Bennett & Philp Lawyers

30/07/2026

Merci to everyone who joined our Emerging Professionals French Cheese & Wine Tasting on 15 July 2026!🥂
It was fantastic to see so many emerging professionals come together to network, build connections, and enjoy an evening of great conversation, French cheeses, and wines.
Events like these are a wonderful reminder of the value of fostering relationships across our professional community. We appreciate everyone who attended and helped make the evening such a success.
We not only celebrated French culture, but also learned a great deal about the rich history and variety of French cheeses. While there were plenty of crowd favourites, there was one particularly smelly cheese that certainly got people talking!

We look forward to seeing you at our next Emerging Professionals event!

15/07/2026

A strong exit outcome is not defined by headline valuation alone, but by how proceeds are actually distributed. This article explores how multiple classes of preference shares can significantly reshape those outcomes, often in ways founders and employees do not anticipate.
It explains how liquidation preferences, participation rights and investor rankings interact across funding rounds, and why these mechanics can materially reduce the value available to ordinary shareholders even in successful exits. It also highlights the influence of complex capital structures on future fundraising and the risk of disputes when key terms are not clearly defined.

For founders, directors and investors, the key message is the importance of simplicity, clear drafting and ongoing modelling of exit scenarios to ensure the capital structure remains aligned with long term objectives.

For further information, please contact Kyle Venter.

In part one of this series on preference share structure, we explored the basics of preference share structures in Australia. In part two, we deal with the legal, commercial and exit considerations that need to be considered when opting for a preference share structure.

29/06/2026

Insurance brokers play an important role when used by individuals or businesses. However misunderstanding that role, and broker oversights, can have disastrous consequences for an insured and lead to disputes as to who is in the wrong.
This article provides a sharp summary of the insurance broker’s duties and what individuals/businesses must understand to ensure their interests are protected when relying on an insurance broker.
For more information or assistance, contact Charlie Young, Director.

Engaging an insurance broker helps remove the complexity and complications associated with taking out insurance. However, in the case of broker error, the consequences for the client are often financially catastrophic.   What is the insurance broker’s job? Insurance is notoriously complicated and...

25/06/2026

When a complaint or investigation arises, health practitioners are often faced with a difficult question. Should you acknowledge fault early to demonstrate accountability, or protect your position to preserve insurance coverage? This article explores the tension between those two competing priorities and why the wrong step at the wrong time can have lasting professional and financial consequences.
It outlines how Professional Indemnity Insurance can respond to complaints, including the risk that admitting liability without insurer consent may lead to a loss of cover. At the same time, it highlights how a failure to show insight or take responsibility can be viewed unfavourably by regulators and tribunals, potentially resulting in more severe penalties. Navigating this balance requires careful judgement and a clear understanding of both policy obligations and disciplinary expectations.
For practitioners, the key message is that every response strategy carries risk. Knowing when to seek legal advice, how to approach admissions, and how to demonstrate genuine remediation can make a significant difference to the outcome.

For further guidance on managing complaints and protecting your position, please contact Andrew Lambros, Managing Director.

When seeking legal advice for complaints or referrals, it is important for health practitioners to understand the scope of their Professional Indemnity Insurance (PII). PII generally covers legal defence costs, assistance during investigations, and any damages or penalties that fall within the polic...

19/06/2026

Recent legislative changes are set to significantly reshape the regulatory landscape for approved pharmacists, with implications that extend well beyond day-to-day operations.

In this article, we examine how amendments to the National Health Act 1953 (Cth) have expanded the powers of the Secretary of the Department of Health and Aged Care. The Secretary now has a broader ability to cancel approvals where conditions are breached, rather than being limited to situations where a pharmacy is no longer operating or accessible to the public.

These changes signal a more assertive regulatory approach, making it important for pharmacists and pharmacy operators to understand and actively manage their compliance obligations.

For more information or advice on responding to a complaint, notification or potential breach, please contact Andrew Lambros, Managing Director.

https://www.bennettphilp.com.au/blog/horizons-broadened-new-scope-of-powers-of-the-secretary-of-health-and-aged-Jubilee Community Care

In recent amendments to the National Health Act 1953 (Cth) (‘the Act’), the Secretary of the Department of Health and Aged Care (‘the Secretary’) now has a wider scope of power to cancel the approval of approved pharmacists.[1] Prior to the amendments, the Secretary was only able to cancel a...

11/06/2026

Bennett & Philp is proud to congratulate Caitlin McNamara on her promotion to Senior Associate.

Caitlin has built a strong reputation in property and planning law through her dedication, work ethic and commitment to her clients. She works across both small and large-scale residential and commercial developments and complex property transactions. Caitlin is also an experienced litigator, running appeals in the Planning and Environment Court, and Land Court.

