Michael Bishop is a Partner at Pointon Partners and advises clients across employment law, commercial law, mergers and acquisitions and private client matters, including estate planning and succession. He has been with the firm since 1997 and was appointed Partner in 2005.

Michael is a highly experienced commercial adviser to business owners, boards, senior executives and investors, and is known for delivering clear, pragmatic and commercially focused advice on both contentious and transactional matters. He leads the firm’s Employment Law practice and is the co‑leader of the M&A practice, acting on complex domestic and cross‑border transactions.

Employment Law & Workplace Relations

Michael advises employers across all aspects of employment and workplace relations law, with a focus on risk management, compliance and strategic decision‑making. He works closely with boards and management teams on senior executive employment, terminations, restraints, workplace investigations, restructures and enterprise‑wide employment strategies. His approach is practical and commercially driven, aimed at resolving issues efficiently while protecting organisational objectives and reputation.

Corporate, M&A & Commercial Law

 Michael has extensive experience advising on mergers and acquisitions, capital raisings, IPOs and corporate restructures, acting for private companies, founders, listed entities and investors. He is regularly retained to manage transactions from initial strategy through to completion, including due diligence, negotiation of transaction documents, regulatory compliance and post‑completion integration.

He also advises on a broad range of commercial matters, including shareholder arrangements, joint ventures, commercial contracts, leasing and corporate governance.

Michael has acted for some of Australia’s leading golf course design and construction firms.  He has extensive experience in preparing, reviewing and negotiating golf course design and construction agreements.

Wills, Estates & Succession Planning

In addition to his corporate practice, Michael advises individuals and families on estate planning, succession and asset protection, regularly assisting business owners with the orderly transition of wealth and control. His combined corporate and private client experience allows him to deliver integrated advice that aligns personal planning with business structures.

• Employment Law & Workplace Relations
• Mergers & Acquisitions
• Capital Raisings & IPOs
• Commercial & Corporations Law
• Shareholder & Joint Venture Agreements
• Executive Employment & Terminations
• Wills, Estates & Succession Planning
• Sports Law including extensive experience in acting for some of Australia’s leading golf course design and construction firms;
• Not‑for‑Profit & Charity Establishment

Michael has acted on numerous high‑profile transactions, including:

• Sale of GTA Consultants to NYSE‑listed Stantec Ltd (2021)
• Acquisitions by Tesserent Ltd (ASX: TNT) of Pure Security (2021) and Nth Consulting (2020)
• Sale of First Click Consulting Pty Ltd to Publicis Groupe (2016)
• Sale of Blue Reef Pty Ltd to ASX‑listed Tesserent Ltd (2016)
• Sale of Petrospection Pty Ltd to US‑based Amspec LLC (2016)
• Sale of major subsidiaries of Flinders Trustees Ltd (2013)
• Fortis Mining IPO and ASX listing (2010)
• Takeovers and Takeovers Panel proceedings for Bell IXL Investments Ltd (2009–2010)

Professional & Community Involvement

Michael is actively involved in charitable and community organisations and currently serves as:

• Secretary of the Eyes for Africa Charitable Foundation
• Director of the Pat Cronin Foundation
• Chairman, National Golf Club Charitable Foundation

Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Laws (Hons)
• Bachelor of Commerce (Hons)
• University of Melbourne

Memberships:

• Law Institute of Victoria
• Workplace Relations Committee, Law Institute of Victoria

“Michael Bishop has acted for myself and my associated entities on around ten M&A transactions over the past two decades with transaction values ranging from $1 million to $50 million. Recently he acted for Tesserent Ltd on its acquisition of various business units from another ASX listed entity.

 The longevity of my relationship with Michael Bishop and the team at Pointon Partners is testimony to the consistently exceptional service I have received. I trust them to look after my interests and to get the deal done. I have no hesitation in recommending Michael Bishop and his firm for any M&A requirements.”

Robert Smyth

“By way of background, GTA Consultants is a 150-person Australian-based transport engineering and planning consultancy.

For over a decade, Pointon Partners provided ongoing legal counsel on a wide range of corporate matters, including shareholder agreements, employment law, project contract negotiations, (internal) share transactions and broad general legal input.

In more recent times, Pointon Partners played a critical role in assisting the firm in its full sale to a publicly-listed entity, and provided all necessary legal services including Share Purchase Deed preparation and negotiation, disclosure documentation, pre-acquisition corporate restructure and all associated Board and Executive Management support.”

During this time, Pointon Partners always acted with exceptional professionalism, providing immediate, clear and concise advice ensuring that the interest of the Board and its Shareholders were always protected.

I thank Pointon Partners for their service and I have no hesitation in recommending them to provide legal advice and support in M&A transactions.

Michael Durkin, Managing Director, GTA Consultants