Principal
Darren specialises in providing general commercial legal advice and specialist technology law advice to clients in the IT industry and other technology industries. In addition to his law degree, Darren has both an honours degree in Science and a Master of Information Technology. Darren has previously worked as a software developer and business analyst for leading multi-national companies. Darren’s vocational experience in IT assists in providing his clients with practical and well targeted legal advice.
He has also worked as general counsel for one of Australia’s largest online companies, and been a Partner/Principal Lawyer in two of Melbourne’s best known boutique law firms.
Whilst focusing on technology companies, Darren also acts for clients in a range of industries and is well versed in corporate law and general commercial legal issues. Darren’s experience extends to the following areas of law:
RECOGNITION
Darren has been recommended in the Leading Technology Media & Telecommunications Lawyers in Victoria category in the highly regarded Doyles Guide for two consecutive years (2018-2019).
Special Counsel
Stephanie is financial services lawyer with over 20 years’ experience in both private practice and in-house roles, having worked for traditional fund managers as well as a fund manager specialising in alternative assets.
Stephanie’s practice focuses on the startup space, where she advises: startups on all aspects of their business; investors in startups; and fund managers on the establishment of venture capital funds. Her funds management/financial services expertise also extends to fund mergers and terminations; capital raising; meetings for member approvals; regulatory and compliance advice – including regulatory aspects of traditional funds management (ie. Corporations Act requirements and related ASIC policy); and regulatory aspects of venture capital funds (ie. Venture Capital Act and ITAA requirements) and dealing with regulators such as ASIC and Innovation and Science Australia.
Stephanie began her career in-house at National Mutual, following which she moved into private practice at King & Wood Mallesons. After a secondment at Vanguard, she ended up staying, before moving to Artesian Venture Partners Pty Ltd, a global alternative investment management firm specializing in debt, venture capital and impact investment strategies. There she was the legal lead, where she oversaw the build and launch of many Artesian venture capital funds in Australia.
Senior Lawyer
Kelly works with founders, startups and scaleups across Australia on corporate, commercial and capital raising matters, focusing on the legal structures that underpin how a business is owned, funded and operates.
Her practice spans:
Kelly works with businesses at all stages of growth, from early-stage companies putting in place foundational documents, to more established businesses negotiating complex commercial arrangements and investment transactions. She regularly acts for startups and scaleups dealing with large counterparties such as banks, institutional investors and multinationals.
She also advises Australian businesses and companies entering the Australian market, including clients from the UK/EU, New Zealand and the United States, on structuring, alignment with Australian competition and consumer laws, and adapting business models to the local regulatory environment.
Kelly’s broader experience includes regulatory investigations and compliance, and the commercialisation and protection of intellectual property. She is particularly interested in emerging areas such as climate and nature-related regulatory developments, and in working with businesses in the sustainability and environmentally focused sectors. Kelly is also an active member of the Australian Law Council SME Business Law Committee.
Principal
Darren specialises in providing general commercial legal advice and specialist technology law advice to clients in the IT industry and other technology industries. In addition to his law degree, Darren has both an honours degree in Science and a Master of Information Technology. Darren has previously worked as a software developer and business analyst for leading multi-national companies. Darren’s vocational experience in IT assists in providing his clients with practical and well targeted legal advice.
He has also worked as general counsel for one of Australia’s largest online companies, and been a Partner/Principal Lawyer in two of Melbourne’s best known boutique law firms.
Whilst focusing on technology companies, Darren also acts for clients in a range of industries and is well versed in corporate law and general commercial legal issues. Darren’s experience extends to the following areas of law:
RECOGNITION
Darren has been recommended in the Leading Technology Media & Telecommunications Lawyers in Victoria category in the highly regarded Doyles Guide for two consecutive years (2018-2019).
Special Counsel
Stephanie is financial services lawyer with over 20 years’ experience in both private practice and in-house roles, having worked for traditional fund managers as well as a fund manager specialising in alternative assets.
Stephanie’s practice focuses on the startup space, where she advises: startups on all aspects of their business; investors in startups; and fund managers on the establishment of venture capital funds. Her funds management/financial services expertise also extends to fund mergers and terminations; capital raising; meetings for member approvals; regulatory and compliance advice – including regulatory aspects of traditional funds management (ie. Corporations Act requirements and related ASIC policy); and regulatory aspects of venture capital funds (ie. Venture Capital Act and ITAA requirements) and dealing with regulators such as ASIC and Innovation and Science Australia.
Stephanie began her career in-house at National Mutual, following which she moved into private practice at King & Wood Mallesons. After a secondment at Vanguard, she ended up staying, before moving to Artesian Venture Partners Pty Ltd, a global alternative investment management firm specializing in debt, venture capital and impact investment strategies. There she was the legal lead, where she oversaw the build and launch of many Artesian venture capital funds in Australia.
Senior Lawyer
Kelly joined our team in late 2021. She has a both a degree in law and a degree is social science. In addition to practicing law in Australia, Kelly is admitted to practice in New Zealand.
Kelly specialises in corporate and commercial law and is experienced in a range of areas including:
Kelly is also an experienced regulatory compliance lawyer. She assists clients to navigate through the minefield of regulatory investigations, including those initiated by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. She advises on and responds to regulatory notices, advocates on behalf of clients and provides in-house corporate compliance training, policies, and procedures.
Kelly was a previous committee member of the NSW Law Society Business Law Committee and is sitting on the Australian Law Council SME Business Law Committee.
