Our People

Robin Speed | Co-Founder

Robin specialises in trust law. For over 50 years he practised as a corporate taxation lawyer for some of the largest groups in Australia. Now he concentrates on trust law and the taxation of trusts.

Robin Speed established the Rule of Law Institute of Australia and is currently the President. The Institute is the major institution in Australia promoting the rule of law.

Practice Areas

Trust law
Taxation of trusts
Trust litigation

Accomplishments

2016 – Editor of the Book “The Magna Carta in Australia: Celebrating the 800th Anniversary of the granting of the Magna Carta”
2008 – to date: President Rule of Law Institute of Australia
2007 – 2015: Secretary of the Lowy Institute of International Policy
1976 – Co-founder of Speed and Stracey
1967 – Master of Laws (First Class Honours), University of Sydney
1964 – Bachelor of Laws (Ranked 3rd), University of Sydney

Malcolm Stewart | Managing Director

02 8076 8218
mstewart@sslaw.com.au

Managing Director Malcolm Stewart and his team focus on the strategic handling and successful resolution of tax and other complex disputes. The types of matters in which they are involved include Project Wickenby, trusts, superfunds and actions against liquidators. Malcolm is the Vice-President of the Rule of Law Institute of Australia.

Practice Areas

Tax audits and strategy.
Investigations, hearings, civil and criminal enforcement by Government departments and regulators including ATO, ASIC, ACC and ICAC.
Insider trading charges by ASIC/CDPP.
Wickenby criminal investigations and prosecutions by ATO/ACC/CDPP.
Appeals to NSW Court of Criminal Appeal.
Defending alleged tax offences including Supreme Court criminal proceedings and appeals.
Tax appeals before the AAT and the Federal Court.
Parliamentary hearings.
Acting for directors, senior executives, listed companies and private groups in managing the resolution of employment disputes.
Disputes involving equities, futures trading, hedge funds, partnerships, property development, misleading and deceptive conduct cases and copyright.

Accomplishments

2016 – Managing Director of Speed and Stracey
2012 – Masters of Taxation, University of Sydney
2008 – Vice-President Rule of Law Institute of Australia
2001 – Master of Labour Law, University of Sydney
1996 – Director, Speed and Stracey
1988 – Lawyer, Speed and Stracey
1987 – Bachelor of Laws, University of Sydney
1985 – Bachelor of Economics, University of Sydney

Grae McKenzie | Director

02 9251 8652
gmckenzie@sslaw.com.au

Grae and his team specialise in securities, corporate mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures, trusts and trust restructures, managed investment schemes, corporate group restructures, succession and estate planning.

His 40 years plus experience as a commercial lawyer and a hands-on practical and persistent approach promotes the efficient completion of matters to achieve desired outcomes for clients.

Practice Areas

Corporate group restructures.
Corporations Act advice.
Corporate mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures.
Managed investment schemes advice.
Establishing and restructuring trusts.
Succession and estate planning.

Accomplishments

1986 – Director, Speed and Stracey
1983 – Lawyer, Speed and Stracey
1978 – Lawyer, Conway MacCallum Lawyers
1978 – Bachelor of Laws, University of Sydney

Hugh Scott | Director

02 8076 8241
hscott@sslaw.com.au

Hugh Scott and his team act on complex commercial disputes including high profile corporate litigation, white collar and regulatory actions and inquiries, trade practices, property, building/ construction, and insurance litigation. Clients have great success from Hugh’s early identification of critical issues and detailed hands on preparation.

Practice Areas

HIH Royal Commission and associated ASIC investigations, civil proceedings and successfully defending prosecutions and Building and Construction Industry Royal Commissions.
Insider trading investigations.
ATO investigations including Project Wickenby and major tax audits for top 100 public company.
ASIC investigations/interviews.
ICAC investigations.
Large commercial, construction, planning, environmental and equity litigation in Supreme Courts of NSW, QLD and the NT and appellant Courts.
Large and complex trust litigation in NSW, WA and Federal Courts.
Successful landmark High Court case concerning director’s and officers’ liability insurance.
Acting for major public company in commercial disputes, competition tribunal matters and commercial advices.
Acting personally for Judges of the Federal Court, New South Wales Court of Appeal and High Court.
Defending investor/securities Federal Court class action against an ASX-listed corporation.
Acting for major electricity generator in a Part IV restrictive trade practices action against global resources group in the Federal Court of Australia and on large long term coal supply contracts.
Acting for major electricity generator in the Supreme Court of New South Wales and the Court of Appeal against global resource companies.
Acting for directors in major corporate collapse litigation.

