Joann is Space Lead and a Consultant in Lander & Rogers' corporate transactions team. She advises the space sector, including start-ups and established businesses, on the complex international and domestic legal and regulatory aspects of operating in the space economy, drawing on her specialist capability and formal training in space law.
She is the Chair and Director of the Space Law Council of Australia and New Zealand and has an academic background in space law and policy from Harvard University and the University of Adelaide. Her academic background complements her practical experience, enabling her to provide specialist space law advice to clients.
Joann also has extensive experience advising Australian and international clients on corporate transactions and advisory matters, often involving cross-border elements.
Experience
Joann combines her expertise in transactions and corporate advisory matters with specialist knowledge of space law to deliver strategic advice to space companies, organisations and investors. She advises on a range of matters including due diligence, liability, Australian Space Agency permits, licences and authorisations, compliance, commercial arrangements and intellectual property. Joann supports businesses on a range of other legal requirements across their lifespan, from initial establishment of business structures through to governance, general corporate compliance, operations, regulatory requirements, commercial contracts, and exit or de-registration. She also provides legal consulting on developments in Australia's space sector.
Joann's practice also covers non-space related commercial contracts, fundraising, mergers and acquisitions (including business and share sales and acquisitions) and option arrangements.
Additionally, Joann speaks domestically and internationally at industry conferences, events and workshops on space law, including at the New Zealand Aerospace Summit and National Space Industry Hub, and has guest lectured on liability and other issues in the International Space Law course at the University of Sydney Law School.
Career highlights
Space law
Joann's experience includes advising:
- an Australian deep-tech and space company on its regulatory requirements in relation to an overseas payload permit required under Australian law
- on regulatory, policy and other developments affecting Australian space licensing
- on commercial space operations and space transactions, including terms and conditions for customers
- a space robotics company on a range of corporate advisory matters including space law liability, shareholder agreements, governance, and investment arrangements
- an Australian space company specialising in satellite manoeuvrability, in relation to intellectual property arrangements.
Corporate transactions
- Aniplex, a Japanese company owned by Sony Music Entertainment Japan on its acquisition of a 30% interest in, restructure of and formation of an incorporated joint venture. Also advised on the acquisition of the remaining interest for $35 million and the shareholder arrangements with a key executive
- Kent Pet Group on its first foreign acquisition outside of the US, of FibreCycle Pty Ltd, an Australian and UK/European manufacturer and distributor, as well as negotiation of warranty and indemnity insurance arrangements
- FibreCycle in its dual target, tandem acquisitions in the pet food sector requiring coordination of two parallel acquisitions on a "both or neither" basis
- JOST Australia, an automobile parts developer and distributor, in a re-write of its supplier and customer contract portfolio
- HNZ Global in a joint venture with a competitor, to provide offshore helicopter transfer services to the Australian Icthys LNG oil and gas project, and follow-on "business as usual" work on its helicopter leasing program and other supplier contracts
- Comfort DelGro Corporation on acquisitions in the transport sector
- IOOF Holdings on the transfer of contracts and underlying trust assets after its sale of Australian Executor Trustees Corporate Trust to Sargon Capital
- Queensland Mining Corporation on the first and second sale of a combined 80% interest in an incorporated joint venture, which included prospective suites of exploration permits, mining licenses and a processing plant
- Gallagher, an insurance broking and risk management group, on various restructures
- Oroton on its 30% acquisition of accessories brand The Daily Edited for $4.5 million in cash and shares
- on employee share option plans
- on various business sales, mergers, acquisitions and restructures and investment opportunities.
Equity capital markets
Joann has advised in several substantial ASX and Initial Public Offerings including:
- WAM Leaders Limited: which set an ASX equity capital markets record for a listed investment company (LIC) raising of $394.3 million
- Antipodes Global Investment Company Limited: a LIC raising $313 million
- Watermark Global Leaders Fund Limited: a LIC raising $91 million
- Monash Absolute Investment Company Limited: a LIC that raised $52.5 million.