Caitlin’s dual qualifications in law and town planning give her a valuable perspective, allowing her to provide practical, well-rounded advice on property, planning and environmental issues — from early-stage site suitability and due diligence through to site acquisition and development appeals.

In addition to her legal work, Caitlin is our Emerging Leaders contact for Meritas, reflecting her active involvement in the broader professional community. Caitlin is also a leader of Bennett & Philp’s Emerging Professional Network, a group that hosts networking events to connect young professionals across Brisbane that excel in their field.

At Bennett & Philp, we are committed to supporting our people and recognising their achievements. Caitlin’s promotion is a reflection of her contribution to the firm and the high standard of work she consistently delivers.
Please join us in congratulating Caitlin — a well-earned milestone. We look forward to seeing all that you continue to achieve.

10/06/2026

We're proud to announce that Bennett & Philp Lawyers Managing Director Andrew Lambros was recognised in the 2027 edition of Best Lawyers of Australia for his work in Insolvency and Reorganization Law.
This recognition reflects Andrew’s respected standing within the profession and his experience in acting for liquidators, administrators and trustees as well guiding businesses, directors and stakeholders through financial distress, restructures and complex insolvency sales and litigation. Andrew is known for delivering commercially focused advice, balancing legal rigour with practical outcomes at each step of the insolvency process.

Congratulations Andrew.

10/06/2026

Preference shares can be a powerful structuring tool – but only when their role and risks are properly understood.

In this article, Kyle Venter breaks down the fundamentals of preference share structures in Australia and explains why they’re commonly used in capital raisings, investor arrangements and succession planning.

Whether you’re considering bringing in investors, restructuring your share capital, or advising on growth strategies, this article provides a clear and practical overview of how preference shares work in an Australian context.

For tailored advice on preference share structures or broader corporate and commercial matters, contact Bennett & Philp Lawyers and connect with Kyle Venter.

Preference shares are a common financing tool used by Australian companies, particularly startups, growth businesses and venture-backed enterprises. They allow companies to raise capital while providing investors with enhanced economic rights and protections that are not typically available to holde...

01/06/2026

In our previous article, we examined the expanding powers of the Federal Committee of Inquiry and the increasing compliance risks facing pharmacists at a Commonwealth level.
This follow‑up article focuses on a significant and emerging shift at the state level, where disciplinary proceedings may no longer remain confined to state regulators. In certain circumstances, state‑based findings can now trigger immediate federal consequences, placing a pharmacy’s PBS approval — and therefore the viability of the business, directly at risk.
The article explains how this regulatory crossover is unfolding, why the risk is no longer theoretical, and what pharmacy owners should be considering when responding to disciplinary action. What may once have been viewed as a contained state process can now escalate quickly, making early and informed legal advice critical.
Together with Part 1, this article highlights a changing regulatory landscape for pharmacy owners, where governance, compliance and proactive risk management are more important than ever.

Read the full article here:

https://www.bennettphilp.com.au/blog/new-risks-for-pharmacy-owners-facing-state-disciplinary-proceedings-now-the-pbs-approval-may-be-immediately-at-risk

For further information or advice, please contact Andrew Lambros

01/06/2026

Sunday 24 May 2026 was a big day for Broken to Brilliant on which there was celebrated the 10-year anniversary of Broken to Brilliant as well as the launch of the book, Violence to Victory. Bennett & Philp is very proud to have been the Gold Sponsors of this important event and to have participated on the day. We recognise the incredible dedication of the Broken to Brilliant team and its volunteers, whose ongoing commitment plays a critical role in empowering survivors of domestic violence and abuse and amplifying their voices.

During the day, Katherine Lambros and Andrew Lambros attended the 10-year anniversary celebrations. This significant milestone marked a decade of supporting domestic violence survivors to build safe, independent and fulfilling futures – work that continues to make a meaningful difference across the community. Katherine was honoured to be invited to speak during the day. Katherine has presented at Broken to Brilliant’s Legal Laureates Program for the last 3 years, providing survivors with practical insights into the legal system.

Sunday evening saw the formal launch of Violence to Victory, the 5th book published by Broken to Brilliant authored by survivors. In Violence to Victory, ten survivors describe their unique experiences of domestic and family violence in the silent spaces of rural, regional or remote Australia and their inspirational and ongoing journeys to recover and rebuild. Having conducted a pre-publication legal review of the book, Michael Coates was honoured to be asked to speak at the launch to explain the legal context in which the book was authored and published so as to allow the authors’ stories to be told.