Accomplishments

1994 – Director, Speed and Stracey
1990 – Master of Laws, University of Sydney
1986 – Associate, Speed and Stracey
1985 – Bachelor of Laws, University of NSW
1985 – Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting), University of NSW

Daniel Appleby | Director

02 8076 8242
dappleby@sslaw.com.au

Daniel Appleby and his team address complex tax issues for some of Australia’s most successful families and their businesses, and international clients – specialising in tax advisory (domestic and international), structuring, estate and succession planning, tax controversy and audit. Daniel has extensive experience in business and trust advisory, and complex estate and business succession planning.

Practice Areas

Domestic and international tax and structuring advice to private groups, high wealth individuals, family offices, and other private clients.
Succession and estate planning for private groups and individuals.
Tax and structuring advice for managed funds, pooled investment entities and investors in and out of Australia.
Advising foreign investors and funds into Australia.
Obtaining private tax rulings from the ATO.
Taxation disputes including liaison with tax officers, ATO disclosures, tax mediations and negotiated settlements.
ATO risk reviews, audits, requests for information.
Establishing and acting for non-profit Deductible Gift Recipients, Charitable Institutions, private funds and industry representative bodies.

Accomplishments

Author of Australian chapters of numerous international tax and trusts publications
Member of the International Academy of Estate and Trust Law, the Law Council of Australia Tax Committee and private tax discussion groups.
Chartered Tax Adviser (FTIA)
Master of Laws (Taxation), University of Sydney, Bachelor of Business (UTS), Bachelor of Laws (UTS)

Ben Giles | Director

02 8076 8253
bgiles@sslaw.com.au

Ben Giles and his team practise in complex commercial and securities litigation and white collar and regulatory enforcement. He has extensive experience in commercial property disputes, financial services disputes and professional indemnity and directors & officers policy claims and disputes. He also acts in substantial inheritance disputes.

Practice Areas

Commercial lease and property disputes for property developers and managers.
Financial services and corporate disputes concerning stockbroking, insider trading, market manipulation and ASIC enforcement, including white collar crime.
Professional indemnity insurance and directors’ & officers insurance claims and disputes.
Public and government inquiries and investigations including ASIC and ICAC.
Substantial inheritance and estate disputes.
Defending investor class action claims.

Accomplishments

2014 – Director, Speed and Stracey
2008 – Master of Laws, University of Sydney
2004 – Lawyer Speed and Stracey
2003 – Tipstaff to Justice Gzell, Supreme Court of NSW
2003 – Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours), University of Sydney

Peter Speed | Director

02 8076 8243
pspeed@sslaw.com.au

Peter Speed and his team focus on complex commercial litigation, trust disputes, joint venture disputes, tax audits and litigation and competition law. His quantitative, analytical approach helps the likes of Scentre Group, Macquarie Bank and some of Australia’s wealthiest individuals navigate some of their more significant and delicate issues. Peter sits on the FFA judiciary.

Practice Areas

Acting for Westfield in its previous High Court matters: Westfield Management Limited v Perpetual Trustee Company Limited [2007] HCA 45 (3 October 2007).
Acting for Westfield in relation to a series of joint venture disputes with AMP and Lend Lease concerning jointly owned shopping centres.
Acting for Westfield in a dispute with Sportsgirl in relation to the issue of a relocation notice and compensation for disturbance arising out of the Sydney City development.
Advising corporations on trade practice matters including mergers and acquisitions under section 50 of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth).
Liaising with the ACCC in relation numerous proposed mergers and acquisitions including the negotiation of acceptable undertakings
Advising industry associations in relation to the trade practices implications of comparative advertising.
Making numerous submissions to and appearing before various Parliamentary Inquiries, committees and expert panels on behalf of the Shopping Centre Council of Australia, Westfield and Speed and Stracey in relation to proposed or potential legislative changes to the Competition Law, including the cartel provisions.
Acting for a successful property developer in a Part IVA tax case in the Federal Court.
Acting for partners of three partnerships in Part IVA tax disputes with the Commissioner.
Acting for one Australia’s wealthiest individuals in Part IVA tax dispute with the Commissioner
Acting for a top 20 listed company in relation to a number of Part IVA disputes with the Commissioner.
Acting for the successful applicant in the leading land tax case in the High Court.
Acting for Amcor Limited in a dumping duty case in the Federal Court.
Acting for Westfield in major zoning disputes against DFO in the Land and Environment Court & Court of Appeal.
Acting for a participant in the Cole Royal Commission into the building industry.
Acting for a significant participant in the HIH Royal Commission.

