Since he was admitted as a lawyer in 1997, David has focused on corporate and commercial matters, property transactions, and wills and estate planning for family businesses, individuals and private companies.
Having worked in law firms and in house legal departments in Ireland, the UK and Australia, David brings his clients wide-ranging commercial expertise.
His ability to analyse and advise on real estate and commercial transactions is well-honed. David works swiftly, and he is committed to providing his clients with value for money.
David has extensive experience in residential, rural and commercial conveyancing. He assists clients with both New South Wales and Queensland conveyances. David provides client focused, timely, cost efficient conveyancing solutions.
David works with businesses on all aspects of their commercial arrangements. He advises on transactions, including, for example, mergers, acquisitions and disposals, as well as succession planning and asset protection.
When he assists clients with the sale or purchase of a business, David often advises on factors such as the future of plant equipment, intellectual property, restraints of trade, information technology and management systems. Consequently, David’s corporate and commercial matters are often complex and call on his sound commercial legal knowledge.
He also assists his clients by advising on money lending, mortgages and other securities. This includes preparing and advising on loan agreements, mortgages and personal property security interests.
Every day, David advises on commercial, residential and industrial property transactions. His experience is such that he knows precisely what each party wants, and needs, to achieve.
He drafts and negotiates agreements between developers, investors, sponsors, lenders and builders. He advises and acts on conveyancing, registration and withdrawal of caveats, sale and purchase contracts, financing documents, leases, and deeds of covenant.
Late last year, David prepared a master contract for a developer in Coomera, Queensland, for use in the sale of land parcels following subdivision. He has also acted for a developer on the joint venture, construction and finance documents for a $200m high rise tower development at Tweed Heads in northern New South Wales.
David recently acted for investors buying into house and land packages on the Gold Coast, advising the investors on their contracts and display home agreements with the developer and builder.
Before joining Stacks, David worked within with the mortgage practice of a Queensland law firm. Here he was very involved in mortgage lending and recovery work, especially placing and withdrawing caveats on properties and advising on all aspects of mortgages, securities and caveats.
David assists family businesses and individuals with their estate planning needs. These are often people with very complex arrangements.
David does not offer formulaic advice. Every family and business is different, so David embarks on each new advice by carefully listening to his clients and taking them towards their end goals. In doing this, he liaises closely with his clients’ accountants and financial planners.
As well, David advises on business succession planning and asset protection, prepares wills, powers of attorney and enduring guardianship arrangements, and deals with probate.
He structures wills with testamentary trusts to protect his clients’ beneficiaries’ inheritance, and to reduce tax liabilities after death. He also advises his clients on how to ensure their superannuation benefits are received by their beneficiaries at the lowest possible tax rate.
David also advises on family provision claims. David assists executors dealing with a challenge to the terms of a will. He also assists those that have not been adequately provided for by a deceased’s will.
David spends most of his free time with his young family. He is a keen surfer, when he has the opportunity, and used to be an enthusiastic amateur soccer player. He is a keen gardener.
