My client base includes a full spectrum of international and Australian organisations. These range from major corporates and multinationals to family businesses, in industries as diverse as property and pharmaceuticals. 
I have helped clients address tax issues relating to the sale and purchase of businesses, as well as identifying tax-efficient inbound and outbound investment and operations. My representation also extends to determining staff remuneration, including matters involving employment taxes and share and option plans.

Career highlights

• Ascendas Real Estate Investment Trust – assisted with Australian property portfolio acquisitions
• Federation Centres – worked on the merger with Novion Property Group to form Vicinity Centres
• Beingmate – helped form a joint venture with Fonterra for its Darnum plant
• Jangho Group – advised on the acquisition of Australian Securities Exchange–listed Vision Eye Institute
• SB&G Hotel Group – worked on acquiring the hotel portfolio of InterContinental Hotels Group
• Air Liquide; Mayne Pharma; and others – helped Australian and international businesses introduce employee compensation programs
• Consistently ranked as a leading tax lawyer by Chambers, Doyles Guide, Who’s Who Legal and Best Lawyers
• Positioned as National Chair and Victorian Chair of the Law Council of Australia’s Taxation Committee, working at the forefront of new law, and dealing with the Australian Taxation Office and government on their approach to administering and drafting tax laws

Education
LLB (Hons), BComm

• Admitted as a barrister & solicitor in Victoria
• Law Institute of Victoria, Member
• Taxation Institute, Associate
• Law Council of Australia, Member
• Law Council of Australia's Tax Committee, 2013 Victorian Chairman
• Law Council of Australia's National Tax Liaison Group (NTLG), Member

• COVID 19: How the Changed FIRB Rules Affect the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and the Australian Taxation Office (ATO)

  By Adrian Varrasso |March 2020

• COVID 19: How the Changed FIRB Rules Affect the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and the Australian Taxation Office (ATO)

  By Adrian Varrasso |March 2020

• Franked dividends – what a difference 3 years can make!
  

  Insights on the Government's proposed legislation which has retrospective impact on franked dividends and capital raisings.

• More cash relief for business to counter the impact of COVID-19
  

  Changes to the instant asset write-off, reduction in PAYG and cashflow boost eligibility – when and what this means to business.

   

• Build to Rent income tax exposure draft released
  

  Treasury has released an Exposure Draft for new build-to-rent concessions. While some industry recommendations have been adopted, unresolved issues and surprises linger.

• Federal Budget 2024/25 Highlights
  

  The Government's Budget forecasts a budget surplus in the 2023-2024 year, followed by larger deficits than expected across the next 4 years.

• COVID-19: ATO issues legislative instrument on JobKeeper Rules
  

  As contemplated by the JobKeeper Rules, on 23 April 2020, the ATO published a legislative instrument which sets out alternative decline in turnover tests for employer entities to be eligible for JobKeeper payments. This instrument has been highly anticipated since the original JobKeeper Legislation and Rules were enacted in March, given the difficulties many entities had in satisfying the 'basic test' of demonstrating a decline in turnover.

• Federal Budget 2023/24 Highlights
  

  MinterEllison explores the impact and implications across the key tax related focus areas raised in the 2023/24 Federal Budget announcement.

• Federal Budget 2022/23 Highlights
  

  The 2022/23 Budget primarily provides targeted cost-of-living relief and sets out how the Government intends to invest in Australia's future in times of economic and inflationary pressures as well as continuing global uncertainty. MinterEllison explores the impact and implications across the key commercial focus areas raised in the Government's Budget announcement.

• March Federal Budget 2022/23 Highlights
  

  An election year Federal Budget has announced significant personal tax measures as expected, with a focus on addressing cost of living pressures in a time of rising inflation.

• Joint takeover of ASX listed Sirtex Medical Limited
  MinterEllison advised CDH Investments and China Grand Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Holdings Limited on their last-minute A$1.90 billion joint takeover for ASX listed Sirtex Medical Limited.
  
  
• How to pay a dividend in Australia – a guide
  

  We explain the various requirements an Australian company must meet in order to pay a dividend to its shareholders.

• Tax updates to proposed intangibles integrity measure
  

  Updates to the proposed tax reform measures preventing multinationals from claiming Australian tax deductions for certain payments made for the use of intangible assets to foreign associates in low-tax jurisdictions.

• Federal Budget Highlights 2021-22
  

  The 2021-22 Federal Budget provides Australia with a roadmap to help guide our country's business and economic recovery as we emerge from the unprecedented COVID-19 impacts of 2020.

   

   

• Federal Budget Highlights: 2020-21
  

  A highly anticipated Federal Budget announced late in a turbulent and unpredictable year, the 2020-21 Budget sets out significant taxation relief for individuals and businesses in response to the COVID-19 recession. MinterEllison explores the impact and implications across the key focus areas raised in the government’s Budget announcement.

