Legal

Everyday Justice charity to provide free legal advice for 'vulnerable Australians'

AN INNOVATIVE new charity, Everyday Justice, is aiming to improve access to legal advice, particularly for regional and mobility-impaired Australians, and provide relief for overstretched community legal services.

Everyday Justice is an initiative of national law firm Mills Oakley. Commenting on the new charity, Mills Oakley CEO John Nerurker said the need for pro bono legal advice has never been greater.

“This has been a tough period for many people, and a particularly difficult time for people who can’t afford to pay for a lawyer to help them with issues like unpaid wages, mounting debts and possible eviction from rental accommodation,” Mr Nerurker said. 

“The team at Mills Oakley felt that it was time to step up and take a unique approach to addressing the unmet legal needs of so many Australians. The Missing Middle Everyday Justice will provide free legal advice for the 'missing middle'.”  

He said the term 'missing middle' describes the growing number of low to moderate income earners in Australia who are ineligible for means-tested Legal Aid services but are unable to afford a private lawyer. 

To access the legal system, the missing middle often must make a difficult choice between incurring substantial financial hardship, self representing or abstaining from pursuing their legitimate legal claims altogether. Everyday Justice hopes to alleviate some of this undue hardship, he said.

ACCESSIBLE JUSTICE

Mr Nerurker said Everyday Justice would emphasise accessibility for clients, delivering services online and via telephone, as well as in person. Innovative legal technology solutions will ensure that vulnerable people, including those with disabilities, the elderly and those in rural, remote and regional communities have ample access to free legal assistance without the need to travel great distances to obtain it.

“During the COVID lockdowns, Mills Oakley honed the skill of providing seamless client service remotely,” Mr Nerurker said. “We are well placed to apply those lessons with Everyday Justice.”

He said Everyday Justice would provide advice on employment law, tenancy, credit and debt, bankruptcy, financial abuse, fines and infringements, human rights, environmental and other areas of public interest. Many of these practice areas have experienced a strong increase in demand since last summer’s bushfires and the ongoing coronavirus related lockdowns.

Everyday Justice will also provide a pathway for aspiring lawyers to gain the practical legal experience required for admission, offering internships to law graduates and newly qualified lawyers interested in pursuing careers in the social justice sector.

“An unfortunate consequence of the pandemic is that many firms cut back on their graduate intake,” Mr Nerurker said. “Everyday Justice will give back to the profession by providing a comprehensive training program for aspiring lawyers.”

This training program will cover all areas of the firm’s practice and provide the opportunity to help make a meaningful impact on the lives of those in need, in a supportive, stimulating and diverse learning environment, he said.

“We want to equip more young lawyers with the practical skills needed to help Australians with their everyday legal issues."

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

Two of the charity’s senior figures are well-credentialled in pro bono representation. Mills Oakley partner Luke Geary will chair the Everyday Justice Board and managing lawyer Amy Burton will be responsible for day-to-day pro bono operations.

Both Ms Burton and Mr Geary have been recognised for their contribution to accessible justice. Amy Burton was named Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year at the Lawyers Weekly Women in Law Awards, while Luke Geary's many accolades include Managing Partner of the Year at the Australian Law Awards, in recognition for his work at a previous firm, and Anzac of the Year for services to the legal profession and the community.

Everyday Justice will continue to work closely with the many charities supported by Mills Oakley, who will refer clients to the service.

Everyday Justice will also formally partner with The College of Law to identify suitable candidates for the internship program. Terri Mottershead, executive director of the college’s Centre for Legal Innovation, will serve on the board of Everyday Justice. 

Mills Oakley partner Vera Visevic will also serve on the Board.

“Every charity needs to have roots in the community,” Mr Nerurker said. "It is vital to have a consultative approach, taking advice and seeking engagement from as wide a cross-section of stakeholders as possible. We are not here to re-invent the wheel – we are here to follow best practice and to assist as many vulnerable people as we can.”

ACCLAIM FOR PRO BONO APPROACH

The decision to launch Everyday Justice was welcomed by Australian Pro Bono Centre CEO Gabriela Christian-Hare.

