Peter Harrison

Peter has more than 25 years’ experience assisting clients involved in commercial disputes, and has recognised expertise solving problems that arise involving financial distress for clients or their counterparties.

Peter provides legal services to his clients in a wide variety of commercial, property and administrative disputes, often working closely in consultation with our Property and Corporate & Advisory partners. This often involves providing advice in the initial stage of a dispute with a view to avoiding litigation, and representing clients in alternative dispute resolution procedures.

However, where necessary, Peter represents clients through all stages of court proceedings. He is experienced in guiding a team of lawyers and paralegals in preparation for complex commercial hearings and works closely with the independent bar to ensure that our clients receive the best possible representation.

Peter acts for financiers in a variety of contentious or litigious matters. This includes security enforcement and unsecured recovery including trade finance, equipment finance and rural lending as well as advising regarding the effect of relevant legislation, including the Corporations Act, Personal Property Securities Act and Farm Debt Mediation Acts.

Peter also provides insolvency and restructuring advice to company directors and insolvency practitioners. His work in this area includes advising directors regarding trading where solvency is in doubt, advising in relation to voluntary administrations under the Corporations Act including all necessary Court applications and drafting deeds of company arrangement as well as acting for insolvency practitioners in both corporate and personal insolvency in relation to various issues including recovery of voidable transactions and insolvent trading.

Recent experience includes:

• Acting in a dispute between the co-owners of a portfolio of residential investment properties held through corporate and trust structures. The dispute, which concerned the management and sale of properties within the portfolio, was initially resolved at mediation. However, further disputes arose regarding compliance with the agreement reached at mediation, which were ultimately determined in favour of our client in proceedings in the Real Property List of the NSW Supreme Court.
• Acting for shareholders of a listed company seeking preliminary discovery for the purpose of a potential action alleging that the conduct of the company’s affairs was not being conducted in the interests of shareholders as a whole. These proceedings were settled prior to hearing of the application.
• Advising and assisting clients in responding to requests for production of documents and information issued by regulators, including the Australian Securities and Investments Commission and State and local government environmental authorities