Kim Glassborow | Partner | G&B Lawyers Sydney

 

 

Kim Glassborow | Partner | G&B Lawyers
 

Kim Glassborow is a specialist planning & environmental partner who has spent over 10 years dealing with various government agencies (including the Environment Protection Authority, local councils, Department of Planning & Environment and WorkCover) and has a wealth of experience in the ever evolving NSW waste management sector. 

She was the former in-house Senior Legal Counsel at Dial A Dump Industries, one of the leading waste management facilities in NSW.  Prior to that, Kim was a Senior Lawyer at Clayton Utz; a top tier Sydney law firm.

Kim advises waste recycling companies on their legislative environmental compliance and work, health and safety issues. She regularly assists in overseeing environmental audits, updating work policies and assisting in environmental due diligence for property acquisitions.

Kim advises developers and industry on issues relating to town planning, compulsory acquisitions, contaminated land, hazardous materials, environmental licensing, waste management and regulation, supply chain compliance, employment, chain of responsibility and pollution incidents.

Kim also assists clients to obtain development and environmental licences and project approvals, manage on-going environmental compliance, undertake contract reviews and resolve disputes, environmental incidents and all aspects of Land and Environment Court and Supreme Court litigation.

She is regarded as one of the best planning and environmental lawyers in New South Wales, with a particular interest in environmental waste management.

Kim was the former elected Chair of the NSW Law Society Young Lawyers Planning & Environmental Law Committee and is also a published author of Lexis Nexis publication on ‘Annotations to the Land and Environment Court Act & Rules’. 

Kim can be contacted on M: 0481 287 528 or E: kglassborow@gandblawyers.com.au

 

G&B Lawyers

 

Office: Suite 1, Level 1, 229 Macquarie Street, Sydney, NSW 2000

Mail: GPO Box 1849, Sydney, NSW 2001

M: 0481 287 528

E: info@gandblawyers.com.au | kglassborow@gandblawyers.com.au

W: www.gandblawyers.com.au

Nathan Buckley | Partner | G&B Lawyers

Nathan Buckley | Partner | G&B Lawyers

Nathan Buckley is a corporate and litigation partner with over 10 years experience in corporate law, including financial services, investment management, funds and managed investment schemes, financial products, regulatory developments and commercial litigation.

Nathan advises on all legal and regulatory issues and brings a wide range of experience having previously worked as the in-house counsel at large financial services organisations including Colonial First State Investments (in both Sydney and the United Kingdom), Challenger and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (the financial services regulator).

Given Nathan’s strong commercial background, he understands the commercial realities of doing business. He also understands what regulators want, how they operate and what action they are prepared to take in order to obtain regulatory outcomes.

By combining that knowledge, he is best placed to get clients the best commercial outcomes.

This is also true when it comes to resolving disputes and litigation. Nathan advises on all types of commercial disputes and is the first port of call for clients with significant litigious and regulatory problems.

Nathan has assisted clients to establish new businesses in Australia and overseas, to develop financial products and investment funds and to obtain regulatory licences for product issuers, responsible entities and fund managers. He has also acted for clients who make investments in financial services businesses, including through minority shareholding interests and convertible loan arrangements.

By working closely with Kim Glassborow and Katherine Edwards, we provide a unique full-service offering to our clients. We regularly advise clients on potentially contentious aspects of corporate matters, compliance considerations, regulatory issues and financial transactions.

Nathan can be contacted on M: 0411 067 367 or E: nbuckley@gandblawyers.com.au

G&B Lawyers

 

Office: Suite 1, Level 1, 229 Macquarie Street, Sydney, NSW 2000

Mail: GPO Box 1849, Sydney, NSW 2001

M: 0481 287 528

E: info@gandblawyers.com.au | kglassborow@gandblawyers.com.au

W: www.gandblawyers.com.au

 

 

Proposed future changes to the NSW trucking industry

The NSW Government has alluded to plans to make it easier for the trucking industry to do business in NSW.

Higher productivity trucks

One plan that has come to the surface is the Honourable Duncan Gay’s (Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight) plan for getting more “higher productivity trucks” on NSW roads.

