Phil has practised law with Butler McIntyre Butler since 1979 and was appointed a partner in 1985.
Phil currently practices in the areas of property, commercial, mortgage and security preparation and enforcement, liquor licensing, insolvency, leases, and legal education and he represents a range of companies in courts and tribunals.
With a family background in business, he studied economics and accounting as part of his Bachelor of Laws degree awarded by the University of Tasmania in 1979.
Phil works closely with his clients providing specialist advice whilst also seeking to educate and develop the skills of his clients so they may achieve independent control over their own affairs. He also learns from them how they can best and efficiently run their own business and family affairs.
Phil serves a diverse clientele including family groups seeking to preserve/enhance assets, banks and other financial institutions, insolvency specialists such as Paul Cook & Associates, and a number of regulatory clients. He also provides advice to a number of government agencies and individual and family companies and small-medium businesses within Tasmania .
An appointment as Chairman of the Liquor Licensing Board (since 1993) provides extra-legal stimulus, and an opportunity to be involved in government decision making and liaison with the Executive Government, Ministers, Parliamentarians, and members of the public seeking to gain, preserve or limit the the right to sell liquor, and to protect the community from the harm associated with consumption of liquor.
As Chairman of the Property and Commercial Law Committee of the Law Society of Tasmania and lecturing in commercial law at the Centre for Legal Studies, he has the opportunity to assist his chosen profession, at the same time gaining insight into the needs of present and future colleagues. He is also Chairman of the Tasmanian Rugby Union Judiciary, having had an unexceptional career as an amateur rugby player.
In his days away from the office, Phil indulges in his passions which include the Tasmanian bush, English and Australian literature, and classical music. Phil also sings basso in the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra Chorale, and is looking forward to performing in Elgar's ‘Dream of Gerontius' in Sydney's opera house in November this 2008.
Reviewed: 30th Sept 2008. |