Newsletters for Clever Business Operators
SEPTEMBER 2024
- M&A exit considerations for mid-market businesses
- Searching for Safe Harbour in difficult times
- Including Intellectual Property as Assets of Your Business
AUGUST 2024
- Kickstart the New Financial Year with Legal Clarity and Precision
- Welcome Veroshan Sripragasan and Ming Yip
- Social Impact Meet-Up: Tuesday 6th August
JULY 2024
- Negotiations in a sale or purchase of business
- National Unfair Contract Terms Regime Update
- Social Impact Meet-Up: Tuesday 6th August
JUNE 2024
- Employment Law Alert: Fair Work raises minimum wage – is your business ready?
- Independent Contractor or Employee? We’ve come full circle
- EOFY is a great time to settle all your business’ outstanding matters
MAY 2024
- Do you have a Shareholder Agreement in place within your business?
- When was the last time you gave your contracts and agreements a thorough check-up?
- What is in a brand?
- We are 10!
APRIL 2024
- Why Companies also need Shareholders Agreements
- Is your business protected?
- Including Intellectual Property as Assets of Your Business
- BCorp Month: March 2024
MARCH 2024
- Welcome: Sue Stevens
- Can an employee ghost your messages? Now they can!
- The Importance of Advisors
- International Women’s Day: March 8th
FEBRUARY 2024
- Ready to tackle the year with a proactive mindset?
- You’re Fired! Small Businesses and the Fair Work Dismissal Code
- Have you got a Cyber Security Strategy?
- Is your business protected?
DECEMBER 2023
- Welcome: Eliza Saunders
- “Jingle all the way…to Fair Work” | Ways a business can mitigate risk
- Ready to tackle the new year with a proactive mindset?
- Compliments of the Holiday Season
NOVEMBER 2023
- You’re Fired! Small Businesses and the Fair Work Dismissal Code
- ACCC Tightens the Noose on Unfair Contract Terms and Breaches of Competition Laws
- Is your business protected?
- Mental Health Month – I’m Just a Man Gala Event, Friday 24th November
OCTOBER 2023
- Top 3 Mistakes Businesses Get Sued By Their Employees For
- PPSR: Did You Know…?
- Navigating the Return to In-Person Work: What Employers Need to Know
- Phasing out of Trading Names
SEPTEMBER 2023
- Historic Victory in Wage Theft Case
- Think Twice Before You Thumbs Up!
- New Paid Family and Domestic Violence Leave
- Zoom’s Recent Terms Update: What You Need to Know
AUGUST 2023
- Including Intellectual Property as Assets of Your Business
- “If you liked me as a vendor, you’ll love me as a competitor!” The importance of non-compete obligations in a sale of business contract
- Business Asset Sales – Other Considerations
- Q&A with Rob: What steps do you take to ensure you constantly grow as an entrepreneur?
JULY 2023
- Welcome Daniel Le
- The Importance of Advisors
- Sale of Business Basics: Asset or Share Sale?
- Welcome to the World Georgia Rankin
JUNE 2023 (EOFY SPECIAL EDITION)
- Tip #1: Settle all your business’ outstanding matters
- Tip #2: Review contracts and agreements
- Tip #3: Reflect on IP strategies
- Tip #4: Set goals
MAY 2023
- What is in a brand?
- Grace Period for Designs
- Mind your business (IP): The importance of guarding your intellectual property in supply relationships
- Company Name v Business Name
APRIL 2023
- Trade Marks: ‘Why you need to register your trade mark (How to protect your brand)’
- Mind your business (IP): The importance of guarding your intellectual property in supply relationships
- We Go Beyond: BCorp Month 2023 – It’s a Wrap!
- Giancarlo DiTrapano Foundation for Literature and the Arts
MARCH 2023
- Welcome Isabella Rothel
- New Paid Family and Domestic Violence Leave
- Single Use Plastics
- Guide to Starting a Business
FEBRUARY 2023
- The Importance of Removing PPSR Registrations
- Thinking about Leasing or Purchasing Property?
- Partnerships – A Guide for Small Business
- e-Commerce Legislation Worldwide
JANUARY 2023
DECEMBER 2022
- Compliments of the Holiday Season
- Now is the best time to prepare for the new year
- Greenwashing – ASIC’s first formal action resulting in $53K penalty against energy company
- Social Impact Business Meet-Up: Tuesday 6th December from 7.30am-8.30am
NOVEMBER 2022
- Director Identification Numbers – Important Information!
- The NFT and copyright conundrum
- I’m Just a Man Gala Charity Event – Breaking down the walls of the mental health stigma
- Social Impact Business Meet-Up: Tuesday 8th November from 7.30am-8.30am
OCTOBER 2022
- Without Prejudice
- Have you got a Cyber Security Strategy?
