principal of MST Lawyers.  In addition to his law degree, John completed an economics degree, majoring in accounting.  After graduation, John worked as a taxation accountant with Peat Marwick (now KPMG).  He subsequently joined the firm in 1983.

John’s practice focuses on distribution licensing, franchising and mergers and acquisitions. 

John’s experience includes:

John has played a lead role in developing MST Lawyers’ legal alliances internationally.  He has considerable experience in domestic and international distribution and licensing law.  He has been involved in the establishment of distribution networks of large American and Asian corporations.  He has assisted with advice on corporate structuring and growth strategies for Hong Kong, China, the USA, Canada, the Middle East, the UK and New Zealand, and has strong associations and networks in these countries particularly with law firms specialising in franchising.  These international links are becoming increasingly important as more of MST Lawyers’ corporate and franchise clients are now transacting business abroad.

John has represented public companies and large private companies in relation to due diligence, mergers and acquisitions and corporate restructures.  He is proactive in adding value to his clients’ businesses through his extensive network of contacts.

John has advised in all aspects of franchising start-ups, franchise corporate restructures, sales of franchised businesses and providing strategic advice to franchisors nationally and internationally. He has helped clients take both traditional and franchise businesses into many foreign countries.  He is also joint co-author of the UK publication “Getting the Deal Through Franchising” and has written the Australian Chapter since 2006.

John is a member of the Law Institute of Victoria.