Brian Thomas

Director | +61 2 9199 1362 | bthomas@mtlaw.com.au

Brian has over 40 years’ experience as a corporate and commercial lawyer. For several years, Brian gained experience in a wide range of fields with several small firms. His experience included commercial litigation which has proven useful in providing corporate and commercial advice.

In 1987, Brian joined Abbott Tout and focused on corporate and commercial work. He advised numerous companies on mergers and acquisitions, corporations law issues, listing rules and other corporate law matters. He advised listed companies and other clients in a wide range of industries including mining, agriculture and manufacturing. As a result of this advice, Brian became expert in stamp duty and was a member of the Chartered Secretaries Australia - Office of State Revenue Liaison Committee for over 10 years.

During his time with Abbott Tout, Brian completed a Masters degree specialising in competition and consumer protection law. He has advised many clients on compliance and marketing issues.

In the early 1990's, Peter MacKenzie and Brian developed a strategy of combining their skills to offer extensive corporate and commercial expertise to the financial services industry. Brian developed a deep understanding of the financial services industry so that his advice on mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructuring, competition and consumer protection law and stamp duty is given with deep familiarity of the financial services industry.

In 2002 Brian and Peter joined Ebsworth & Ebsworth and Brian continued his focus on corporate and commercial work focused on the financial services industry whilst retaining his strong following of clients from other industries.

Of special interest to Brian is his work for financial planning groups, life insurers, general insurers, superannuation trustees and wealth management groups. He is at the forefront on many of the challenges for those market participants.

He regularly advises company boards and management in all aspects of their business, from the establishment, restructure, merger and acquisition, capital raisings and licensing of insurers, trustees and responsible entities as well as the products, schemes and commercial arrangements they have spawned.