Julie is a dual French and Australian qualified lawyer with extensive experience working with both Australian and foreign corporations as well as Australian Federal and Queensland departments, agencies and government owned entities. She provides advice on investments and operations in Australia and across the Pacific region (having worked in Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Vanuatu and Fiji). Before joining Keypoint, Julie was the Managing Director of Brisbane-based Océanie Lawyers. Earlier in her career, Julie was a lawyer with Blake Dawson (now Ashurst) and a partner at Holding Redlich.
Julie’s specific focus is on commercial and corporate law; mergers and acquisitions; energy and resource projects; and construction and tourism projects. She is bilingual French- English and has specialist knowledge of French, Australian and Pacific Islands businesses and cultures. She is therefore ideally poised to assist both French companies investing in Australia, and Australian and foreign companies investing in the Pacific region and other French speaking markets.
Julie is also actively involved in the Australian, French and Pacific Island business communities.
Julie joined Keypoint in 2019 and is based in Brisbane.
Expertise
- General corporate and commercial law
- Mergers and acquisitions
- Corporate governance
- Landowner negotiations
- Water, resources and energy
- Construction
- Tourism
- French-English and English-French legal translations
- Government
Experience
Solomon Islands experience
- Advising a Papua New Guinean insurance company on the acquisition of an insurance business in Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, in particular in relation to the regulatory approvals.
- Advising on a Singaporean company on a solar PV system project in Solomon Islands.
- Advising a Canadian company on its merger with an Australian agribusiness company in relation to assets located in the Solomon Islands.
- Advising an Australian company on a mining project in the Solomon Islands, including land access and tenure issues.
Papa New Guinean experience
- Advising a Papua New Guinean landowners’ group on mining compensation agreements to be entered into with a multinational mining company, including reviewing and drafting all relevant agreements.
- Advising a Malaysian company regarding the acquisition of shares in a Malaysian energy company with Papua New Guinean assets.
- Advising on a proposed acquisition of a biofuel project in Papua New Guinea.
- Advising on a proposed energy project in Papua New Guinea, including reviewing all relevant legislative and compliance obligations.
- Advising Papua New Guinean parties (including the National Superannuation Fund) on setting up a joint venture between Fijian partners and Papua New Guinean partners in the tourism sector.
- Advising on corporate governance and compliance issues under the Companies Act 1997 (PNG) and the POMSoX Listing Rules.
Vanuatu experience
- Advising Westpac on the sale of its Vanuatu branch, including advising on land, employment and other legal issues.
- Negotiating and drafting a head of agreement for a bio-ethanol project in Vanuatu involving Australian, New Caledonian and Vanuatu parties.
- Advising a French multinational energy company in relation to its investment in a geothermal project in Vanuatu.
New Caledonian and French Polynesian experience
- Advising a world class financer in relation to the purchase of a major 5-star resort in French Polynesia.
- Advising a major company specializing in rubber surfaces for industrial operations on corporate matters regarding its operations in New Caledonia.
- Advising a multinational wine and spirits company on labelling requirements in New Caledonia.
- Advising Australian individuals on the sale of shares in a New Caledonian gaskets, seals and associated products company including reviewing share sale and purchase deed, commercial lease and company conversion documentation.
- Drafting and advising on New Caledonian, Papua New Guinean and Solomon Islands’ purchase and sales terms and conditions for a significant machinery supplier.
- Advising a multinational communications company on deregistering dormant companies in French Polynesia.
- Advising financial institutions on the banking regulatory environment in New Caledonia.
- Advising a New Caledonian semigovernmental agency on management contracts to be entered into with a multinational operator regarding a hotel and resort in New Caledonia.
- Advising a multinational power and automation company on general commercial, contractual and employment issues in relation to its New Caledonian subsidiary.
- Advising a multinational engineering, architectural and environmental services company on a services contract to be entered into with a multinational mining company operating in New Caledonia.
- Advising a multinational engineering, project and construction management services company on employment issues in New Caledonia and providing company secretarial assistance in relation to its New Caledonian subsidiary.
- Advising a major automotive company on corporate, employment and litigation matters relating to its operations in New Caledonia and French Polynesia.
- Advising a Malaysian company on the acquisition of shares in a New Caledonian mining services company.
- Advising an Australian multinational on a construction project in New Caledonia including drafting a minor works contract.
Australian experience
- Assisting an Australian retail food brand franchisor with negotiation of the termination of a franchise agreement governed by Australian law with a New Caledonian franchisee.
- Drafting construction contracts in relation to Australian water infrastructure projects.
- Advising on corporate governance and compliance issues under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) and the ASX Listing Rules.
- Advising on the establishment, acquisition, sale and/or operations of numerous businesses and companies in Australia.
Recognition
Julie has a Master of Laws from the University of Law, Economy and Sciences, Aix- Marseille France; a Master of Laws from the University Robert Schuman, Strasbourg, France; and a Master of Laws from the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Career
| 2019 | Keypoint Law | Consulting Principal |
| 2018 – 2019 | Oceanie Lawyers | Managing Director |
| 2016 – 2018 | Holding Redlich | Partner |
| 2009 – 2016 | Oceanie Lawyers | Managing Director |
| 2009 – 2010 | Gladstone Area Water Board | Corporate Counsel |
| 2009 | Queensland Water Commission | Principal Policy Officer |
| 2007 – 2008 | Blake Dawson (now Ashurst) | Lawyer |
| 2006 – 2007 | Norman Waterhouse | Solicitor |
| 2003 – 2004 | Blake Dawson (now Ashurst) | Paralegal |