Michael Gorton AM

Dan is a General Counsel in the firm's Corporate & Commercial group, having retired from the partnership after more than 20 years, many of them spent leading the firm's technology, media and intellectual property practice. Dan has deep experience advising on all aspects of IT, intellectual property, media and related corporate and regulatory issues – including competition and consumer law, privacy and data governance, broadcasting, defamation and other legislative compliance. He ass...

Cath is an experienced corporate lawyer with significant national and international experience in mergers and acquisitions. Cath specialises in founder exits, inbound multinational acquisitions, and acquisitions and disposals for Australian corporates. With over 20 years of national and international experience, Cath has advised on deals across the pharmaceutical, health, childcare, civil construction, industrial, and technology sectors. Cath's clients include founders and owners, start-ups, ...

Chris’ major area of practice is intellectual property litigation. He has more than 30 years experience in patent, trade mark, design, copyright, trade practices and confidential information litigation on behalf of both applicants and respondents. He has also acted in patent and trade mark oppositions before IP Australia. Chris joined the firm in 1989, becoming a partner in 2001. Chris has successfully acted in a number of significant matters before State Courts and the Federal and High...

Catie is a projects and infrastructure lawyer with over 25 years’ experience, specialising in energy, transport and infrastructure projects. She has advised and acted for both the public and private sector on large construction, procurement and outsourcing projects, including projects delivered as public private partnerships. Catie also has considerable experience in a broad range of areas including commercial contracts, logistics and supply contracts, legal advisory, property, competit...

Deborah has extensive experience across a broad range of commercial transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, equity capital markets and other corporate transactions, equity investments, shareholders and joint venture arrangements, management equity arrangements, ASX listed company advice, and a wide variety of commercial arrangements. Deborah’s major clients span a range of industries, with particular focus on the technology and biotech industries, and on agribusiness, and vary...

Alasdair is a Principal in the Commercial Law team at Harwood Andrews. Alasdair assists clients in a variety of areas including business and personal succession planning, trust law, business structuring and asset protection, and advising on commercial contracts and agreements including franchise agreements. Alasdair enjoys working closely with clients and their advisors to understand the issues that are unique to them. His practical and personal approach ensures clients receive the best possi...

Adam Laidlaw is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Mergers and Acquisitions Law. Adam, who practices law in Melbourne, Australia, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Adam is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Adam’s practice encompasses all aspects of trade mark law including search analysis and advice, prosecution of domestic and international trade marks, dispute resolution and advice in relation to breaches of the consumer protection provisions of the Trade Practices Act and passing off. Adam’s practice primarily involves advising in relation to Australian trade mark law, but he also has expertise in advising directly on all aspects of New Zealand trade mark law. Adam also has exten...

Lisa has over 25 years’ experience across all types of property developments and transactions including acquisitions, disposals and legal due diligence. Lisa acts for various Victorian Government departments and statutory authorities, listed and unlisted corporations and superannuation funds. She is also well-versed in transacting Crown land through her work with the Victorian Government. Lisa has extensive experience in residential, mixed use and commercial developments, including acqu...

Jason Newman is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Insurance Law and Product Liability Litigation. Jason, who practices law in Melbourne, Australia, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jason is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.