MINTER ELLISON

1 Eagle Street
Brisbane, 4000 AUSTRALIA
Tel: + 61 7 3226 6333
Fax: + 61 7 3229 1066
Contact: Mr. Mark Carkeet in Brisbane (above); Mr. David Watson in Sydney (Tel: + 61 2 9210 4444) (Fax: + 61 2 9235 2711); Mr. David Inglis in Melbourne (Tel: + 61 3 9229 2000) (Fax: +61 3 9229 2666); or Mr. John Levy in Adelaide (Tel: +61 8 8233 5555) (Fax: +61 8 8212 7518).

MINTER ELLISON is one of Australia's leading law firms advising the business sector. We have specialist franchising lawyers in our offices throughout Australia who are experienced in dealing with international clients.

We have been advising franchisors and franchisees for more than 15 years. Our lawyers have set up franchise documentation and provided administrative assistance for some 30+ franchise systems in such diverse areas as retailing, kit homes, gardening services, weight control, real estate and restaurant and food supplies. We have also advised clients on the purchase and sale of franchise networks.

Our lawyers have represented a number of franchise systems and technology licensors importing their systems into Australia, and also those exporting their systems from Australia to countries overseas.

We can advise on tailoring franchise documentation to meet the requirements of Australian laws and on general compliance issues (e.g., taxation, leasing, finance, trade marks, trade practices and competition issues, product liability and consumer protection).

Our specialist franchising lawyers have been independently recognized as the leaders in their field in Australia. Mark Carkeet, for example, who heads our franchising practice in the Brisbane office, has been a member of the National Board of the Franchisors Association of Australia and New Zealand and a member of the Executive Committee of the Queensland Chapter of the Franchisors Association. He is also a member of the International Bar Association's Committee on Franchising.

In Australia, MINTER ELLISON has offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Adelaide and Perth. We also have offices in Hong Kong and London.