Accomplishments

2006 – Master of Laws, University of Sydney
2004 – Director, Speed and Stracey
2000 – Senior Associate, Speed and Stracey
1999 – Senior Associate, Barker Gosling Lawyers
1997 – Lawyer, Barker Gosling Lawyers
1994 – Lawyer, Leigh Virtue & Associates
1993 – Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Law, University of Sydney

Bruce Stracey | Co-Founder & Director

02 9251 8000 bstracey@sslaw.com.au

As co-founder and director of Speed and Stracey, Bruce Stracey has wide ranging experience as a commercial lawyer in business and corporate transactions, large scale commercial litigation, trusts and tax planning, finance, insolvency and reconstruction, mergers and acquisitions, IT projects, commercial property projects, cross border transactions, joint ventures and Estate and Succession Planning. His focus now, is acting as General Counsel to numerous high net worth family offices.

Practice Areas

Succession planning for high net worth private families, restructure and tax planning for family trusts and private company groups and cross border transactions.
Receivership, administration and rationalisation of complex corporate groups and workouts for financially troubled businesses.
Corporate group structures, joint ventures, financing and fundraising for corporate groups Australia wide and internationally.

Accomplishments

1977 – Master of Laws (Taxation and Commercial), University of Sydney
1976 – Director and co-founder, Speed and Stracey
1975 – Partner, Bartier Perry & Purcell
1973 – Solicitor, Bartier Perry & Purcell
1973 – Bachelor of Laws, University of Sydney

David Anderson | Director

02 8076 8224
danderson@sslaw.com.au

David Anderson and his team advise on complex tax issues and provide strategic estate and business succession planning for individuals, their families and associated entities. David specialises in tax advisory, including domestic and international tax issues, tax controversy and ATO audits.

Practice Areas

Domestic and international tax advice to listed companies, private groups, high wealth individuals and other private clients.
Providing complex tax advice for family business restructures and wealth planning and creation
Project Wickenby/ Trust Taskforce matters, voluntary disclosures to the ATO and the repatriation of foreign assets
Taxation disputes, audits, objections, private rulings, international exchange of information, ATO requests for information / documents and exercise of coercive powers
Estate and business succession planning, complex trust estates and trust law issues
Advising superannuation funds (including SMSFs) on tax issues and risk reviews
Advising on tax issues associated with executive and employee remuneration programs, including employee share / option schemes and performance rights plans
Advising foreign clients on tax issues for investing in Australia or commencing commercial operations in Australia
Advising Australian clients on outbound investment, including tax attribution and double taxation agreements
Acting for not-for-profit entities in gaining / maintaining tax exempt status

Accomplishments

He is a member of the Challis Tax Discussion Group and a member (TEP) of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP)
2019 – Recognised in 2019 Edition of “Best Lawyers in Australia”
2018- Recognised in 2018 Edition of “Best Lawyers in Australia”
2017 – Director, Speed & Stracey
2014 – Senior Associate, Speed & Stracey
2012 – Master of Laws, University of Sydney
2011 – Senior Associate, King & Wood Mallesons
2006 – Solicitor, Mallesons Stephen Jaques
2005 – Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours), Macquarie University
2005 – Deans Award for Academic Excellence in Law
2005 – Bachelor of Commerce – Accounting, Macquarie University

David Sim | Special Counsel

02 8076 8223
dsim@sslaw.com.au

David is a highly experienced advisor in international and domestic corporate and commercial transactions. David has advised a range of clients on a number of transactions in a range of industries and sectors in relation to the acquisition/sale of companies, businesses and assets (including regulated transactions). He also regularly advises on group restructuring, incentive schemes, joint ventures, trust and shareholder issues.

Practice Areas

Securities
Securities and asset sales
Corporate restructuring and business structures
Company formation
Fund raising (equity and debt)
Corporate governance
Corporations Act and ASX Listing Rule compliance
Employee incentive schemes
Trusts
Joint ventures

Accomplishments

2021 – Special Counsel, Speed and Stracey
2016 – Director, Sim Legal
2013 – Associate, Jones Day
2010 – Senior Associate, Corrs Chambers Westgarth
2004 – Lawyer, Clayton Utz
2004 – Admitted to the Supreme Court of New South Wales
2004 – Admitted to the High Court of Australia
1995 – B.Eng (Hons) Chemical Engineering

Patricia Abordo | Senior Associate & Notary Public

02 8076 8244
pabordo@sslaw.com.au

Patricia Abordo is a qualified Notary Public and is part of the Litigation and Dispute Resolution team. She has specific interest in planning law matters (such as compulsory acquisitions) involving novel and complex issues of law, as well as large scale disputes experience in areas of law spanning partnerships, trusts and director/trustee duties, competition, fraud, planning and environment (including mining) and insurance.

