March 2017

Justices of the Peace

A Justice of the Peace (JP) can perform certain functions like witnessing Statutory Declarations or Affidavits and certifying copies of documents.

The NSW Department of Justice has updated the Justice of the Peace Handbook for JPs in NSW. The handbook contains guidance for JPs, tips to avoid common risks and answers to frequently asked questions.

Witnessing a Stat Dec or Affidavit

When witnessing a NSW Statutory Declaration or Affidavit, the JP must see that person’s face as well as confirm that they have known the person for at least 12 months or sight approved identification documents. The current approved versions of Statutory Declaration and Affidavits contain amended wording in this regard but it should be added if it is not there.

If the person refuses to remove any face covering, the JP must refuse to witness the execution of the document unless there is special justification (which means a legitimate medical reason, but does not include religious beliefs or cultural practices).

Approved identification documents include drivers licences, Medicare card, birth certificate, passport (so long as they have not expired/been cancelled). Expired passports are acceptable so long as they did not expire more than 2 years ago.

Quick JP facts

  • JPs may not charge or receive any benefit for providing JP services.
  • A JP is not authorized to witness an Enduring Power of Attorney.
  • JPs cannot conduct a marriage unless they are also a licensed Marriage Celebrant.
  • The Jury Act 1977 does not provide an exemption for JPs from jury duty.
  • A JP May not provide legal advice unless they are also a registered Australian Legal Practitioner.
  • A JP must not unreasonably refuse to provide JP services.

The Code of Conduct for Justices of the Peace was reviewed in 2014 and updated by the Justices of the Peace Regulation 2014.

in Business / General  by 21 Mar 2017 0 comments

What is a restraint of trade?

Post engagement restrictions

Often, employment contracts and contractor agreements contain restrictive covenants or ‘restraints of trade’ to protect businesses when an employee or service provider / contractor leaves.

So, what is a restraint of trade? A restraint of trade is effectively a restriction on the employee or contractor as to where they may work and who they may work for during, and for an agreed period after the termination of, their engagement. Restraints often restrict an employee’s ability to work for competing businesses and within a certain geographical area for a specified period of time.

How far can they go?

A valid restraint should only restrict activities reasonably necessary to protect the legitimate interests of the business that has the benefit of it. Those legitimate interests may include clients, referral relationships, trade secrets, confidential information and the like.

A restraint clause that is too wide, and therefore too restrictive, is generally unenforceable. A restraint should be tailored to accurately reflect the nature of the business activities being protected and only go so far as to protect them, when looked at reasonably. Where restraints seek to protect more than is reasonably necessary to protect the business, they can be struck down. There are public policy considerations in not preventing competition. Restraints are read strictly against the business that seeks to impose it.

Where there are no restraints in the employment or services agreement, there is no restraint and the business will only be able to rely upon their common law rights, which are often inadequate.

How are they enforced?

To enforce a restraint, the court requires that the party seeking to enforce it show that the restraint is reasonable – this will depend on the nature of the business, the restraint period, the restraint area and the nature of the work undertaken by the person or entity affected by it.

Often, enforcement takes the form of an injunction, seeking damages or an accounting for profits.

Further information

If you would like any more information in relation to employment law, disputes or business issues generally, please contact Craig Pryor on (02) 9521 2455 or email craig@mckilloplegal.com.au

This information is general only and is not a substitute for proper legal advice. Please contact McKillop Legal to discuss your business and employment law needs.

in Business / Commercial Law / Dispute Resolution / Employment / General  by 16 Mar 2017 0 comments

Trusts – who is who in the zoo?

TYPES OF TRUSTS

There are many different types of trust including those created by wills (testamentary trusts) or by the operation of law, but for the purpose of this article, we are referring to the usual types of trust structures that accountants and lawyers prepare for their clients to operate businesses, own assets and the like, including:
  • unit trusts,
  • family/discretionary trusts,
  • hybrid trusts.

Trusts are often used to ensure that the person or entity with the legal ownership of assets is different to the persons or entities that enjoy the benefit of those assets.

WHAT IS A TRUST DEED?

The Trust Deed is a document that governs the terms of the Trust and sets out the rights and obligations of the Trustee, the Appointor and the Beneficiaries.

SETTLOR

The Settlor is often a person who has started the Trust (often an accountant or lawyer that obtained or drafted the Trust Deed at the request of a client) by paying a nominal amount such as $10 to the Trustee. This amount is known as the ‘settled sum’. The Trust Fund is then added to over time.

WHAT DOES THE TRUSTEE DO?

The Trustee of a Trust is responsible for administering the Trust and managing its assets for the benefit of the Beneficiaries. The Trust can only operate through its Trustee (one or more people or a company)

There are many duties that affect how Trustees can fulfill their role. Many of them are set out in the Trust Deed but there are also legislative provisions that apply, such as those set out in the Trustee Act.
Some of the duties include keeping accurate records, acting in a prudent manner as regards decisions, not mixing Trust assets with the Trustee’s own assets (which is why a often a company is set up to be the Trustee and do nothing but be the Trustee) and not using trust assets for the trustee’s own benefit. This is often one of the reasons a special purpose trustee company is used.

WHAT IS AN APPOINTOR?

The Appointor is the person with the power under the Trust Deed to remove a Trustee and appoint a new Trustee. They, therefore, ultimately control the trust.

Usually, changing the Trustee can be effected at any time by the Appointor executing a deed to remove and appoint a Trustee. Often the Trust Deed allows for the change to be effected by a person’s Will.

It is common for the Appointor of a discretionary family trust to be a parent or sibling and is often 2 people (or in the alternative, there is a Primary or First Appointor and a Second or Alternate Appointor that can act if something prevents the First Appointor from acting).

WHO ARE THE BENEFICIARIES?

In the types of Trusts we are talking about in this article, the Beneficiaries are those that are ultimately entitled to the benefit of the Trust. For Family/Discretionary Trusts, the Beneficiaries are not stated specifically but rather, for asset protection reasons, they are expressed as a class of potential beneficiaries that the Trustee can choose from (but is not obliged to – the protection arises as there is no specific share they are entitled to – it is in the Trustee’s discretion).

Often, the class of potential beneficiaries is very wide and includes children, grandchildren, grandparents, siblings and other trusts and companies which those people may have an interest in.

In the case of a Unit Trust, the Beneficiaries are the unitholders -the unitholders are entitled to a defined/fixed share of the Trust’s assets and income.

For asset protection and income splitting/tax minimisation reasons, often the units in a Unit Trust are owned by a Discretionary Trust.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Trust law is an extremely complex area and it is important to ensure that you understand your rights and responsibilities in relation to any Trust you are involved with or may have an interest in.

Craig Pryor is principal solicitor at McKillop Legal. For further information in relation to trusts, structuring or any other commercial law matter, contact Craig Pryor on (02) 9521 2455 or email craig@mckilloplegal.com.au.

in Business / Commercial Law / Dispute Resolution / General / Trusts  by 01 Mar 2017 0 comments