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Douglas Linnette from Peters Linnette Lawyers participated in a webinar hosted by UK Trade & Investment Australia on the ins and outs of establishing a business in Australia.
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UK Businesses in Australia
UKTI WEBINAR 9:30am (GMT) Wednesday 12 December 2012
Photo by Flickr user Alex E. Proimos
Australian Legal System
UKTI WEBINAR 9:30am (GMT) Wednesday 12 December 2012
Photo by Flickr user mikecogh
Similar to UK
UKTI WEBINAR 9:30am (GMT) Wednesday 12 December 2012
• 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
UKTI WEBINAR 9:30am (GMT) Wednesday 12 December 2012
Photo by Flickr user L. Marie
Corporate Structures
UKTI WEBINAR 9:30am (GMT) Wednesday 12 December 2012
Photo by Flickr user ardonik
Registered Foreign Companies
UKTI WEBINAR 9:30am (GMT) Wednesday 12 December 2012
• 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
UKTI WEBINAR 9:30am (GMT) Wednesday 12 December 2012
• 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
UKTI WEBINAR 9:30am (GMT) Wednesday 12 December 2012
• State-based jurisdiction• No separate legal personality• Ease of formation• Partners’ liability• Taxation planning
Photo by Flickr user Gideon Tsang
Other Structures
UKTI WEBINAR 9:30am (GMT) Wednesday 12 December 2012
• Contractual Joint Venture• Shorter term
• Sole trader• Cheap and quick• Personally liable
Business Banking
UKTI WEBINAR 9:30am (GMT) Wednesday 12 December 2012
• 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
UKTI WEBINAR 9:30am (GMT) Wednesday 12 December 2012
Photo by Flickr user Steve Snodgrass
Business Practices
UKTI WEBINAR 9:30am (GMT) Wednesday 12 December 2012
• 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
UKTI WEBINAR 9:30am (GMT) Wednesday 12 December 2012
• Most UK business transactional documents have direct Australian equivalents
• Straightforward to wrap Australian flag around a UK Agreement
Photo by Flickr user o5com
Commercial Property
Photo by Flickr user woodleywonderworks
UKTI WEBINAR 9:30am (GMT) Wednesday 12 December 2012
Commercial Property
Photo by Flickr user S Baker
UKTI WEBINAR 9:30am (GMT) Wednesday 12 December 2012
• State-based legislation governs leases
• FIRB notification generally not required
Typical commercial lease
Photo by Flickr user S Baker
UKTI WEBINAR 9:30am (GMT) Wednesday 12 December 2012
• 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
UKTI WEBINAR 9:30am (GMT) Wednesday 12 December 2012
Fair Work Act• National system
• Common law agreements• Awards• Collective agreements
• National minimum standards for employees
Photo by Flickr user o5com
UKTI WEBINAR 9:30am (GMT) Wednesday 12 December 2012
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
UKTI WEBINAR 9:30am (GMT) Wednesday 12 December 2012
Unfair Dismissal• Fewer than 15 employees
• 1 year bar
• simplified system to dismiss employees without risk
Photo by Flickr user o5com
UKTI WEBINAR 9:30am (GMT) Wednesday 12 December 2012
Intellectual Property
UKTI WEBINAR 9:30am (GMT) Wednesday 12 December 2012
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
UKTI WEBINAR 9:30am (GMT) Wednesday 12 December 2012
Trademarks• 10 years – renewable• Early assessment available• Inexpensive• ‘First to use’ system• Madrid Protocol
Photo by Flickr user Sydney Heritage
UKTI WEBINAR 9:30am (GMT) Wednesday 12 December 2012
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
years
Photo by Flickr user o5com
UKTI WEBINAR 9:30am (GMT) Wednesday 12 December 2012
Business Visas
Photo by Flickr user FrancoisRoche
UKTI WEBINAR 9:30am (GMT) Wednesday 12 December 2012
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
UKTI WEBINAR 9:30am (GMT) Wednesday 12 December 2012
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
UKTI WEBINAR 9:30am (GMT) Wednesday 12 December 2012
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
UKTI WEBINAR 9:30am (GMT) Wednesday 12 December 2012
Questions?
Photo by Flickr user Milos Milosevic
UKTI WEBINAR 9:30am (GMT) Wednesday 12 December 2012
Contact
Douglas LinnettePartnerPeters Linnette Lawyers
Tel: +61 (0)2 9241 6677www.peterslinnette.com.au @PLL_Law
Photo by Kozzi
UKTI WEBINAR 9:30am (GMT) Wednesday 12 December 2012