"Mills Oakley is to be congratulated for establishing and investing in Everyday Justice as a vehicle through which vulnerable Australians can obtain pro bono legal support across a range of critical areas," Ms Christian-Hare said. "The charity will also help to build the next generation of lawyers committed to access to justice, the public good and community service through pro bono work."

Mr Nerurker said the launch of Everyday Justice reflected the evolution of Mills Oakley into a modern, progressive national firm. Mills Oakley has passed many milestones in the past five years, including appointing the firm’s 100th partner, crossing the $200m revenue mark and opening a Perth office to become a truly national law firm.

“We have enjoyed tremendous success in recent years," Mr  Nerurker said. “But with that success and national profile comes an obligation to give back to the community in equal measure.

"While we have been active in the community for many years, it is time to step up and take our pro bono strategy to the next level. This is a coming of age moment for Mills Oakley.”

ends

'Safe harbour' business lifeline to end on New Years Day

CORPORATE INSOLVENCY advisory firm MacKay Goodwin is urging business leaders to address insolvency issues before New Years Day, when the Federal Government's 'safe harbour' moratorium ends.

MacKay Goodwin has warned struggling businesses have just days to seek professional help. Directors of companies trading while insolvent will no longer have protection from January 1, 2021, which could leave them open for involuntary liquidation proceedings.

During the pandemic, the Corporations Act suspended provisions that would otherwise hold directors personally liable for trading while insolvent.

"It is critical to get the message out that from New Years Day, company directors could face penalties if their business is found to continue trading while insolvent," Mackay Goodwin CEO Domenic Calabretta said.

"Originally the Safe Harbour provisions were due to end in September but were extended when it became clear the economic effects of the pandemic weren't going to be rectified sufficiently by then.”

Under the current economic conditions, it is up to directors to get their accounts and records in order before the deadline passes. If companies have been trading insolvent during 2020, they are strongly encouraged to seek professional financial help.

Companies in serious trouble should have a professional financial adviser, specialising in restructures or insolvency, appointed ahead of the December 31, 2020 deadline, Mr Calabretta said.

"Safe harbour laws state that an external administrator must be appointed to your company before the moratorium's expiry on 31 December 2020, if the debts incurred during COVID are to be excluded from a liquidator's claim for insolvent trading," he said. 

"I really encourage companies to take the time now to examine their businesses and identify if it is still viable, or suffering from temporary liquidity challenges. Those companies could undertake a restructure, which could see them continuing to trade, but in a stronger financial position. With the right advice, they may come out of COVID stronger than they went in."

"Where a company is placed into formal insolvency, directors will need professional advice on compliance with regulatory obligations, such as the provision of books and information and assistance to a liquidator, administrator or controller," Mr Calabretta said.

He said Mackay Goodwin also strongly encourages companies to undertake a general health check to ensure they have viable plans for recovery and subsequent growth.

"Directors may need advice on lending, cash flow, restructuring, forensics, and improving efficiencies to avoid financial trouble. A professional adviser is best placed to help," Mr Calabretta said. "Sound planning is best achieved through a collaborative process between you and an advisory expert.

"While I recognise the holiday season is a terrible time of year to factor in major business health checks, I can't stress enough how important it is for struggling businesses to get on top of it before the moratorium ends. From 2021, directors can be liable if they have not sought help or taken appropriate action to mitigate claims, and the last thing we want is for the new year to be as miserable as 2020.”

Mackay Goodwin is offering several free advisory activities for businesses that find themselves in trouble. Aside from free webinars, it has also released a downloadable business survival pack. It is also providing an initial free consultation with businesses, and to assist the business community its staff have committed to providing two hours of their day free of charge to affected businesses for the next six months.

www.mackagoodwin.com.au

ends

 

Improving technology neutrality of Treasury portfolio laws

THE Institute of Public Accountants (IPA) chief executive officer, Andrew Conway has highlighted that modernising business communication is a key driver of Australia’s future economic growth -- and that must include modernising the Treasury.

“The call for public consultation on improving the technology neutrality of Treasury portfolio legislation is timely,” Mr Conway said.

“If anything, good has come from the COVID-19 pandemic, it is the push to continue Australia’s deregulation agenda and ensure legislation is drafted so that it may stand the test of time and eliminate unnecessary business processes. 

