Corporate governance
Our exhaustive legal expertise and experience ensures Harwood Andrews Lawyers is well positioned to advise statutory authorities in relation to the various regulatory and legal frameworks in which they operate.
As such, we assist our clients to achieve their corporate governance objectives and obligations, including statutory compliance.
Harwood Andrews Lawyers regularly advises statutory authorities in relation to risk management related issues, including the drafting of related documents and procedures. We have a full understanding of the community and commercial environment that statutory authorities operate within, which ensures we are able to effectively provide pragmatic legal advice and outcomes.
Property
Harwood Andrews Lawyers has a wealth of experience and expertise in property matters relating to local government and public authorities. The Local Government and Public Sector department utilises the expertise of Deborah Mann and Stuart Monotti, who are both accredited as specialists by the Law Institute of Victoria in commercial tenancy and property law.
We advise our clients on all aspects of property disposal and acquisition, leasing, road management and adverse possession claims. We have acted for public authorities in major land acquisitions for community facilities, asset sales and the negotiation and documentation of property developments with commercial operators.
In the field of leasing, we have developed template community lease and licence agreements, which enables speedier execution of such agreements. We also have extensive experience with Crown Land (Reserves) Act leases, which involve public land that has been set aside for public purposes for the enjoyment and benefit of the community.
Construction and major projects
Harwood Andrews Lawyers provides specialist legal advice to local government and statutory authorities in the area of construction and major projects. Our team comprises experience litigators, who understand and have a passion for the building and construction industry.
We are regularly engaged to advise municipal and statutory authorities in relation to matters involving construction contracts, risk management and statutory interpretation of legislation relevant to the building industry.
We also regularly execute ‘front-end’ work for clients involved in major construction projects, which includes advising on project documentation, contract administration and liaising with technical consultants.
We always take a proactive approach in dispute minimisation and resolution. If a matter becomes litigious, however, our practitioners are highly experienced in all relevant jurisdictions, including the specialist building lists and the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
Freedom of Information
We are experienced in advising statutory authorities on their obligations under the Freedom of Information Act 1982. This includes advice on how to respond to requests for information, relevant exemptions and internal review. Harwood Andrews Lawyers also appears on behalf of clients at appeals at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
Intellectual property
The protection of intellectual property rights and the averting of actions which could infringe the intellectual property rights of other parties are increasingly important in today’s highly competitive commercial environment.
Harwood Andrews Lawyers provides a full range of advice in relation to intellectual property matters with a focus on how they relate to statutory authorities.
Our advice encompasses copyright, patents, trade marks, registered designs, confidential information/trade secrets and licensing of intellectual property rights.