Higher productivity trucks include super B-doubles and B-triples. Super B-doubles are capable of carrying 4 x 20 ft containers or 2 x 40 ft containers and B-triples are vehicle combinations consisting of a prime mover towing three semi-trailers.

Of course safety remains a high priority throughout the industry. This also applies to the communities who will be sharing the road with these vehicles. The proximity of these vehicles to highly populated cities and congested areas is likely to be another big ticket item to contend with.

Talking traffic lights

Another plan was announced on 19 April 2016 by Mr Gay’s office to tackle traffic congestion through implementing technology that allows trucks to communicate with traffic lights. This technology would work by traffic lights detecting approaching trucks and then altering their timing phases to provide more green light time for the trucks to pass through. It has been acknowledged that heavy vehicles can take time to accelerate and break causing delays for road users.

The purpose of this new technology, yet to be trialled, is to improve travel time for all road users.

The new technology will be trialled in 110 trucks in NSW. Roads that will be affected by this trial include Pennant Hills Road, Parramatta Road and King Georges Road

Reference website:

http://www.ownerdriver.com.au/industry-news/1603/lbca-2016-higher-productivity-trucks-a-priority-for-duncan-gay/

G&B Lawyers

 

Office: Suite 1, Level 1, 229 Macquarie Street, Sydney, NSW 2000

Mail: GPO Box 1849, Sydney, NSW 2001

M: 0481 287 528

E: info@gandblawyers.com.au | kglassborow@gandblawyers.com.au

W: www.gandblawyers.com.au

 

 

 

 

 

Attribution Managed Investment Trust (AMIT) reforms have finally passed through Parliament!

The Australian Government has finally passed the AMIT Bill through Parliament.

The legislation creates a new regime for Attribution Managed Investment Trusts (AMIT), which will provide qualifying managed investment trusts (MITs) with improved flexibility and greater certainty in respect of their tax treatment.

AMIT was first announced by the Government more than five years ago. The passing of the Bill in Parliament has been a very long awaited and highly anticipated tax development for the Australian funds management industry.

AMIT represents the most significant change to the tax treatment of managed funds in Australia. Any Australian fund managers or investors that manage or invest in trusts that are caught by the regime will need to address the following issues:

·         compliance issues – undertake a detailed assessment of the impact of complying with AMIT on the relevant trusts, including whether or not the trusts are eligible to apply the AMIT regime and able to comply with the AMIT regime. This may require significant updates to the systems used to administer the relevant trusts;

 

·         product opportunities – identify what opportunities and additional flexibilities are provided under the AMIT regime and which of those opportunities you should utilise (including new product offerings); and

 

·         deed amendment projects – assess what changes to the trust deeds and constitutions for the relevant trusts should be made, in order to allow the relevant trusts to be able to utilise and comply with the new regime. You should also look to capitalise on the opportunities and flexibilities presented by the new regime.

Most Australian fund managers and institutional investors in trusts have been closely monitoring these developments. The final form of AMIT is likely to provide those managers and investors with the certainty necessary in order to move forward with their AMIT projects. They will now be in a position to develop the systems necessary to comply with and capitalise on the new regime.

G&B Lawyers is here to assist Australian fund managers, responsible entities and trustees understand the new AMIT regime and to address the issues highlighted above.

 

G&B Lawyers

Office: Suite 1, Level 1, 229 Macquarie Street, Sydney, NSW 2000

Mail: GPO Box 1849, Sydney, NSW 2001

M: 0481 287 528 | 0401 175 934

E: info@gandblawyers.com.au | kglassborow@gandblawyers.com.au

W: www.gandblawyers.com.au

 

 

Katherine Edwards | Lawyer

Katherine Edwards | Lawyer | G&B Lawyers

Katherine is a planning & environmental lawyer and assists in all aspects of waste management law, work health and safety issues, environmental investigations and compliance.

This work includes liaising with government agencies such as the Environment Protection Authority and local councils.

Katherine also assists clients in the areas of property and planning due diligence, conveyancing, compulsory acquisitions, commercial contracts and all aspects of litigation, including the Local Court for motor vehicle accidents.

Katherine helps clients to understand their legislative environmental compliance obligations and advises clients in all aspects of Land and Environment Court and Supreme Court litigation. Katherine also assists Nathan Buckley in our corporate and litigation practice.

