Melbourne Legal Services
Astuto is a Melbourne based legal firm
We provide quality legal services in our areas of Commercial, Property and Estates matters
If you can’t come to the City Office you can contact us through Facetime or Zoom.
About Us
Don Christie LLB (University of Tasmania)
LLM and MTax (Monash) Graduate Diploma Securities Institute of Australia
Don has extensive experience as a Lawyer and Public Company Director Working initially in private practice as an Associate at Wisewould Schilling and government practice with the National Companies and Securities Commission, he spent time as an investigator with the Tricontinental Royal Commission.
Subsequently, he joined Equity Trustees Limited a listed trustee company and after roles in Compliance and as Corporate Trust Manager became Managing Director.
He has since served as Chairman of several Publicly Listed Companies including India Equities Fund Limited and Mariner Corporation Ltd and as a Director and on the Advisory Board of several
He purchased the Astuto Practice in 2015 to focus on commercial, property and estate matters.
Commercial Law
- Sale and purchase of businesses
- Due Diligence inquiries
- Shareholder Agreements
- Commercial contracts of any type
- Terms and conditions of trade
- Company liquidation and administration
- Business ownership, structuring and trusts
- Risk, governance and compliance issues
- Taxation
- Dispute resolution
- ASIC Examinations and Investigations
- ASX and NSX Initial Public Offerings and Listing Rules
Property
Residential Property
Purchase
- Pre-Purchase Contract Review
- Building Contract Review
- Mortgage Document Review and Solicitors Certificates
- First Home Owner’s Grants
- Stamp Duty Discounts and Exemptions
- Adverse Possession Claims
- Transfers
Sale
Preparation of Contracts of Sale with
appropriate Special Conditions and S 32 Statements
Commercial Property
Purchase
- Pre-Purchase Contract Review and Negotiation
- Mortgage Document Review
- Stamp Duty advice
- FIRB Applications
Leases and Licences
- Retail and Commercial leases
- Licences to occupy
Sale
Preparation of Contracts of Sale with
appropriate Special Conditions and S 32 Statements
Estate Planning
A Will
Having a valid will that expresses their intentions clearly is an important part of any person’s life plan.
We create simple wills that set out your wishes accurately and minimise the chances that your intentions will be challenged.
An Estate Plan
An Estate Plan takes the next step in potentially minimising the tax impacts of generational wealth transfer and dealing with more complicated family dynamics.
We recommend an estate plan when it is appropriate for the client.
Estate Management
If you’ve been appointed an executor we provide support in managing the estate through to completion.