Ross Paterson

BCom LLB (Hons) (Melb)

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Ross Paterson praised by clients for his ‘practical and technical advice’.

The Legal 500 Asia Pacific

In addition, combining his commercial, corporate and taxation practices, Ross offers strategic business succession, wealth management and succession advice to a broad spectrum of clients, from small to medium business owners to some of Australia’s wealthiest individuals and family groups.

Ross has been highlighted in prominent international guides to lawyers and law firms, including The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific and the Tax Directors Handbook in which sources commend him for his “practical and technical advice”. Ross has also been recognised in successive editions of Legal Media Group’s Expert Guide to the World’s Leading Trust and Estates Practitioners.

Ross graduated from The University of Melbourne with an honours degree in law and a degree in commerce with an accounting major. He joined Arnold Bloch Leibler in 1982 and became a partner in 1990.

Practice focus

Ross is a member of the commercial & corporate and private client (ABL Private) practices. His practice focuses on the following areas:

mergers and acquisitions, including due diligence and regulatory approvals, and preparation of acquisition and restructure documentation through to completion;
stakeholder agreements, including partnership, shareholder and joint venture agreements; advising professional practices, including accounting, law and financial advisory firms;
corporate restructuring;
wealth management, including business succession planning, asset protection, and succession planning; and
estate, trust and family disputes.

Experience

Ross has acted for major Australian corporations, high-net-worth individuals, family groups and private clients in a range of commercial, wealth management and taxation matters, including:

Lew Family Investments: in the sale of fashion retailer Witchery to Gresham Private Equity, and the acquisition of the House retail business;
the Grenda Family: in the sale of the Grenda bus transit business and also a majority shareholding in the Volgren bus manufacturing business;
The Royal Society: in a dispute concerning the largest bequest received by the Society in its 350-year history;
Slater & Gordon in relation to:
- the acquisition of numerous Australian legal practices, including Trilby Misso, Keddies and Nowicki Carbone
- its landmark listing on the ASX — the first law firm in the world to offer shares to the public and list on a recognised exchange;

Daniel Besen: in the acquisition and disposal of various private equity investments in a range of businesses including, sass & bide, Boost Juice and the Saba fashion retailer; and
GMK: in relation to its merger with Centric to form GMK Centric and the subsequent reacquisition of the accounting practice back from Centric, and the subsequent move by the GMK principals to Deloitte Private;
The Beddison Group in the sale of a majority stake to Japanese limited company Outsourcing Inc.