Peters Linnette Lawyers - Establishing a business in Australia presentation

UK Businesses in Australia

UKTI WEBINAR 9:30am (GMT) Wednesday 12 December 2012

Photo by Flickr user Alex E. Proimos

Australian Legal System

Photo by Flickr user mikecogh

Similar to UK

• Common law system

• Courts operate similarly to UK

• Solicitor/Barrister system

Photo by Flickr user Canned Muffins

…but not always

• System of Federal laws & State laws

• Federal law prevails

if there is conflict

Photo by Flickr user L. Marie

Corporate Structures

Photo by Flickr user ardonik

Registered Foreign Companies

• UK companies may carry on business in Australia

• Requires registration & local agent and office

• Most foreign companies set up

an Australian subsidiary

Photo by Flickr user mtl2tky

UK OwnedAustralian Companies

• No capitalisation required ($2)• One director minimum• Name availability – check conflicts• Can be established in one day• ASIC compliance straightforward• Resident director requirement

Photo by Flickr user mtl2tky

Partnerships

• State-based jurisdiction• No separate legal personality• Ease of formation• Partners’ liability• Taxation planning

Photo by Flickr user Gideon Tsang

Other Structures

• Contractual Joint Venture• Shorter term

• Sole trader• Cheap and quick• Personally liable

Business Banking

• The big 4• ANZ• Westpac • National Australia Bank• Commonwealth

Plus HSBC

• Requirements to open an account• ID for each director• Certificate of incorporation

Commercial Transactions

Photo by Flickr user Steve Snodgrass

Business Practices

• Similar to UK• Regulation of Anti-competitive conduct• Unfair Trade Practices• Strong consumer protection• Product Liability (European Directive on defective goods

incorporated into Australian law)

• Privacy Law

Photo by Flickr user o5com

Use of UK Style Agreements

• Most UK business transactional documents have direct Australian equivalents

• Straightforward to wrap Australian flag around a UK Agreement

Commercial Property

Photo by Flickr user woodleywonderworks

Commercial Property

Photo by Flickr user S Baker

• State-based legislation governs leases

• FIRB notification generally not required

Typical commercial lease

Photo by Flickr user S Baker

• Office• Full-form leases usual

• 3-month deposit / guarantees

• Options to renew are usual

• Retail• Special disclosures• Minimum 5-year term

Employment Law

Photo by Flickr user wildxplorer

Fair Work Act• National system

• Common law agreements• Awards• Collective agreements

• National minimum standards for employees

National Employment Standards

1. Maximum hours

2. Flexible work

3. Parental lease

4. Annual leave

5. Personal/carer’s leave & compassionate leave

6. Community service leave

7. Long service leave

8. Public holidays

9. Notice of termination & redundancy

10. Provision of Fair Work Information Statement

Unfair Dismissal• Fewer than 15 employees

• 1 year bar

• simplified system to dismiss employees without risk

Intellectual Property

Photo by Flickr user SomeDriftwood

Copyright• Automatic

• 70 years’ protection (same as UK)

• UK & Australia signatories to Berne Convention

Photo by Flickr user Horia Varlan

Trademarks• 10 years – renewable• Early assessment available• Inexpensive• ‘First to use’ system• Madrid Protocol

Photo by Flickr user Sydney Heritage

Patents• ‘First to file’ system• Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)• Types

• Provisional patent – 12 months• Standard patent – up to 20 years• Innovation patent – up to 8 years• Pharmaceutical patents can last up to 25

Business Visas

Photo by Flickr user FrancoisRoche

Business Visits – up to 3 months

• Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) – subclass 977 & 956

• UK citizens – apply through service providers

• Limitations• Preliminary meetings and appointments only• No work (limited exceptions)

Photo by Flickr user James Cridland

Long Stay Business Visas• Temporary Work (Skilled) visa

(subclass 457)• Three step application process

• Sponsorship• Nomination• Visa

• Sponsor training obligations• New companies can apply to be sponsors

457 – Ongoing Obligations• Continuing obligations include

• Training• Record-keeping• Health insurance

• Liability for return travel costs• Reportable events include

• New director• Resignation of worker• Change of circumstances

Photo by Flickr user BriYYZ

Questions?

Photo by Flickr user Milos Milosevic

Contact

Douglas LinnettePartnerPeters Linnette Lawyers

Tel: +61 (0)2 9241 6677www.peterslinnette.com.au @PLL_Law

Photo by Kozzi

Peters Linnette Lawyers - Establishing a business in Australia presentation

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