She was the former in-house Legal Counsel at Dial A Dump Industries, one of the leading waste management facilities in NSW and has significant practical and commercial experience in the waste management sector.

She is regarded as one of the up and coming planning and environmental lawyers in New South Wales.

Katherine graduated from the University of Wollongong with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and a Bachelor of Science (Majoring in Biological Sciences with Distinction).

Katherine can be contacted on M: 0401 175 934 or E: kedwards@gandblawyers.com.au

Update: Tax changes

Changes to the tax and regulatory rules will create two new forms of investment vehicle:

·         a corporate collective investment vehicle (CIV) from 1 July 2017; and

·         a limited partnership collective investment vehicle from 1 July 2018.

These vehicles are internationally recognised and easy to use structures that will make managed funds based in Australia a more attractive place for foreigners to invest.

Creating these new structures will encourage foreign investment as well as the export of funds management services from Australia.

Australian exports represent less than 4 per cent of funds under management, highlighting a significant potential export growth industry.

At G&B Lawyers, we can advise you on your existing investment vehicles and how to plan ahead.

Responsible entities and trustees will need to consider if it is appropriate to transition across to these new vehicles from their respective commencement dates.

We can also assist you in the establishment of these new investment vehicles.

Contact Nathan Buckley, Partner at G&B Lawyers on M: 0411 067 367 or E: nbuckley@gandblawyers.com.au

Possible changes requiring early consultation with neighbours when seeking development consent – is it time to lodge a DA now?

It has been reported by the Sydney Morning Herald (SMH) that possible changes may be made to the NSW planning system such that “[h]ome owners and developers could be forced to consult neighbours on plans before lodging them with a Council”.

Mr Rob Stokes, the NSW Planning Minister, is reported in the SMH to state that Government “want to remove the element of surprise from planning” as “[t]hat’s when people get upset”.

The new process could require development consent applicants to provide details of their consultation with their neighbours in their development application (DA) to Council. This may be in the form of the provision of final plans in the mail or details of discussions between neighbours.

Currently, Pre-DA meetings are required to occur between Council and the applicant. The purpose of this meeting is to assist the applicant in deciding on the appropriate planning pathway so that they prepare an application that is more likely to be accepted by Council the first time. This reduces the likelihood that the applicant will be sent back to the drawing board because relevant assessments or design requirements were not included.

G&B Lawyers specialise in all aspects of obtaining development consent and managing project consultants.

Wider reforms of the planning system are in the works. It is expected that a draft bill will be out for public consultation in the second half of this year.

Now may be the time to consider any development plans before new legislation is implemented.

For assistance, contact Kim Glassborow, Partner at G&B Lawyers on 0481 287 528 or by email at kglassborow@gandblawyers.com.au.

Link to SMH article: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/ask-the-neighbours-first-new-da-process-for-nsw-considered-by-rob-stokes-20160505-gomxyc.html

Nathan Buckley | Partner

Nathan Buckley | Partner | G&B Lawyers

Nathan Buckley is a corporate and litigation partner with over 10 years experience in corporate law, including financial services, investment management, funds and managed investment schemes, financial products, regulatory developments and commercial litigation.

Nathan advises on all legal and regulatory issues and brings a wide range of experience having previously worked as the in-house counsel at large financial services organisations including Colonial First State Investments (in both Sydney and the United Kingdom), Challenger and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (the financial services regulator).

Given Nathan’s strong commercial background, he understands the commercial realities of doing business. He also understands what regulators want, how they operate and what action they are prepared to take in order to obtain regulatory outcomes.

By combining that knowledge, he is best placed to get clients the best commercial outcomes.

This is also true when it comes to resolving disputes and litigation. Nathan advises on all types of commercial disputes and is the first port of call for clients with significant litigious and regulatory problems.

Nathan has assisted clients to establish new businesses in Australia and overseas, to develop financial products and investment funds and to obtain regulatory licences for product issuers, responsible entities and fund managers. He has also acted for clients who make investments in financial services businesses, including through minority shareholding interests and convertible loan arrangements.

By working closely with Kim Glassborow and Katherine Edwards, we provide a unique full-service offering to our clients. We regularly advise clients on potentially contentious aspects of corporate matters, compliance considerations, regulatory issues and financial transactions.