- BNI Chess Championship – Sunday 23 October
SEPTEMBER 2022
- Director Identification Numbers
- Hospitality and Restaurant Industries – Annualised Wages
- Trade Marks: ‘Why you need to register your trade mark (How to protect your brand)’
AUGUST 2022
- “If you liked me as a vendor, you’ll love me as a competitor!” The importance of non-compete obligations in a sale of business contract
- My workforce is no longer subject to vaccination mandates – but what are my ongoing OH&S obligations as an employer?
- NEW VERSION: Fair Work Information Statement
-
Congratulations Stacey!
JULY 2022
- I’m baaaack’ – the ATO recommences debt recovery action with a vengeance!
- Building Disputes: Prior to Signing the Contract
- Shareholders Agreements with new business partners: What are the key items to include?
-
Business Partnerships Checklist
JUNE 2022
- From 1 July 2022 the superannuation guarantee percentage will increase to 10.5%
- Under the influence: How to protect your brand when entering into marketing partnerships with Influencers
- Podcast: Negotiation in Real Life
-
Social Impact Business Meet-Up Tuesday 7th June from 7.30am-8.30am
MAY 2022
- Employer Alert – Upcoming Changes to Super Contributions
- ATO Recommencing Directors Penalty Notices – Company Directors Take Note!
- Commercial Leasing Basics: Outgoings – When more “Outgoing” is not such a good thing
-
We are 8!
APRIL 2022
- Everything you need to know about PPSR
- 5 reasons why using those cut and pasted T&Cs are a bad idea
- Social Impact Business Meet-Up
-
BCorp Month: #BehindtheB
MARCH 2022
- Commercial Leasing Basics – The importance (and dangers) of Personal Guarantees
- Victorian Government Business Stimulus Package
- Social Impact Business Meet-Up
-
March 8th: International Women’s Day
FEBRUARY 2022
- Changes to Victoria’s Pandemic Orders for “Specified Facilities” and “Specified Workers”
- Commercial Leasing Basics – Accurately describing and assessing the ‘Permitted Use’
- Sale of Business Basics: Asset or Share Sale?
-
B Corp Journey Webinar – Learn why and how to build a business for the greater good!
JANUARY 2022
- Happy New Year
- Commercial Leasing Basics – Who pays lease preparation costs?
- Your IP needs lovin’ too!
- Go Outside
DECEMBER 2021
- Compliments of the Holiday Season
- Now is the best time to prepare for the new year
- Start Your Business on the Right Foot
- ‘The new luxury’: How Rankin Business Lawyers puts employee wellbeing first
NOVEMBER 2021
- Director Identification Numbers
- Changes to the Fair Work Act – Access to Compassionate Leave for Miscarriage
- Webinar: COVID-19 vaccinations in the workplace – what employers need to know
- NewAccess for Small Business Owners
OCTOBER 2021
- Fair Work Commission Full Bench Decision Upholds Dismissal of Unvaccinated Worker Who Refused Flu Shot
- Rent Relief Mandatory Reassessment Due 31 October 2021
- Sale of Business Basics: Asset or Share Sale?
- Business Risks
SEPTEMBER 2021
- New Competition Law Guide for Small Business
- 2021 Commercial Tenancy Rent Relief Scheme
- Your rights and responsibilities as an online business
- Have you got a Cyber Security Strategy?
AUGUST 2021
- The importance of knowing your obligations
- Restraint of Trade vs Exclusivity
- Making the most of your downtime
- BCorp Best for the World: Workers
JULY 2021
- Changes to Defamation Laws
- The Fair Work Commission has announced that the National Minimum Wage will increase by 2.5%
- Managing your legal costs
- Planning for FY2022
JUNE 2021
- Wellbeing and Mental Health Support for Victorian Small Businesses
- Commercial Leases
- Are your employment agreements and procedures up to date?
- We are 7!
MAY 2021
- Fair Work finds in favour of childcare employer requiring staff vaccinations
- Casual employees – Important changes businesses need to know
- The importance of Shareholders’ Agreements
- Rankin + 100 Story Building
APRIL 2021
- IP Australia COVID-19 Extension of Time Ended
- Mind your business: The importance of guarding your intellectual property in supply relationships
- Do you need to update your parental leave policy?
- Rankin + B Corporation
MARCH 2021
- Welcome Tracy Dutt
- Upcoming changes to unfair contract term legislation
- Is your business ready for the end of JobKeeper?
