With significant expertise advising on tax aspects of large-scale M&A, restructuring, inbound investment and employment, Simon advises Australian and international clients across a range of industries, including technology, finance and infrastructure.
He regularly advises on the tax implications of cross-border transactions, and has extensive experience in establishing and advising on employee share and option plans, including in the context of M&A transactions.
Simon is a fellow of the Tax Institute of Australia.
Key deals
Macquarie Real Estate Investment Holding (Australia) Pty Limited
Advised on the sale of its 50% stake in Investa Office Management Holdings Pty Limited, providing advice on the tax risk allocation, tax warranties and indemnification.
Macquarie Bank Limited
Advised on the tax aspects and financing of GenesisCare, the largest provider of cancer and cardiac healthcare in Australia and Europe, under a sale and leaseback arrangement.
REA Group (realestate.com.au)
Advised on the tax aspects of the A$130 million acquisition of Hometrack Australia Pty Ltd, a residential property data analytics company from the UK-listed ZPG Plc group.
GIC
Advised on the tax aspects of Australia’s largest acquisition of student accommodation, involving complexes at the Central Park district in Sydney’s CBD. This included advice and structuring with respect to incentives under the National Rental Affordability Scheme.
Employee incentive arrangements
Advising on tax aspects of employee incentive arrangements, including share and option schemes, performance rights plans and loan-based incentive plans across a range of scenarios from early-stage Australian start-ups to the Australian branch of global incentive plans for large multinationals.
SGCH
Advised St George Community Housing Limited on the tax implications of its participation in the Social and Affordable Housing Fund, including a proposal to acquire and develop substantial affordable housing assets in New South Wales.
Apollo Global Management
Advising one of the world’s largest private equity fund managers in relation to a substantial investment in Ventia group.
Access Workspace Pty Ltd
Advised on its acquisition of the Asia Pacific business of software provider Sage – which has a presence in Australia, Singapore and Malaysia – including the acquisition of the entire issued share capital of Sage Australia Holdings and its Australian subsidiaries.