I have practised as a solicitor based in Sydney since 1989 principally in commercial law areas relating to insolvency and finance.
I have been involved in almost all of the major collapses in that time. In recent years, I have acted for some of Australia’s largest financial institutions in their debt recovery.
Before I established MathasLaw, I worked for one of Australia’s largest practices for nearly 29 years (21 as a partner).
Most specifically, I:
- Enforced mortgages and guarantees on behalf of banks and other financiers;
- Made applications on behalf of insolvency practitioners in the Supreme Court and Federal Court;
- Ran complex litigation including claims against auditors, merchant banks and financial advisers;
- Commenced and defended actions by liquidators and trustees to recover voidable dispositions;
- Managed debt recovery proceedings on behalf of creditors and defendants in all courts;
- Gave advice to banks and other financiers concerning the impact of the National Credit Code and The Banker’s Code of Conduct;
- Advised on the Personal Properties Securities Act 2009;
- Assisted a wide range of parties to obtain settlement through mediation;
- Assisted debtors to restructure their debt and equity arrangements; and
- Advising on asset structuring for high net worth individuals.
Notable publications:
- Australian contributor for “Doing Business” The World Bank, 2008 – 2021.
- “Cross Border Insolvency: A Guide to Recognition and Enforcement” (Australian Chapter), INSOL International, 2012
- “Loans, Mortgages and Guarantees” University of New South Wales, March 2010
- “Managing Liabilities for Insolvency Practitioners: OH&S; Environmental; Corporations Act”, Law and Finance, Sydney, February 2008.
- “Corporations (Amendment Insolvency) Act 2007”, Insolvency Practitioners Association Lunchtime working group, Sydney, November 2007.
- Co-author of ‘Financing in Insolvency proceedings” (Australian chapter) INSOL International 2006.
- “Is my Contract Bankruptcy Proof’ (Australian chapter) AIJA Insolvency Law Commission working session held in Geneva, Switzerland in August 2006 (winner of the President’s prize for best paper in that Commission).
- “Summary Proceedings” (Australian Chapter), Kluwer Law, 2000.
- “Contract Law for Non Lawyers”, IIR seminar, Sydney and Melbourne, June 2000.
- “The Rescue of Companies: The Role of Shareholders, Creditors and the Administrator” (Australian Chapter), Kluwer Law, 1998.
Memberships:
- 1989 to date – Law Society of New South Wales
- 2001 to date – ARITA (Australian Restructuring Insolvency & Turnaround Association).
- 1995-2007 – AIJA (International Young Lawyers).
- 1996-1999 – Organising Committee for the 36th Annual Congress of l’Association Internationale des Jeunes Avocats held in Sydney in September 1998.
- 1989-1997 – NSW Young Lawyers (including President 1994-95; Vice President 1993-94; Treasurer 1993-92 and Immediate Past President 1995-96).
Contact
Level 8 65 York Street, Sydney NSW 2000
+61 438 322 003