Richard Ellem
Director/Principal
Richard brings over 25 years of experience to Ellem Warren Napa Lawyers as an owner and director of the firm. Richard began his career with top-tier firms including Phillips Fox, and Cameron McKenna in London. Prior to establishing Ellem Warren Lawyers in 2012, he was a partner of Praeger Batt/Praeger Ellem Solicitors.
Richard assists the Corporate and Business Advisory, and Mining and Resources sections of the firm. Past and current clients include Taggart Australia, the ETS Group, O2 Group, CheckUP Australia (trading as General Practice Queensland), Tsuen Fung Property Group, Parsons Engineering, JLF Group of companies, Fortrus Group of companies, Reddog Technology, and Moc Group of companies. Richard’s extensive relationship network has contributed to building the firm through trust and mutually valued long-term relationships.
Experience and Expertise
Richard has a broad range of expertise utilised for high value clients. Local, national and international clients from various industries seek Richard’s advice. Richard has:
grown the firm’s presence in the Mining and Resources sector, including the creation and installation of the Variable Secondment Program, providing cost effective contracts administration, management and formation solutions to the resources and construction sectors;
involvement in corporate matters and advisory across all facets of clients’ businesses, including structuring new ventures (shareholders agreement, JV’s); advising on acquisitions, preparing for due diligence/sale; employment and restraint of trade advice; property acquisitions;
advised on the effective structures required for establishing a start-up including consideration of intellectual property matters and assisting clients to navigate initial seed funding processes;
been principal advisor on the proposed acquisition of an MDL worth approximately $500m. This required creation of a team to oversee structuring, initial contract negotiations and due diligence with a large Chinese SOE, and the client;
advised the Ausenco Taggart joint venture on several matters with Rio Tinto, Xstrata, BMA and others and advised the joint venture in relation to a recent restructure;
implemented and advised on corporate structures, employment and operational requirements for clients across a wide range of industries, including construction, health, retail, IT, not-for-profit, engineering and property; and
advised on joint venture structuring on property investment deals for national and international investors.
Richard is an experienced litigator and negotiator, having supervised contractual, property, construction and engineering claims, insolvency matters and disputes through various methods of dispute resolution.
Richard, together with Ben Warren and Lewis Napa, leads a strong team of commercially oriented lawyers that have become a tight, client-focussed team. The team is experienced in providing valuable legal and strategic advice to individuals and companies alike at various stages, across a range of practice areas and industries.
External Positions and Network
Richard was a founding member of the White Cloud Foundation charity, which works to improve access to treatment and increase awareness for depression.