Practice Areas

Compulsory acquisition pursuant to the Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991 (NSW)
Trustee and directors duties and conflicts of duties and interests
Partnership disputes
Penalty clauses in the Australian Consumer Law
General Commercial Litigation
Mediation and Arbitration

Accomplishments

2017 – Appointed as a Notary Public
2017 – Senior Associate, Speed & Stracey
2015 – Associate, Speed & Stracey
2011 – Associate at Allens
2008 – Lawyer at HWL Ebsworth Lawyers
2006 – Paralegal to Ms Julie Soars (barrister-at-law, now Magistrate of the Local Court)
2007 – Bachelor of Laws (with honours), The University of Sydney
2004 – Bachelor of Nursing (with merit), The University of Sydney

Charles Suttie | Senior Associate

02 8076 8251
csuttie@sslaw.com.au

Charles Suttie is a member of the Complex Commercial and Securities Litigation and Tax Disputes and Litigation teams. His focus is the successful resolution of complex tax and other disputes, which have for instance involved litigation concerning trusts, freezing orders, ATO garnishee notices, Freedom of Information requests, the exercise of ATO notice and access powers, offshore information notices and Project Wickenby matters.

Practice Areas

Tax audits, objections and appeals before the AAT and the Federal Court
Investigations by Government authorities and regulators
Challenges to decisions of Government departments, such as the merger of NSW local councils
Resolution of complex commercial and trust disputes and litigation

Accomplishments

2014- Master of Taxation, University of Sydney
2010- Senior Associate, Speed and Stracey
2007- Associate, Speed and Stracey
2006- Master of Laws, Australian National University
2005- Associate to the Hon. Justice R F Edmonds, Federal Court of Australia
2004- Associate to Magistrate J D Burns (as the Hon. Justice J D Burns then was) (ACT)
2004- Bachelor of Arts (First Class Honours)/Bachelor of Laws, University of Western Australia

Ian Murray | Senior Associate

02 8076 8248
imurray@sslaw.com.au

Ian Murray is a member of the Commercial and Corporate Team where he acts on a wide range of corporate, trust and estate planning matters for some of Australia’s most successful entrepreneurs, families and their businesses. He has specific interest in private mergers and acquisitions, corporate advisory, financial services, trust and corporate structuring and restructures, shareholder disputes, and business succession planning.

Practice Areas

Corporate advisory and corporate governance;
Mergers and acquisitions;
Company formation and joint ventures;
Trusts;
Business and investment structuring and restructuring;
Business succession and estate planning.

Accomplishments

2021 – Senior Associate, Speed and Stracey
2018 – Master of Laws, University of Sydney
2017 – Associate, Speed and Stracey Lawyers
2014 – Lawyer, Sydney Law Practice
2014 – Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours) and Bachelor of Commerce (with Distinction), University of Wollongong

Emily McKeith | Senior Associate

02 8076 8219
emilym@sslaw.com.au

Emily McKeith is a member of the tax team, advising on complex tax issues and providing strategic estate and business succession planning for individuals, their families and associated entities.

Practice Areas

Domestic and international tax advice to private groups and high wealth individuals
Tax transactional and restructuring advice
Voluntary disclosures to the ATO
Taxation disputes, audits, objections, risk reviews and ATO requests for information
Obtaining private binding tax rulings from the ATO
Succession and estate plans for private groups and individuals
Advising Australian clients on outbound investments, including tax attribution and double taxation agreements

Accomplishments

2020 – Master of Laws, University of Sydney
2020 – Senior Associate, Speed & Stracey Lawyers
2017 – Lawyer, Speed & Stracey Lawyers
2015 – Bachelor of Laws (Second Class Honours) with a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting), Macquarie University
2014 – Ernst & Young International Tax Advisory
2013 – Macquarie University High Achievers Certificate for Outstanding Academic Performance

Miguel Cruz | Senior Associate

02 8076 8245
mcruz@sslaw.com.au

Miguel is a member of the tax advice and audit team. He regularly advises on trusts law and the taxation of trusts. He has been involved in complex transactions and restructures, advising on taxation aspects which include capital gains, stamp duty, GST and land tax. Miguel has driven successful tax ruling, exemption and objection applications in these areas.