The Month in Review: September
As a young business, we’ve formed our own. To us, legal is personal. So, we’re letting you in, introducing our people and showing you what we have been up to.
Merton Lawyers advise Hood acquisition of Foxie and $16M cap raise
Merton Lawyers advised the moving and connection service Hood on the acquisition of moving home aggregator Foxie, which has given the company a platform that plugs into estate agents as well as imminent scale in the market. Enabling people to easily manage all utilities and services required when moving house.
Following the acquisition, Merton have worked with Hood to secure a $16 million cap raise to improve the overall moving experience while linking local businesses and suppliers with customers in the process of moving house.
SolarBuddy
Our very own Anna Pitchouguina gave a presentation to SolarBuddy about the importance of estate planning and the effect of various documents such as a Will, Enduring Power of Attorney and Medical Treatment Decision Maker. The presentation also touched on what would happen if these documents are not in place.
SolarBuddy are currently running a campaign in celebration of International Day of the Girl. Their focus is on educating girls in Tanzania, giving the gift of light to those who face disadvantages being both young and female. You can learn more about SolarBuddy’s efforts and make a meaningful contribution to the lives of 2,000 girls via the link below.
Pangea’s Virtual Cocktail Night
Save the date, Friday the 19th of November. Pangea’s Virtual Cocktail Night is back, in partnership with Grainshaker. Merton Lawyers Managing Director and Director of Pangea, Anthony Curtin, extends his gratitude to our friends at Top Shelf International, Grainshaker and John Curtin Consulting, for generously helping us raise funds for Pangeas work.
Surf Coast Pitch Party
After multiple setbacks, the Ripple Surf Coast presentation night has been rescheduled for the 11th of November. Giving surf coast start-ups the opportunity to pitch to potential investors. With guests from Blackbird Ventures, Giant Leap, and B Lab Australia and New Zealand.
In the (home) office
The firm was delighted to congratulate Julian Barclay as newly appointed Merton Lawyers Partner. A wonderful addition to our dynamic firm, Julian bolsters and broadens our corporate practise area.
“I am excited to join Merton Lawyers. The firm is doing some really interesting work and is going from strength to strength.”
An exciting opportunity awaits. Given the growth of the Merton Lawyers Corporate team, we are looking for a 1 – 3 year PAE lawyer to join our Melbourne office and become a long-term team member.
In the spotlight*
First up, Oliver Keogh.
ML: Let’s start easy, what’s your position & role?
OK: Senior Associate, solicitor of the firm.
ML: What does a typical workday look like for you?
OK: Lots of emails and posting sporadic (but delicious) recipes on our Microsoft Teams chat. Between this, I also regularly appear in Court and/or VCAT.
ML: What do you find the most rewarding working at Merton?
OK: My colleagues, of course!
ML: Are there any key career moments or milestones that have stuck with you?
OK: My admission day ceremony is a milestone I will always remember. I was lucky enough for my ceremony to occur at the Supreme Court – which unfortunately hasn’t been able to happen over the past couple of years due to COVID. Here’s hoping it can return to normal soon, because it’s a really great day.
Aside from that, I would also say that my first time instructing in Court is a career moment that will always stick with me.
ML: Do you have any current recommendations?
OK: Plenty! With the AFL season done and dusted (for some earlier than others – tragic Essendon supporter here) the list is becoming longer and longer, but most recently I have been getting around Morning Wars on Apple TV+ and Vigil on Binge. There seems to be a lot of hype around Squid Games on Netflix, so I guess that’s next.
ML: Someone worth following?
OK: I like the following pages on Instagram – @thedailyaus (bite size snippets of daily news), @theaussiecorporate (very funny meme page that also gives great insight into Australian corporate industry), and @auslawgrad (similar page to theaussiecorporate, but legal industry specific). Can’t go past the Shameless Podcast either of course.
ML: What’s your favourite fruit?
OK: I will counter your question with a statement: banana does not belong in a smoothie. Ever.
ML: What is the best holiday/trip that you’ve taken, where was it ?
OK: Russia for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
ML: Dinner date, 3 people, who would you take?
OK: Obama (where are the UFOs!), Adele (songbird of our generation) and James Hird (duh).
ML: Have you ever met a celebrity? Who and where?
OK: I live with one!
ML: What would you request for dinner if it were your last meal?
OK: Not to blow my own horn, but I can’t look past my signature slow cooked lamb shoulder ragu. Apart from that, the pasta from Tipo 00 in Little Bourke Street is sublime and ranks a close second.
