Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
References
Hobbies and Interests
Career Overview
Timeline
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Melissa Ramsden

Melissa Ramsden

Teneriffe,Australia

Summary

Dynamic legal professional with extensive experience both in private practice at HWL Ebsworth Lawyers and in-house at Lenard's Pty Ltd. Excelling in franchising, contract negotiation and corporate compliance. Proven ability to manage multiple high-value transactions while delivering exceptional service to clients. Recognized for strong communication skills and a commitment to legal excellence, ensuring successful outcomes in complex corporate matters.

Overview

10
10
years of professional experience

Work History

Special Counsel

HWL Ebsworth Lawyers
07.2021 - Current
  • Drafting, reviewing and negotiating corporate contracts including supply, service, distribution and shareholders agreements;
  • Advising franchisors on Franchise Code compliance including preparing and updating their franchise documentation;
  • Reviewing and advising franchisees on franchise documentation;
  • Providing advice on structuring deals, drafting documents, negotiating documents, conducting due diligence, and completing numerous business and share sales/purchases ranging in value from $1,000,000 food businesses to $55 million dollar automation businesses.
  • Managing a large volume of files to completion;
  • Undertaking pro-bono work for small charities to draft Model Rules/Constitution, register with Fair Trading and ACNC and application to tax office for charity concessions and presenting to management committees on legal obligations;
  • Writing articles for publishing in HWL Ebsworth enewsletters or other industry publications;
  • Writing and presenting seminars to staff and clients;
  • Various types of work on mergers and acquisitions, small business sales, franchising and intellectual property;
  • Liaising with clients both internal and external;
  • Providing fee estimates to clients and monitoring those fee estimates for all staff working on the matter;
  • Delegating and mentoring junior staff, reviewing their work and providing feedback.

Various roles – Clerk, Graduate, Solicitor and Associate

HWL Ebsworth Lawyers
07.2015 - 11.2021
  • Drafting, reviewing and negotiating contracts whether for franchising, leases, intellectual property, business sales, supply agreements, licence agreements, shareholders agreements, joint venture agreements, manufacturing agreements, trust deeds and share and asset purchase agreements (acted for both vendors and purchasers);
  • Liaising with clients in relation to corporate governance and particularly identifying where a client needs assistance with corporate governance;
  • Liaising with clients both internal and external including providing timelines for matters;
  • Providing fee estimates to clients and monitoring those fee estimates while working on matters;
  • Researching and drafting written legal advices to clients on various issues;
  • Reviewing marketing material for clients to ensure compliance with Australia Consumer Laws;
  • Assisting the commercial litigation team with disputes (particularly franchising disputes);
  • Drafting submissions for tax and stamp duty objections or exemptions;
  • Verification of prospectus’ for ASX listing and preparation of Information Memorandums for capital raising;
  • Undertaking due diligence in business purchases and managing data rooms for business sales;
  • Providing advice, drafting documents and completing numerous business sales ranging in value from $200,000 child care centres to multi million dollar transactions varying in format and types of documentation used;
  • Managing a large volume of files to completion;
  • Writing articles for publishing in HWL Ebsworth enewsletters or other industry publications;
  • Writing and presenting seminars to staff and clients;
  • Various types of work on mergers and acquisitions, tax, stamp duty, franchising and intellectual property teams;
  • Drafting precedents for clients (including government departments);
  • Mentor for winter clerks and graduates.

General Manager – Legal, Human Resources, Marketing, Operations and IT

Lenard’s Pty Ltd
11.2019 - 07.2021
  • Managing human resources (hiring, inducting and terminating staff);
  • Working with external legal advisors;
  • Drafting, reviewing and negotiating contacts including franchise, lease, licence, tax, employment, intellectual property, supplier and manufacturing arrangements;
  • Providing legal advice on company matters to directors;
  • Attending to company secretarial matters;
  • Preparation of business plan and information memorandum;
  • Responsible for workplace health and safety and crisis management across all business entities (stores, restaurant, manufacturing facility and offices);
  • Identifying sites and negotiating offers to lease;
  • Reviewing and amending privacy policy;
  • De-registration and liquidation of group companies and structuring of the group for asset protection and risk mitigation;
  • Implementing new policies and procedures;
  • Implementing new franchise development model for existing and new franchisees;
  • Overseeing and management of Operations, Marketing and IT teams.

Education

Various franchising seminars and conferences -

Franchise Council of Australia and various law firms
08.2025

Bachelor of Laws (Honours) -

University of Southern Qld
01.2015

Diploma of Management -

Franklyn Scholar training organisation
01.2013

Certificate of Franchising -

Griffith University
01.2009

AIM Dealing with Difficult People Seminar -

01.2000

Skills

  • Ability to manage multiple tasks and tight deadlines
  • Excellent communication skills
  • Trustworthy
  • Honest
  • Reliable
  • Contract drafting, review and negotiation
  • Legal compliance
  • Client advisory
  • Corporate transactions

References

Can be provided upon request.

Hobbies and Interests

  • Going to the gym
  • Reading
  • Socialising with friends

Career Overview

I started my legal career in-house career was with Lenard’s Pty Ltd where I worked my way to the role of Paralegal and subsequently returned there for a short period as General Manager to transition the business ready for sale. I developed a number of systems and procedures to ensure documents were controlled and key dates met. In 2015 I commenced working for HWL Ebsworth Lawyers and have developed great relationships with clients both internal and external and consistently meet KPI’s, I was welcomed back to HWL in 2021 after completing a short term contract at Lenard’s. I pride myself on meeting deadlines and delivering work to a high standard.

Timeline

Special Counsel

HWL Ebsworth Lawyers
07.2021 - Current

General Manager – Legal, Human Resources, Marketing, Operations and IT

Lenard’s Pty Ltd
11.2019 - 07.2021

Various roles – Clerk, Graduate, Solicitor and Associate

HWL Ebsworth Lawyers
07.2015 - 11.2021

Various franchising seminars and conferences -

Franchise Council of Australia and various law firms

Bachelor of Laws (Honours) -

University of Southern Qld

Diploma of Management -

Franklyn Scholar training organisation

Certificate of Franchising -

Griffith University

AIM Dealing with Difficult People Seminar -

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Melissa Ramsden