Investing in our future

Tom Fletcher - Commercial Advisory & Dispute Resolution, Brisbane

Striking a better balance between reward and risk in increasingly challenging markets is key. That is particularly so for our clients in Australia's largest goods (resource commodities) and services (education) export sectors. Significant opportunities will continue to exist for those willing to embrace change and innovation and that have an appropriately generous appetite for risk.

Alison Sewell - Projects Infrastructure and Construction, Melbourne

One of the current trends in transport services is the move to ‘on-demand’ or ‘demand responsive’ service offerings. Looking to FY18, clients need to understand the evolving regulatory environment for these types of services in order to trial their longer term viability.

Mary MacLeod - Insurance & Corporate Risk, Melbourne

Our clients are constantly confronted with ensuring early benefit delivery in a financially sustainable way. The year ahead is proving to be even more challenging as various stakeholders are getting together to look at more efficient and effective ways in striking that balance.

Adrian Rich - Property, Brisbane

Clients will continue to be at the mercy of a constantly changing commercial property sector, whether that be in capital markets or commercial, industrial and retail leasing transactions. For those clients with available capital and an appetite for innovative asset redevelopment, opportunity abounds.

Nicholas Pascoe - Commercial & Regulatory, Sydney

Maximising value from technology will remain both a challenge and an opportunity for clients in FY18 and beyond. At MinterEllison, our leading IT legal practice has this year been joined by the top-tier technology consulting expertise of IT Newcom, making us uniquely placed to help clients maximise value from their technology deals at every phase of the contract lifecycle.

Stephen Knight - Corporate, Brisbane

In sugar, growers, millers and marketers will continue to adjust to the changed regulatory landscape put in place by the grower choice amendments to the Sugar Industry Act 1999 (Qld). Meanwhile, the retirement village industry will be waiting to see what happens with the proposed amendments to the Retirement Villages Act 1999 (Qld) that would give the Department of Housing & Public Works the right to veto village transfers, and whether similar measures are adopted in other jurisdictions.

David Moore - Corporate, Canberra

Despite tighter capital outflow restrictions being imposed in China, inbound foreign direct investment into Australia - from China and elsewhere - is widely tipped to remain strong in FY18. The July 2017 reforms to streamline Australia’s foreign investment regime will have an impact on inbound investors; they will certainly benefit some investors in commercial real estate, and private equity funds may also be able to take advantage of the new business acquisition exemption certificates.

Geoff Shaw - Commercial Disputes, Canberra

Challenges continue to arise where public and private interests intersect. Government agencies are increasingly engaging with the private sector, and private entities are increasingly taking on outsourced public functions. The challenge for public and private interests alike, is to navigate this dual priority – to successfully achieve the public purpose, while at the same time delivering optimal economic outcomes.

Joelle Grover - Human Resources & Industrial Relations, Melbourne

Disruption and innovation across all sectors presents a significant challenge for employers. Clients are faced with a need to increase flexibility within their workforce, and to be adaptable in a rapidly evolving world. At the same time, employers wanting to implement change can be constrained by prescriptive requirements that slow down the process and inhibit innovation. The challenge is magnified because of a heightened personal grievance culture in many workplaces, that can lead to individual disputation and resource drain.

Anthony Portas - Tax, Brisbane

The tax landscape in Australia and elsewhere is fast moving. We have seen a raft of tax law changes in recent years, particularly in relation to international taxation. The Australian Tax Office is taking a firm approach with any companies that it thinks are not complying with the letter of the law, and its policy intent. A key challenge will be helping clients navigate through this landscape and change in the year ahead.

Mark Williams - Insurance & Corporate Risk, Perth

Insurers are at a crossroads of a paradigm shift that can unlock enormous opportunities for their business. We are leaving an age where legal services are treated in a commoditised manner, with hourly rates the predominant driver, and are entering an era where insurers will purchase legal services from firms they know will augment their entire business, enhance their brand and give them opportunities to enter new markets and underwrite new risks.

Bi Chen - Corporate, Beijing

The restriction measures imposed by Chinese government on capital outflow has had significant impact on China outbound deals in FY17 and presented challenges to us on designing creative transaction structures to help achieve our clients’ commercial objectives.

Chris Carr - China FDI, Sydney

Continued uncertainty in China’s outbound investment arena present both immense challenges and significant opportunities. It is clear that the Chinese government is concerned about capital flight whilst managing the strategically critical task of immersing China into the global economy and facilitating more outbound investment. We can expect significant ups and downs next year, as China and Chinese businesses find their way in that conundrum. There will be shocks and challenges, the key will be being best prepared to be resilient.

Paul Shillington - Corporate M&A, Perth

The greatest challenge for clients is planning for, and adapting to, the disruptions of the rapidly changing energy supply environment, in a time of continuing low oil prices, climate-related regulatory uncertainty and major geopolitical instability in both the developed and the developing world.