International

Today more and more organisations are broadening their horizons and doing business in the international arena. Global expansion brings opportunities and rewards but also carries potential risks. Through our extensive global network, Deacons has the knowledge and experience to help clients navigate the complex international legal environment.

Wherever in the world

No matter where in the world our clients are doing business, we have the capability of handling their international legal needs. Whether it’s making an acquisition in New York, forming a joint venture in London, establishing operations in Asia, or licensing technology in Europe, we have the experience to meet the most demanding requirements.

Seamless, faster

Putting together any international transaction has the potential to become a complex and time-consuming process. That’s why our clients appreciate having their legal services delivered with efficiency and speed. By having a single law firm coordinate the various aspects of an international transaction, clients experience competent management and assessment of legal issues, resulting in faster transaction times and reduced costs.

Multi-layered services

We deliver our international services in several ways:

• a multi-jurisdictional and multi-lingual experienced team of lawyers with a proven track record of managing complex international transactions
• Deacons has a strong presence throughout Asia with Deacons owned and and affiliated offices in Australia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, People’s Republic of China, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand
• strong working relationships with local firms in a number of other countries, including Vietnam, India,  Europe and North America. Our clients benefit from the established confidence and working relationship we have developed with these alliance firms over the years.

Managing complex risk

The simplest, most routine transaction can have an international character. Whether a legal issue is large or small, the global aspect adds a level of complexity and risk that must be properly managed. Deacons has the depth of experience to help clients manage risks in this challenging area. With so many variables in international transactions, it’s also important for us to provide a consistent service. Our international transactions experts can address virtually every type of issue that can arise in a global project. For each major transaction we appoint a single partner as the primary link with the client, ensuring our services are delivered in the most efficient and responsive manner. This single point accountability also means the same quality standard is achieved and allows for quick remedial action in the event that issues arise.

Our services

Deacons’ services cover a range of international endeavours including:

• establishment of joint ventures
• mergers and acquisitions
• transfer and licensing of technology
• protection of intellectual property rights
• long-term supply and distribution arrangements

In assisting clients to implement these programs, Deacons provides expert legal advice encompassing:

• international due diligence - review of corporate,commercial and regulatory issues
• capital raising - private equity, share floats and structured finance
• cross-border dispute resolution - our ‘rapid response team’ provides on site, effective strategies
• international franchising - legal advice and assistance with business aspects such as feasibility studies
• international intellectual property protection - including registration of patents and trademarks, on-line IP issues
• insurance
• taxation - from residency, investment and subsidiaries to cross-border leasing and transfer pricing

• Deacons in the press: Bullish in the China shop

  Smart Company online magazine, 5 May 2008, reports on China's rising place in the global economic ranks and as a major global influence. The China-Australia trade relationship is also growing as well as "broadening and diversifying".

  6 May 08 Mary-Anne Webb

• Deacons in the press: Diversification means consolidation

  Deacons partners Ian McCubbin, Shaun McRobert and James Stewart are noted as "leading lawyers" for the role Deacons played in the Sinosteel bid for Midwest, reports Australasian Legal Business, Issue 6.4.

  2 May 08 Shaun McRobert, Ian McCubbin, James Stewart , Mary-Anne Webb

• Deacons in the press: BHP raid puts focus on China investing

  Ian McCubbin, Deacons partner and head of China business, is quoted in The Australian, 11 April 2008, saying "Australia's Foreign Investment Review Board appears to be sitting on Chinese applications for approval to invest in Australian resources."

  11 Apr 08 Ian McCubbin , Mary-Anne Webb

• Deacons in the press: Savvy to leap forward

  Deacons partner Kevin Hobgood-Brown is quoted in The Australian, 7 April 2008, in his role as Chairman of the Australia China Business Council in relation to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's vist to China this week.

  8 Apr 08 Kevin Hobgood-Brown , Mary-Anne Webb

• Deacons in the press: Enter the hungry dragon

  Sydney Morning Herald, 9 February, 2008, Deacons' Ian McCubbin and Kevin Hobgood-Brown interviewed regarding China's role on the world investment stage.

  11 Feb 08 Kevin Hobgood-Brown, Ian McCubbin , Mary-Anne Webb

• Deacons in the press: Firms cash in on China interest - 14/11/2007

  An article in the Australasian Legal Business magazine, Issue 5.10, highlights Deacons role in the signing of a major Chinese investment in Australian infrastructure by Chinese steel producer Anshan Iron & Steel Group during APEC in Sydney.

  14 Nov 07 Ian McCubbin , Mary-Anne Webb

• Deacons in the press: Northern Territory looks to the future - 07/11/2007

  Northern Territory News, 7 November 2007, reported on the official opening of a Northern Territory Branch of the Australia China Business Council (ACBC) by the NT Chief Minister, Clare Martin. Chief Minister Martin and Deacons partner Kevin Hobgood-Brown spoke at the opening ceremony.

  7 Nov 07 Kevin Hobgood-Brown , Mary-Anne Webb

• Deacons in the press: China steel deal for Deacons, Clayton Utz - 21/9/2007

  Deacons was featured as the "Deal of the week" in Lawyers Weekly (21/9/2007). Deacons advised Anshan Iron and steel corporation, one of China's largest steel producers, in signing a joint venture developments with Gindalbie Metals, worth $1.8billion. The deal was signed at a historic APEC ceremony in Sydney attended by Prime Minister John Howard and Chinese President Hu Jin Tao.

  24 Sep 07 Ian McCubbin

• Deacons in the press - Pinning hopes on China (20/3/2007)

  Deacons partner Ian McCubbin was recently interviewed in Lawyers Weekly (20/7/2007) about the difficulty getting a "foothold" in China.

  25 Jul 07 Ian McCubbin

• Legal Update: China passes Enterprise Income Law

  On 16 March 2006, the National People’s Congress passed the Enterprise Income Tax Law (Law), which, from 1 January 2008, will unify the tax regime that applies to domestic companies and foreign invested enterprises (FIE) in China. The Law introduces a standardised tax rate of 25% for both domestic companies and FIEs, which is an increase in the preferential tax rate of 15% that currently applies to some FIEs, but which is lower than the 33% tax rate (being 30% at national level and 3% at local level) which applies to most domestic companies in China.

  22 Jun 07 Zdravko Jelic