“This consultation is essential as one of its objectives is to ensure Australia does not restrict the use of current and future technologies," he said.

“It is vital that businesses benefit from consistency in the way law treats similar types of business communication now and into the future. That is why the De-Regulation Taskforce is seeking to ensure a principles-based approach to legislative reform for business communications is applied,” Mr Conway said.

Andrew Conway is a member of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet Deregulation Taskforce Expert Advisory Panel but he said he has made these comments in his capacity as chief executive of the IPA.

The consultation period closes on February 28, 2021, and information on making a submission can be sourced here.

www.publicaccountnats.org.au

ends

Ombudsman welcomes SME-sensible insolvency reforms

THE Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, Kate Carnell has welcomed the passage of legislation, overhauling the national insolvency framework.

The legislation, which comes into effect from January 1, 2021, will make it easier for small businesses to restructure or wind up and are in line with the Ombudsman’s Insolvency Practices Inquiry final report released in July.

“These landmark reforms will give otherwise viable small businesses a chance to recover and prevent a wave of unnecessary insolvencies,” Ms Carnell says.

“It’s an absolute game-changer for small businesses, particularly those that have been heavily impacted by the COVID crisis. Instead of finding themselves on an express train to winding up with no control over the process, these changes will ensure small businesses have the option to turn their business around, giving them a fighting chance to survive.

“Crucially, by moving to the ‘debtor in possession’ model, small businesses can restructure their debts while remaining in control of their business.

“For those businesses that sadly need to wind up, the liquidation process will be simpler, faster and cheaper. We know the pandemic, which followed a devastating season of natural disasters, has driven many small businesses to the brink," Ms Carnell said.

“Modelling by Deloitte Access Economics estimated about 240,000 small businesses are at risk of failure. 

“It highlights the need for small business owners to sit down with their trusted and accredited financial adviser for a viability assessment as a matter of urgency.

“That’s why my office continues to advocate for the establishment of a small business viability program, providing small business owners facing financial stress with a grant valued up to $5,000 to access tailored advice on the state of their business," she said.

“Ultimately this legislation represents the most progress we have seen in decades much to the benefit of the small business sector.”

www.asbfeo.gov.au

ends

Applause for crackdown on 'unfair contract terms' to protect SMEs

THE Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, Kate Carnell has welcomed a national agreement to strengthen protections for small businesses from 'unfair contract terms'.

Assistant Federal Treasurer, Michael Sukkar has announced that federal, state and territory governments have agreed to make unfair contract terms unlawful, giving courts the power to impose a civil penalty when a breach occurs.

“The government has clearly listened to the concerns my office has long held in relation to the impact of unfair contract terms imposed on small businesses by big businesses,” Ms Carnell said. 

“Importantly,these reforms will ensure unfair contract terms are illegal and the courts will have the power to levy penalties for breaches.

“Equally, we welcome the expansion of the definition of small business to under $100 million turnover or up to 100 employees, which means 99 percent of businesses will be afforded these protections." Ms Carnell said.

“The removal of the requirement for a contract to be below a certain threshold also represents significant progress for small businesses.

“While these reforms do offer small businesses more confidence to enter into a contract with a larger business, it is disappointing that unfair contract terms will still need to be decided by the courts.

“This has proven to be a significant barrier for small business as pursuing legal action is a costly, stressful and time-consuming exercise," she said.

“That’s why my office continues to recommend giving the regulators additional powers to penalise businesses found to have imposed unfair contract terms on a small business.

“It’s also crucial these reforms apply to government contracts, which often impose unfair contract terms on small businesses.

“We look forward to seeing draft legislation to ensure these necessary reforms come to fruition as a matter of urgency.”

www.asbfeo.gov.au

ends

Insolvency reforms may underpin economic survival

  • Legal

THE Institute of Public Accountants (IPA) has welcomed the Federal Government’s announcement to reform Australia’s insolvency framework.

“These significant insolvency reforms may be a true gamechanger for many thousands of small businesses around Australia,” said IPA chief executive officer, Andrew Conway.

“They could be the difference between survival and extinction.

“The question of viability of many small businesses was raised during the 2019-20 bushfire season. Many experienced the floods that followed and then, the COVID-19 pandemic has delivered a catastrophic blow," Mr Conway said.

