Profile: Stephen Giles

Franchise

Biography: Franchise

Stephen Giles is rated by Legal Profiles as Australia's leading franchising lawyer. He is a partner in national law firm Deacons, which Legal Profiles describes as "Australia's premier national franchising group". Stephen practises in the Melbourne and Sydney offices, and heads the Asian franchising group, comprising 35 lawyers across 15 offices in Australia and Asia.

Stephen is author of the authoritative text Franchising Law & Practice, and a range of other publications including The Franchisor's Manual, Compiling a Franchise Operations Manual and The GST and Franchising. Stephen is also a director and immediate past national chairman of the peak industry body, the Franchise Council of Australia, and chairman of LAWASIA's Franchising Committee.

Stephen has an extensive franchising practice, with particular focus on contract negotiations and drafting, competition law and antitrust, mergers and acquisitions and regulatory and corporate advice. He has advised over 200 franchises, including many US-based systems.

Stephen has been at the forefront of developments in franchising in Australia and Asia. He represented the peak industry body in negotiations with the Australian government on the regulatory framework for the sector, and helped develop the core educational materials and publications for the Franchise Council of Australia. He has also advised the Asia Pacific Franchise Confederation and the World Franchise Council on franchising matters.

Stephen has a strong understanding of franchising laws throughout Asia, and is able to access on the ground input from the local Deacons offices as required.