Michael Winram Email & Phone Number

Michael practices in litigation, dispute resolution, governance and general advice. Michael regularly appears in all Courts, often appearing as advocate, including in the Supreme Court of New South Wales, Land & Environment Court, Federal Court of Australia, the District Court, Local Court and CTTT. Michael also has an interest in education and is experienced in advising all types of education institutions, including the development of policies, registration requirements, investigations and litigation. He is currently on the Council of St Andrew's Cathedral School and Gawura School.

Acting for many independent secondary schools and colleges, primary schools, pre-schools, university colleges, theological colleges and specialty campsites that accommodate school camps, in relation to:• Planning and development issues, including advising on master plans for developing school premises, representing schools in the Land & Environment Court, and advising on contracts between schools and building project managers.• The expulsion of students.• Duty of Care issues, including issues related to bullying (including cyber bullying), child protection, excursions and teachers liability and assisting in investigations of allegations of abuse.• Privacy issues, including drafting and reviewing privacy policies and advising on using and disclosing personal information.• Family Court disputes, including advising schools on their rights and responsibilities when parents are in dispute with one another.• Governance issues including drafting school constitutions, drafting foundation constitutions, drafting building funds, scholarship funds, library funds and cultural funds and advising school councils.• Employment issues, including drafting employment contracts, advising on terminating employment and other employment issues when school employees act outside the course of their employment.• Debt collection, including drafting contracts that comply with the Consumer Credit Code to allow schools to charge interest on the late payment of school fees.• Enrolment procedures and enrolment contracts.• Property issues, including leasing school premises, terminating leases, purchasing property to be used as a school.• Taxation issues, including advising on tax concessions available to schools, establishing deductible gift recipient funds for schools, applying for taxation rulings from the ATO and applying for tax exemptions.