A Matter Of Trust
After decades of trying, the Australian Tax Office (ATO) has finally found a federal government that could be persuaded to tax discretionary trust income. From 1 July 2028 tax will be paid by the trustee of a discretionary trust at a minimum rate of 30%. The tax-paid...
Why your name and reputation are not enough to protect your business
After an epic 17 years, on 11 March 2026, the High Court of Australia delivered its judgement in Taylor v Killer Queen LLC [2026] HCA 5, bringing the final chapter of a trade mark battle between Katie Taylor (Ms Taylor), an Australian fashion designer trading under...
The countdown is on to the new Anti-Money Laundering regime
With less than a week to go until some of the most significant changes to Australia's Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing regime (AML/CTF regime) take effect, is your business ready? The AML/CTF regime has been updated to close regulatory gaps,...
The Risky Business of AI Contracts
With over 50% of businesses across Australia utilising artificial intelligence (AI) technologies there is no doubt that the business landscape is continually evolving as companies increasingly adopt AI tools across their operations to achieve time efficiencies and...
Double the agents, double the fees. What vendors need to know.
With over 142,000 property settlements in NSW (and over 722,000 nationwide) during the 2024/25 financial year, real estate continues to be an intensely competitive industry as agents vie for sales and the associated commissions. Given the sheer volume of sales...
Are you at risk of losing your competitive advantage?
Competitive advantage is a concept that is often misunderstood. Many individuals mistake it for being good at something in particular or being the first in market with a product or offer. Unfortunately, these misconceptions are often held in conjunction with the...
Catch me if you scam
The year 2024 delivered many firsts, such as the debut of breakdancing as an Olympic sport, the first female president of Mexico and the launch of digital currency regulations. In Australia, it was also the year of the first known case of a sophisticated trade mark...
Protect your business against customer insolvency
Recent statistics released by ASIC show that more than 11,000 businesses entered into external administration during the 2023-24 financial year, a 39% increase from the previous year which saw 7,942 businesses go into external administration during the 2022-23...
Contractor or Employee? When is a Rooster a Duck?
It used to be easy – businesses had employees to carry out the day-to-day tasks necessary to run their business, and engaged contractors for particular projects, from premises refurbishment to advising on new business opportunities. That has all changed – from...
Trade marks and Dubai Chocolate
There is a high probability that you have either tasted, or heard of, Dubai Chocolate. Created in Dubai in 2021 by Fix Dessert Chocolatier co-founder Sarah Hamouda, with the help of chef Nouel Catis Omamalin, this sweet creation is a chocolate bar containing a filling...
The importance of intellectual property in early-stage business
In today's business environment, timing is a critical element of successful business strategy. This is particularly true with regards to managing intellectual property (IP) in an ever-evolving global marketplace, as the effective creation and protection of...
Is your business ready for the non-compete clause ban?
As part of the recent Federal Election Campaign, the ALP announced its intention to ban non-compete clauses for workers earning less than the high-income threshold under the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) which is currently $175,000. This policy is a response to increasing...
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