People

ben@sklaw.au

Through 20 years of hard-won experience Ben is an expert in insolvency law, company restructuring and commercial litigation.

Ben possesses a blend of practical and technical expertise, enabling him to effectively guide company directors in crafting restructuring plans for insolvent businesses. As a dual-qualified professional, Ben is both an experienced solicitor and an ASIC-qualified Restructuring Practitioner. His multidisciplinary approach to problem-solving allows him to identify and implement effective solutions for financial recovery and stability.

Ben is an experienced litigator who has represented a mix of clients in the NSW, Victorian, Queensland, and Federal Courts. His expertise encompasses all facets of insolvency law, such as personal bankruptcy, winding up applications, voidable transaction disputes, fraud allegations, and director’s duty claims.

Ben is known for providing close personal attention to his clients and for treating client relationships as his most important asset. Ben has had a wide variety of clients from industries such as construction, transport, retail, mining services, manufacturing and professional services.

Industry contributions

Ben’s contributions to the insolvency industry include:

• Being called as a witness by the Federal Parliamentary Joint Committee inquiry into Corporate Insolvency in Australia
• Being an Education Committee member of the Association for Business Restructuring & Turnaround and contributing to training of certified Restructuring & Turnaround Practitioners
• Author of “The Construction Industry and Insolvency Law” in the National Building Service published by Thomson Reuters
• Strategic adviser to the Law Institute of Victoria (Small to Medium Practice Advisory Committee)
• Policy-making involvement in the NSW Law Society as a member of the Insolvency Business Law Committee
• Publishing articles and giving seminars for Chartered Accountants, CPA Australia, the American Bankruptcy Institute, the Australian Institute of Credit Management, the Association for Business Restructuring & Turnaround, the Law Society of NSW and the Australian Restructuring Insolvency & Turnaround Association
• International experience as a member of the International Committee of the American Bankruptcy Institute
• Teaching insolvency professionals the postgraduate Insolvency Education Program through the partnership of the Australian Restructuring Insolvency & Turnaround Association and the University of Southern Queensland

Qualifications

• Lawyer, admitted to practice as a legal practitioner in NSW
• Liquidator (Restructuring Practitioner) registered by ASIC (Certificate)
• Certified Restructuring & Turnaround Practitioner (ABRT) (Certificate)
• Corporate Reconstruction Accountant holding a public practice certificate with the Institute of Public Accountants

Education

• Master of Laws in Corporate & Commercial Law
• Master of Business Administration
• Graduate Certificate of Law (Insolvency Education Program)

Memberships

• Law Society of NSW
• Association for Business Restructuring and Turnaround
• Institute of Public Accountant
• American Bankruptcy Institute

natalia@sklaw.au

Natalia Mariani is a dual qualified lawyer admitted to practise in both Australia and Brazil. She specialises in restructuring proceedings, insolvency-related disputes, and debt recovery. Natalia has experience in cross-border commercial and insolvency disputes and played a vital role in advising distressed Brazilian shipbuilder Ecovix on its judicial reorganisation plan.

At the firm, Natalia provides support on matters involving commercial litigation, insolvency, contracts, and debtor-creditor disputes. She is experienced in conducting debt recovery processes, assisting clients in disputes, complying with discovery processes, and preparing commercial contracts and deeds. Natalia is fluent in Portuguese and English, and has professional working proficiency in Spanish, enabling her to communicate effectively with clients from diverse backgrounds.

Qualifications

Bachelor of Laws (UFRGS, Brazil)
Diploma in Law (LPAB/LEC University of Sydney)

Memberships

Brazilian Bar Association
Law Society of NSW