ICON Law Pty Ltd

Derek is a well known and highly regarded lawyer who predominantly practices in the area of franchising. He was until recently a Partner at Dibbs Barker where he headed and developed their franchising section nationally. He and Christina recently established ICON Law to provide a boutique practice that focuses on franchising and business law.

His experience extends to the areas of intellectual property, trade practices, corporations law, commercial law and property law in which he advises small to medium enterprises in particular.

Derek provides his clients with over two decades of franchising experience. He has extensive knowledge and experience in this field and acts for a large number of state, national and international franchisors, franchisees and master franchisees in service, product, mobile and site-based franchise systems. These clients operate in both the private and public sectors in a wide range of industries including property, retailing, manufacturing, distribution and aged care.

He is known for his ability to provide vigorous and incisive counsel that delivers commercial tangible results to his clients across a broad range of industries. Derek has developed a proven reputation built on a long track record of representing a significant number of successful franchisors, master franchisees, and franchisees in all areas of business. 

Derek is currently the Chair of the Legal Committee of the FCA and a very active committee member of and contributor to the Franchise Council of Australia Queensland State Chapter. He was until recently the founder and long standing Chair of the Queensland Law Society Franchising Committee and member of the Queensland Law Society Business Law Committee. He is also a member of the Small Business Committee of the Law Council of Australia.

He is regularly involved in government and regulator policy development and consultation in franchising. He also is a representative member of the ACCC Franchising Consultative Panel Committee that comprises key government and sector stakeholders who meet to discuss franchising issues.

Derek is a regular speaker at Franchise Council of Australia (FCA) events and conferences and has been a valuable and consistent contributor to the Franchise Council of Australia for over 12 years. He has also been a foundation member of the FCA Ethics Committee and the FCA Legal Committee. In 2004, Derek was awarded the FCA Contribution to Franchising Queensland Award for services to the FCA QLD Chapter. He was a member of the NFC 2010 Conference Committee and NFC 2010 Legal Conference Committee that organised the 2010 National FCA Conference on the Gold Coast. He is also involved with the organising committee for the legal symposium for the NFC 2011.

Over the years Derek has acted for a large number of well known and successful franchise systems providing advice on documentation and strategy to deal with all manner of legal and commercial situations that arise within franchise systems. 

Christina practices in the areas employment law and industrial relations, commercial litigation and business law. 

In 1989, Christina was admitted as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of Qld and subsequently of the High Court of Australia. She was a partner of a well established Brisbane law firm for some 10 years. She is an experienced litigator who has practiced in the areas of insurance litigation, commercial litigation and industrial relations.

Areas of practice of particular interest include: Insolvency law; Corporate law; Directors and share holder’s disputes; Partnership disputes; Corporate governance; Workplace health and safety; Employer/employee disputes. 

Christina is a member of the Queensland Law Society and has presented seminars for the society, other legal education providers, industry employers, including Human Resources Organisations.

Christina also holds the following positions - Director of Powerlink Queensland; Chairperson of the Audit and Compliance Committee of Powerlink Queensland, Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and member of the Queensland Law Society.

Through her legal knowledge and practical experience, and by drawing upon other corporate experience including directorships, Christina is able to provide advice and guidance on issues relating to business, employment, workplace health and safety and corporate governance.

When not at work, Christina enjoys spending time with her family, camping, cycling and horse riding. Christina also devotes time to her local school community and is currently the President of a college Parents and Friends committee.

Derek and Christina are married with 4 children and when they get the chance to relax they enjoy boating fishing, snow skiing and playing the guitar.