• Federal Budget 2020-21 introduces temporary loss carry back rules
  

  A significant measure announced in the 2020 – 21 Federal Budget was the temporary loss carry back regime for corporate tax entities.

• Stapled Structures - Details of Integrity Package
  

  On 27 March 2018, the Treasury released a publication titled "Stapled structures – Details of integrity package" (Integrity Package) outlining the proposed changes to the tax treatment of stapled structures.

• COVID-19: JobKeeper Rules clarified and critical guidance provided from the ATO
  On 1 May 2020, the Coronavirus Economic Response Package (Payments and Benefits) Amendment Rules (No 2) 2020 was enacted to provide clarification to the JobKeeper Scheme. Most significant for corporate groups were the changes to the 'decline in turnover test' which should enable entities that service entities of a wider group structure to be able to qualify for the JobKeeper payments.
• A new tax regime for corporate collective investment structures
  

  As part of the 2021-22 Federal Budget handed down on 11 May 2021, the Government announced that the corporate collective investment vehicle (CCIV) regime would be finalised with a revised commencement date of 1 July 2022.

• ATO confirms loans put on hold during COVID-19 are not subject to debt forgiveness
  

  Merely putting a loan on hold (either postponing or deferring the amount of principal  to be repaid under the terms of the loan), does not amount to debt forgiveness for tax purposes, according to the recent ATO clarification.  

• COVID-19: JobKeeper payments and the decline in turnover test
  

  The ATO has released LCR 2020/1 JobKeeper Payment – decline in turnover test (LCR) providing detailed guidance on  what should be included or excluded from the calculation of the decline in turnover test included in the JobKeeper Rules.

• Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook Highlights: 2019-20
  

  The Government's Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook 2019-20, announced yesterday, signals that the budget is scheduled to return to surplus in 2019-20. However the projected budget surplus in 2019-20 and over the next four years is set to reduce.

• A 'thin new world' part 2 – proposed changes to Australia's thin capitalisation provisions
  

  Under proposed new law, organisations may be limited in their ability to claim debt deductions from 1 July 2023.

• Tangible consequences for SGEs: Proposed changes to intangible asset exploitation in low-corporate tax jurisdictions
  

  Australian Treasury proposes new rules to limit significant global entities from claiming deductions for payments made to associates in low corporate tax jurisdictions related to intangibles from 1 July 2023.

   

• ATO finalises TD 2020/6 - What is a restructuring for the purposes of the demerger rules?
  

  ATO clarification on what constitutes a restructuring for the purposes of the demerger rules confirms the change in their approach with effect both before and after the date of publication. We explore the details. 

• Build to Rent Income Tax concessions released
  

  Following Treasury consultation and industry feedback on exposure draft materials, the legislation for the new build-to-rent federal tax concessions has been introduced into Parliament.

• A 'thin' new world - Proposed changes to Australia's thin capitalisation rules
  

  Under proposed new law, organisations may be limited in their ability to claim debt deductions from 1 July 2023.

• Software licences and royalty withholding tax
  
• COVID-19 issues for corporate tax directors
  

  The Commonwealth Government has announced a number of targeted relief measures in response to COVID-19. Our team has outlined the key taxation implications that Directors and CFOs should be aware of and provided our insights on how you can prepare.

• Australia's thin capitalisation rules – finally, the amending Bill to a Bill to amend
  

  We explore the new exposure draft released for public consultation which amends the proposed thin capitalisation changes and debt deduction creation rules.

• Promoter penalty law reform: Exposure draft released
  

  The Government is consulting on exposure draft legislation expanding the promoter penalty provisions and increasing ATO powers.

• MinterEllison advised Richmond Bridge on a $105m prime industrial site for acquisition
  

  MinterEllison has advised real estate investment management firm Richmond Bridge on a bespoke investment management mandate structure with UniSuper to enable it to acquire and operate a Yarraville property.

• Australian corporate taxation measures - responses to COVID-19
  The Commonwealth and State governments have announced a number of tax measures primarily designed to help businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. The ATO has also made a statement on its position in relation to some anomalies that may arise from the forced travel restrictions.
• Taxation and cross-border M&A: Clarity on Australian tax liabilities in foreign corporate mergers
  

  A recent Federal Court decision provides further clarity on the treatment of Australian tax liabilities following the completion of a corporate merger.

• Jangho Group completes takeover of Vision Eye Institute
  China's Jangho Group has completed its acquisition of ASX-listed Vision Eye Institute Limited, paying approximately A$200 million for the company in an all-cash transaction.
• The FIRB fallout from the Chevron Case
  You are probably familiar with the fact that foreign investment approvals under the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975 (Cth) (FATA) are very often subject to a set of 'standard tax conditions' relating to compliance with Australian taxation laws.