Nathan can be contacted on M: 0411 067 367 or E: nbuckley@gandblawyers.com.au

Kim Glassborow | Partner

Kim Glassborow | Partner | G&B Lawyers

Kim Glassborow is a specialist planning & environmental partner who has spent over 10 years dealing with various government agencies (including the Environment Protection Authority, local councils, Department of Planning & Environment and WorkCover) and has a wealth of experience in the ever evolving NSW waste management sector. 

She was the former in-house Senior Legal Counsel at Dial A Dump Industries, one of the leading waste management facilities in NSW.  Prior to that, Kim was a Senior Lawyer at Clayton Utz; a top tier Sydney law firm.

Kim advises waste recycling companies on their legislative environmental compliance and work, health and safety issues. She regularly assists in overseeing environmental audits, updating work policies and assisting in environmental due diligence for property acquisitions.

Kim advises developers and industry on issues relating to town planning, compulsory acquisitions, contaminated land, hazardous materials, environmental licensing, waste management and regulation, supply chain compliance, employment, chain of responsibility and pollution incidents.

Kim also assists clients to obtain development and environmental licences and project approvals, manage on-going environmental compliance, undertake contract reviews and resolve disputes, environmental incidents and all aspects of Land and Environment Court and Supreme Court litigation.

She is regarded as one of the best planning and environmental lawyers in New South Wales, with a particular interest in environmental waste management.

Kim was the former elected Chair of the NSW Law Society Young Lawyers Planning & Environmental Law Committee and is also a published author of Lexis Nexis publication on ‘Annotations to the Land and Environment Court Act & Rules’. 

Kim can be contacted on M: 0481 287 528 or E: kglassborow@gandblawyers.com.au

The 2016 Budget - Fast Facts

On 3 May 2016 Scott Morrison, the Federal Treasurer, handed down the Federal Budget.

Here are a few fast facts about how the budget may affect you.

Superannuation

-          Objective of superannuation to be made law – “to provide income in retirement to substantiate or supplement the Age Pension”

-          Cap of $1.6 million to be applied to the amount of superannuation earnings that can be tax-free during retirement – excesses of $1.6 million to be taxed at concessional rate of 15%

-          Annual cap on concessional superannuation contributions will be reduced to $25,000 – previously $30,000-35,000

-          Life-time non concessional cap of $500,000 to replace existing annual caps

-          Higher tax rate of 30% to apply to contributions of those earning more than $250,000 – previously 15% tax rate

-          Further reforms are expected

Enterprises

-          Small business company tax to be lowered to 27.5%

-          Threshold for small businesses to be raised to companies with an annual turnover of less than $10 million (previously $2 million)

-          Unincorporated small businesses to receive increased tax discount from 5% to 16% over 10 years

-          Company tax rate is to be reduced to 25% over 10 years

Multinational corporations

-          40% tax penalty rate to apply to multinational corporations that attempt to shift their profits made in Australia offshore – “Diverted Profits Tax”

Individuals

-          Threshold for marginal tax rate of 37% to be increased from $80,000 to $87,000

-          GST to apply to low value goods imported by consumers (i.e. less than $1,000)

-          Investors – no changes to negative gearing (yet)

-          Smokers – cigarettes to be subject to 4 annual increases of 12.5% from 2017 to 2020 – time to quit?

G&B Lawyers

Office: Suite 1, Level 1, 229 Macquarie Street, Sydney, NSW 2000

Mail: GPO Box 1849, Sydney, NSW 2001

M: 0481 287 528 | 0401 175 934

E: info@gandblawyers.com.au | kglassborow@gandblawyers.com.au

W: www.gandblawyers.com.au

 

 

Get your Will prepared at G&B Lawyers

When was the last time you updated your Will?

 

 

Wills from $99
(plus GST and disbursements)

 

Office: Suite 1, Level 1, 229 Macquarie Street, Sydney, NSW 2000
Mail: GPO Box 1849, Sydney, NSW 2001

Kim Glassborow | Partner

M: 0481 287 528

E: info@gandblawyers.com.au | kglassborow@gandblawyers.com.au

W: www.gandblawyers.com.au