Michael Fabbro

Principal Solicitor

Michael has been Principal Solicitor at Ezra Legal since 2005. Previously he held positions in large commercial law firms in Adelaide including Phillips Fox, Kelly & Co and Norman Waterhouse. He was admitted to practice in 1999.

Michael has considerable commercial legal experience not only through his role as a lawyer and advisor but also through extensive involvement in business generally, through direct ownership and as director and chairman of various private and public entities. He is experienced at advising businesses in connection with the full range of commercial and corporate activities.

He has acted for clients in a broad range of industries, from accountants and liquidators, farmers to fisherman and building contractors to food manufacturers.

He has also represented clients extensively in commercial litigation matters extending from the Magistrates Court to the High Court.

A practical solutions based approach, and a level of commerciality not often found in the legal profession, combine to ensure Michael’s motto of ‘adding value’ at all times is carried into his client service offering.

Areas of Practice

Michael’s key areas of practice are:

  • Commercial Law (all areas)
  • Business Sales and Acquisitions
  • Liquidation/Bankruptcy and insolvency, including litigation
  • Contract drafting, advising and disputes
  • Litigation – civil and commercial
  • Farming Partnership advice, including dissolution and succession
  • Estate and Succession Planning, including use of testamentary trusts, life insurance and SMSF
  • Construction Law
  • Estate administration and probate applications

Experience

With over 20 years of experience in the commercial law sector, Michael has acted for hundreds of companies.

Examples of cases that Michael has successfully represented include:

  • Sale of food manufacturing business to publicly listed entity – >$25M
  • Loss recovery litigation in the Supreme Court of South Australia – >$10M
  • Farming partnership restructure and succession (multiple) – >$12M
  • Successful defence of Inheritance (Family Provision) Act claim – estate >$20M
  • Estate plan for significant family enterprises (multiple) – up to >$60M
  • Sale of Mitre 10 Group businesses – Roxby Downs and Mt Barker – (price undisclosed)
  • Facilitated recovery for victims of a Ponzi Scheme operated by an accountant – >$7M
  • Contractual dispute and litigation on State Aquatic Centre (Marion – >$3M)
  • Advising on Adelaide Oval Western grandstand project (package of works)- >$12M
  • Advising on Adelaide Oval Eastern grandstand project (package of works) – >$15M
  • Advising on SAHMRI construction contract and defect claim arising – >$1M
  • Negligence litigation against accounting practice on sale of business – (undisclosed settlement)
  • Recovery action pursuant to Workers Lien in ION Engineering Ltd corporate failure – >$.5M
  • Acquisition of Alaska Foods Pty Ltd – (price undisclosed)
  • Acquisition of Australian Wholefoods business  – (price undisclosed)

Memberships

  • Member of the Law Society of South Australia
  • Fellow of the Tax Institute of Australia
  • Trustee of South Australian Business Vision 2010 Inc. (2000)
  • Fellow of the Leaders Institute of South Australia (2000)
  • Professional Member of the Australian Restructuring Insolvency and Turnaround Association

Qualifications

  • Graduate Certificate in Legal Practice – University of South Australia
  • Bachelor of Law (Honours) – Flinders University of South Australia
  • Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting Major) – Flinders University of South Australia

Confidential advice on a range of commercial legal matters

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