“These landmark reforms for Australian small businesses will test their viability and support their recovery, restructure and survival or alternatively, help them wind down and exit without the personal devastation that is often attached to the process. 

“One of the key elements of these reforms includes a new debt restructuring process following key features of the US Chapter 11 bankruptcy process. 

“This is a great initiative as it allows eligible small businesses to restructure their debt and improve their chance for survival.  Importantly, while accessing a single, streamlined process, the small business owner remains in control of their business. This empowerment will help rebuild small business confidence.

“Another interesting feature of the reforms will see the introduction of a rapid 20 business day period for the development of a restructuring plan by a ‘small business restructuring practitioner’. Once a plan is drawn up, creditors are then asked to vote on the plan. The plan must achieve the requisite majority for it to be binding," he said.

“It should be noted that while these reforms are due to commence on January 1, 2021, it is recognised that time is needed for practitioners to become familiar with the new processes and they will need to register as a small business restructuring practitioner. The detail will also have to be worked through to ensure the objectives are achieved.

“Knowing how critical small business is to the overall wellbeing of our economy, these reforms, and other initiatives to support small business, will be vital to Australia’s post-pandemic economic recovery.

“The IPA is hopeful there will be more good news for small business in the Federal Budget to be handed down in just over a week’s time. We all hope that 2021 will bring a calendar filled with more confidence than the utter havoc of 2020,” Mr Conway said.

www.publicaccountants.org.au

ends

Small businesses spared from unnecessary insolvency disasters: Ombudsman

  • Legal

THE Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Kate Carnell said the Federal Government had "thrown struggling small businesses a lifeline today" by announcing plans to overhaul insolvency rules that had dogged Australia for decades.

The new Federal rules, announced by Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, make it easier for small businesses to restructure or wind up and are in line with the recommendations outlined in the Insolvency Practices Inquiry final report handed down by the Ombudsman in July this year.  

“It’s clear the Federal Government has heard our concerns that current insolvency practices do not work for small and family businesses,” Ms Carnell said.

“Our July report found that in many cases, small businesses were not getting the chance to turn their business around and instead finding themselves on an express train to winding up with zero control over the process," she said. 

"The changes announced today by Treasurer Josh Frydenberg will go a long way to fixing that problem.

"The reforms will allow small businesses to restructure their debts while remaining in control of their business and for those businesses that sadly do need to wind up, the liquidation process will be changed to make it quicker and easier.

“We also welcome protections for small businesses that want to restructure, but are unable to get immediate access to an insolvency practitioner.

“We know the COVID crisis, which has come on the back of devastating natural disasters, has driven many small businesses to the brink," Ms Carnell said.

“ASIC data shows insolvencies are tracking at close to 50 percent below 2019 levels, which goes to show the extent to which government stimulus and protection measures are keeping businesses on life support, including businesses that have not been viable for some time.    

“Deloitte Access Economics modelling estimates about 240,000 small businesses are at risk of failure. This highlights the need for small businesses to sit down with their trusted financial adviser for a viability assessment. Unfortunately a measure to address this critical first step was missing from today’s announcement.

“That’s why my office continues to recommend the establishment of a small business viability program, where small business owners facing financial stress can obtain a voucher valued up to $5,000 to access tailored advice on the state of their business," Ms Carnell said.

“The voucher would ensure small businesses have access to the expertise they need to judge business viability.

“Unfortunately small businesses with cash flow issues, compounded by falling revenue, may not seek out professional advice because it’s deemed to be unaffordable. This could prove to be devastating for the business owner and their family.

“We know the sooner a small business owner experiencing financial stress seeks assistance from an accredited professional, the better the outcome.”

Today’s announcement will support the Federal Government’s temporary extension of insolvency and bankruptcy protections to December 31, 2020.

These regulations reduce the threat of creditors taking action against a small business impacted by trading restrictions and extend temporary relief for directors from any personal liability for trading while insolvent. 

“Crucially, these measures give otherwise viable small businesses more time to recover, preventing a wave of unnecessary insolvencies.”www.asbfeo.gov.au

ends

More Articles ...

Contact Us

 

PO Box 2144
MANSFIELD QLD 4122