Page 29 - Tropic Magazine Issue 13

INDUSTRY • LEGAL

Sleep better

We talk to legendary Cairns
industry figure Clive Skarott
about why good legal advice
matters. Russel Beer (L) of MacDonnells Law and Clive Skarott AM (R)

There are two things Clive Skarott AM deals with high stakes, workplace and “The sale of Cairns Airport involved
wants when it comes to legal advice. industrial disputes and more. very high stakes,” Mr Skarott said.
The first is whether it adds value to From SMEs and start-ups to large “MacDonnells acted for the Port
the business or organisation. Does government-owned organisations, Authority during that process, and we
the advice save time for the business Mr Skarott says MacDonnells have had to make sure that everything we
owner or contribute to strategic established an unrivalled reputation for did was done correctly and in a manner
direction? Does it save the business or delivering solutions and outcomes. that the people purchasing the asset
organisation money in the long run? Currently chair of the Cairns and were comfortable with.
The second requirement is possibly Hinterland Hospital and Health Service, “If there was something we didn’t
even more important: does it give the he has required legal advice across a disclose or something we’d missed, you
business owner or board of directors range of industries and organisations can be sued for it. MacDonnells ensured
the peace of mind to sleep well at night? including ECU Australia (now we weren’t.
These are all questions Mr Skarott has Queensland Country Credit Union), the “It’s vital that you have a law firm that
faced numerous times in his career. James Cook University Dental School, has a reputation in the marketplace and
Indeed, few local business people have Ergon Energy and Energy Queensland. is able to fix a problem so you can sleep
had a greater need for timely, diverse, But it was during one of the most better at night.
water-tight legal advice than Mr significant corporate deals in the city’s “With MacDonnells it doesn’t matter
Skarott. history that he relied most heavily on which partner or person in the firm you
In his own words, he has turned to one the advice provided by MacDonnells talk to, whether it was a partner or an
law firm for that advice throughout his Law: the sale of Cairns Airport. employee, they were always able to add
career: MacDonnells Law. value and fix the issue.
CAIRNS AIRPORT SALE “It didn’t matter what the problem was,
RELIABILITY Mr Skarott was chairman of the you’d always get someone who can fix
For years, Mr Skarott has relied on the Cairns Port Authority at the time, and it.”
team at MacDonnells to solve issues as the sale of this critical public asset
diverse as corporate governance, public was an extremely complex, intensely MORE: macdonnellslaw.com.au
scrutiny and accountability, business scrutinised process.

29 • tropicnow.com.au