- March 8th: International Women’s Day
FEBRUARY 2021
- Should I formally document my arrangements with suppliers? The (not so) obvious commercial advantages of Supply Agreements
- Vaccinating seafarers – an essential workforce?
- Roll With The Punches
- ASIC Cyber Security Proceedings Initiated
JANUARY 2021
- Happy New Year
- Key Insolvency Reforms You Need to Know!
- Daniel’s Donuts
- Meet the team: Elizabeth Chase, Consultant
DECEMBER 2020
- Welcome Vik Pillay
- Beware! Rise in dodgy insolvency providers ahead of surge in personal and corporate insolvencies
- miei. : Ordinary people working together to make extraordinary things happen
- Compliments of the Holiday Season
NOVEMBER 2020
- Crusader Caravans : An Australian Manufacturing Success Story
- Like buying a 1999 Saab convertible: The importance of understanding the commercial lease obligations when buying a bargain business
- Wording is so important in employment law – meaning of the word “day”
- My competitor has copied my website content. Can I stop them?
OCTOBER 2020
- Amendments to Commercial Tenancy Relief Scheme gives Small Business Commission the power to make binding determinations
- Insolvency relief extension
- Do you value the value of your IP?
- A quick Q&A covering COVID-related employment scenarios
SEPTEMBER 2020
- Welcome Ann-Maree Migale
- The impending lift of COVID-19 insolvency relief – where to from here?
- The new normal: key issues to address for a successful recovery
- Further Land Tax Relief for Landlords
- Team Talk Podcast: Hot Legal Stuff with Rob Rankin
AUGUST 2020
- JobKeeper Extensions
- Another lockdown, another rent relief request
- “We don’t have to worry, the Consumer Law doesn’t apply to us”- From July 2021, it just might!
- Coping during COVID-19
JULY 2020
- National Minimum Wage
- COVID-19: what to do if your SME is struggling financially
- Digital Transformation imperative in a post COVID-19 era
- Are you doing business with suppliers outside of Australia?
JUNE 2020
- Returning to the workplace post-lockdown: Are you prepared?
- Casual employees on the JobKeeper scheme refusing to work – is this allowed?
- Victorian Small Business Commission publishes COVID Tenancy Regulations Guidance & Mental Health Information Sheet
- 30 June is fast approaching! Are you ready?
- We are 6!
MAY 2020
- Insolvency laws and how to handle debt recovery during the COVID-19 crisis when debtors are failing to pay
- Board meetings in pyjamas: Tips for conducting digital board meetings while working remotely
- Do you need to enter Australia but are unsure how to with the current travel restrictions?
- Women in Insolvency & Restructuring Victoria (WIRV)
APRIL 2020
- Jobkeeper Subsidy Payment – what you need to know
- The landlord hardship discussion: Being genuine, transparent and compassionate to get the best outcome from your landlord
- The Victorian courts are effectively closed for new business (except for the Supreme Court) and existing hearings have been cut right back
- Welcome to lockdown, we’ve been waiting for you
MARCH 2020
- Reviewing Commercial Leases: Why just any legal egg-head won’t do
- Misclassification of Workers in the Entertainment Industry
- International Women’s Day : #IWD2020 #EachforEqual
FEBRUARY 2020
- Changes to Annualised Salary Clauses in Modern Awards – 1 March 2020
- Show some restraint! Ensuring you’re not letting the fox into the hen house when taking on a new partner
- Leasing or Purchasing Property
- We are hiring!
JANUARY 2020
- Whistleblower policies must be in place by 1 January 2020
- Employees set to benefit under new Superannuation laws
- Flexible work arrangements: making work, work
- Go Outside
DECEMBER 2019
- Consumer guarantees and product warranties: Can your business afford to get it wrong?
- Is it illegal for someone to record or film me?
- Start Your Business on the Right Foot
- Compliments of the Holiday Season
NOVEMBER 2019
- Spotlight on Employees of Negligent Bosses
- Who can be bothered! – The importance of carefully preparing and keeping Minutes of Board Meetings
- The Silly Season and How to Survive It – The Legal Perspective
- I’m Just a Man 3 – Mental Health Awareness Gala
OCTOBER 2019
- Welcome Francine Clancy
- Is your business compliant with Victoria’s new Labour Hire Laws?
- Are you a freelance artist or contractor thinking of heading over to California for work?
- Spring Clean!
SEPTEMBER 2019
- Like friends at your beach house in January: How charging clauses have a funny way of just turning up
- How should I be credited on a film, tv or music project?
