Gilbert + tobin - Gilbert and Tobin

about this guide
Doing business in Australia answers some of the most common questions an overseas
investor may ask when establishing a business presence in Australia. It aims to provide
an introduction to the laws of Australia for overseas legal practitioners.
This guide is divided into three main areas:
+ + Section 1 provides an overview of Australia’s government,
legal system and important regulatory bodies.
+ + Sections 2, 3 and 4 answer some of the threshold questions an
investor faces in considering how to enter the Australian
market, such as:
- whether foreign investment approval is required or
recommended for the particular investment;
- if the investment relates to the establishment of a new
business, whether that business should be set up as a
branch office or a subsidiary of the parent company; and
- if the investment relates to the acquisition of an
existing business, whether takeover laws will apply.
+ + Sections 5-19 provide a summary of some of the important
rules and regulations governing an investor’s day-to-day
business activities in Australia.
Unless otherwise indicated, a reference to a “section” is a
reference to a section of this guide.
A glossary at the end of this guide sets out a list of all regulatory
authorities and legislation referred to in this guide.
All dollar amounts are in Australian dollars.
As with other guides of this type, the information provided is of a
general nature and is meant to aid the reader in identifying issues
for which additional expertise must be sought. It is not a substitute
for obtaining more detailed advice and it does not take into
account the particular circumstances of the reader.
This guide is current as at April 2013.
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