- Calling Australia home
- BCorp News
- Best For The World: Workers 2019
AUGUST 2019
- Important notice for labour hire businesses
- My lawyer is not miserable and its frankly disorienting! Why working flexibly has made all the difference for me
- Better Business for a Better World
- Walk & Shine – Fundraiser Saturday 3rd August
JULY 2019
- Important notice for labour hire businesses
- Want to know the first thing your lawyers do when you ask them to look at your agreement? Check that you actually have one!
- Better Business for a Better World – Celebrating BCorp month
- 15th annual Victorian Legal Awards
JUNE 2019
- Moral Clauses
- Accounting for IP in a Sale of Business: Know what you’re giving away (and charge for it!)
- All care and no responsibility: Why unreasonable standard terms contracts might be a risk to your business
- We’ve hit the five year milestone!
MAY 2019
- I’ll take your business but not your problems! – The importance of understanding lease reinstatement obligations when purchasing a business
- The net is closing in: Is your website about to land you in this trap?
- Espresso Martinis + Impact
APRIL 2019
- How to avoid an expensive and disruptive dispute
- Land tax bill a kick in the guts? Wait until you get your landlord’s one!
- General Protections – Rankin’s Workplace Relations Forum
- Business as a force for good
MARCH 2019
- Welcome Rebekah O’Sullivan
- Entertainment Visas
- What If My Business Partner Gets Hit By A Bus?
- International Women’s Day 2019 #BalanceforBetter
FEBRUARY 2019
- Why the Dispute Resolution Clause in your Contracts is Important (A.K.A. Everyone is Friends Until They’re Not!)
- Paying Penalty Rates – What we can Learn from Pizza Hut
- Podcast: Reducing Risk in the Workplace with Rachel Derrico
- Social Impact Business Meet-Up
JANUARY 2019
- Your IP needs lovin’ too!
- Underpaying your employees may cost you more than you think
- No BS, flexibile working (even for our admin team!)
- Adhering to dress codes in 2019
DECEMBER 2018
- Why would I pay for your business when you’ve already given it to me? The importance of a well-crafted Confidentiality Agreement in sale negotiations
- ACCC proactively addresses unfair dairy contract terms
- APRA to Impose Strict Cyber Security Rules
- The Silly Season and How to Survive It – The Legal Perspective
NOVEMBER 2018
- Long service leave changes apply 1 November 2018
- What’s Mine is Yours! Owning Your IP in the Gig Economy
- November Already! How did that Happen?
- Melbourne BCorp Business Group – Networking with Heart
OCTOBER 2018
- PPSR: Boring as Hell, but Important for Landlords!
- Termination of ABC’s Managing Director – Potential Legal Claims
- Working Overseas
- BCorp: Wellness in the Workplace
SEPTEMBER 2018
-
Introducing Terry Lyons, Community Manager
- Assignment of a Lease: When Can a Landlord Refuse to Consent?
- Cleaning Business Recommendations Due in October 2018
- Do Your Casual Employees Have the Right to Convert to Permanent Employment?
- R Ur Employees OK? – HR Discussion Group
AUGUST 2018
-
Rankin Law Update: Think you’re safe because you’re B2B? Well read on, it’s time to review your T&C’s!
-
Rankin Law Update: Manufacturers and consumer rights
- Rankin Law Update: Parliamentary inquiry into franchises!
- Podcast: Wondering where all the progressive employers are?
- Australian Law Awards: Boutique Law Firm of the Year 2018
JULY 2018
-
Welcome Fiona McLay and Pablo Wundheiler, Special Counsel
- Rankin Law Update: Domain Corp Scammers Busted!
-
Rankin Law Update: Trading Goods from Overseas?
- Rankin Event: Preventing Discrimination in Recruitment
- Rankin Business Lawyers: B Corporation Best for the World 2018 Honoree
JUNE 2018
-
Welcome Steve Gifford, Workplace Relations Practice Group Leader
- Happy 4th Birthday!
-
In the spotlight: Joseph Carneli, Senior Associate
- Announcement: Rankin drops the ‘& Co.’
- Lawyers Weekly Article: Boutique reveals Brisbane expansion
MAY 2018
- Welcome Sarah Petrie, Secretary of State
- It’s Time to Review Your Privacy Policy
-
Will Your ‘Zero-Tolerance Policy’ Withstand the Scrutiny of the Fair Work Commission?
- Make the Difference
- Lawyers Weekly Article: The New Law Firm Shunning Short-Term Fixes for Staff Engagement
APRIL 2018
- Who Owns the Business Name – A Lesson for Business
- Software Developers Beware
-
Employer’s OH&S Duties To Employees Who Work From Home
- Dr Melanie Tan, Lawyer and Medico-Legal Consultant
MARCH 2018
- Welcome Dr. Melanie Tan, Lawyer and Medico-Legal Consultant
- Pheonix Companies
-
.au Domain Name Reforms Spell Trouble for Businesses
- Oops, Wrong Recipient
-
Global Legal Hackathon 2018
- International Women’s Day 2018: #PressforProgress
FEBRUARY 2018
- Uber’s Cover Up – A prime example of what not to do under the forthcoming ‘notifiable data breaches’ amendment
- Employment Law Case Study: Underpayments
- Tax and Cryptocurrencies
- Rankin & Co. + B Corporation
- Join Us: Executive Assistant / Paralegal Support Role, Sydney
JANUARY 2018
- It’s Time to Work on that Million-Dollar Idea! …Or at Least Protect it from Imitation.
- Cofounder Agreements
- Flexible Work Arrangements; Is it OK to Say No?
- GENEROSITY, Our Credo for 2018
DECEMBER 2017
- Start Your Business on the Right Foot
- Closing Your Company – Do It Properly
- Penalties Issued for Deliberate Underpayment of Staff
- Where You Stand with Online Purchases
NOVEMBER 2017
- Welcome Sofia Garcia Ladera, Consultant
- Employers and Franchisors Beware – New Bill Strengthens Watchdog and Imposes Tougher Penalties for Breaches of Workplace Laws
- Intellectual Property and Meta Tags; Three Lessons for Businesses
- The Fair Work App
OCTOBER 2017
- Welcome Robert Patterson, Chief Operating Officer
- Business Succession Planning
- ID numbers for directors as Turnbull government cracks down on phoenix companies
- Small Business Tax Concessions
- Workplace Safety: Helpful Tips
SEPTEMBER 2017
- Welcome Holly Bailey, Executive Assistant
- Shareholder Agreements
- Personal Bankruptcy and Liquidation of a Company
- New disciplinary options needed as Chevron unfairly sacks worker over racist slur
- Historic photo signifies rise of women to the most powerful positions in law
AUGUST 2017
- Welcome Rachel Derrico, Senior Associate
- Casual Conversion
- Safe Harbour Provisions (also a par on new ipso facto provisions)
- Rankin & Co. celebrates becoming a Certified B Corporation®
JUNE 2017
- First Formal Action Regarding Unfair Contract Terms
- Underquoting Laws
- Be Aware of Scams
- Happy Birthday!
MAY 2017
- The importance of having a solicitor review your lease
- ATO target high-risk small businesses
- ‘State of Land’ Report Released
- A Seth Godin quote to close…
APRIL 2017
- Upcoming Super Reforms
- ATO Debt will soon show on Credit Reports
- Stamp duty abolished for first home buyers
- Kicking Goals
MARCH 2017
- Prickly Partners
- Government Investigation into Superannuation Guarantee Compliance
- Uber’s GST Fight with ATO over for now
- ASIC’s Money Smart – ‘First Business’ Free App
FEBRUARY 2017
- Workplace Laws: Underpayment of employees
- ACCC Stats and News Report
- PPSR Grace Period Ended
- Exploit the Network
JANUARY 2017
- Personal Guarantees: Only fools rush in!
- What’s in a name: Domain name disputes
- AFS licensing requirements for accountants who provide SMSF services
- Tools of Titans
DECEMBER 2016
- New Chief Justice: Susan Kiefel
- Contract Signing Technology
- GST on Low Value Imported Goods
- Common Unfair Contract Terms
- And a Rankin & Co Xmas Message…(courtesy of Seth Godin)
NOVEMBER 2016
- Entrepreneurs’ Toolkit
- Superannuation Reforms
- The Importance of Cyber Security
- Read This: 7 Insanely Powerful Lessons My Mentor Taught Me (Which I Didn’t Realize Until Later)
OCTOBER 2016
SEPTEMBER 2016
- Unfair Contracts
- Defamation Ruling on Facebook Post
- Redundancy Calculations
- Ways to get paid faster
- And finally…
AUGUST 2016
- Director Personal Liability for Employee Entitlements
- Legalize Uber?
- ANZ Bank Fees – High Court Ruling
- Where do we come from? Where are we going?
JULY 2016
- Fairer VCAT Fees from 1 July 2016
- ‘or’ means ‘or’ in 15 year determination
- Snapchat Filters close to breaching copyright laws
- Rankin & Co are PEXA Lawyers
JUNE 2016
- Foreign Resident Capital Gains Withholding Payments
- Increase In Minimum Wage
- Faster, Better, Smarter!
MAY 2016
- Budget 2016
- Australian Consumer Law Applied to Foreign Company
- Rankin & Co Website
- We’re Hiring
- Museum Dance Off