Corporate Advisory

Succeeding in Queensland’s complex corporate environment requires a strong grasp of commercial law with a proven aptitude for strategy.

The Keir Steele Waldon Lawyers Corporate Advisory team can be a trusted partner to your board or leadership group. Our legal and commercial expertise will position your company to respond to opportunities to grow your competitive advantage or deliver value for your shareholders.

Our understanding of the key issues that matter to Queensland industry, from project managing complex corporate ventures to leading your commercial transactions, provides valuable strategic insight.

We have extensive experience providing forthright, action-oriented advice to private and public companies, multinationals, investors and equity funds, financial institutions and governments throughout Queensland.

  • Business Structuring
  • Financing and Securities

We help clients establish effective and flexible business structures to optimize operations, minimize risk, and position for future growth. Our team provides guidance on entity selection, governance arrangements, and strategic reorganisation.

We advise on all aspects of securities law, including compliance with regulatory frameworks, capital raising, and navigating disclosure requirements. Our experience extends to structuring and documenting securities offerings, protecting the interests of issuers and investors alike.

  • Acquisition and Sale of Private Companies
  • Corporate Governance and Compliance

Our expertise covers every phase of buying or selling private companies, from due diligence and structuring to negotiation and documentation. We ensure seamless transactions that align with our clients’ strategic objectives and protect their interests.

We support businesses in upholding robust governance frameworks and providing regulation compliance advice. Our proactive approach helps mitigate risk and enhances long-term stability.

  • Complex Commercial Contracts
  • Business Succession Planning

We draft, review, and negotiate intricate commercial agreements that drive our clients’ business ventures. Our experience spans various sectors, ensuring contracts are strategically sound and commercially beneficial.

We create comprehensive succession plans that safeguard business continuity and wealth for future generations. Our approach balances legal, tax, and personal considerations to achieve a smooth transition.

Our Corporate Advisory Team

Michael Keir

Principal

Jayson Waldon

Principal

Stephen Willis

Senior Associate

Matthew Keating

Senior Associate

MICHAEL KEIR

Mick is renowned in North Queensland for being a leading solicitor when it comes to commercial transactions and complex legal issues, especially where ‘left field’ thinking is required.  

With 25 years of experience, he has a knack for seeing problems from a different perspective in order to find innovative solutions that are tailored to his client’s individual goals.

His practical, straight-shooting approach in the areas of commercial, corporate, mergers and acquisitions, rural law and property development, is refreshing for clients who want to see solid, tangible outcomes.

Mick knows that providing advice to clients in these areas of business requires not only an understanding of the relevant law, but also a healthy appreciation of the commercial realities involved in each particular transaction.

Mick provides advice to small, medium and large agribusiness operators, local governments, government owned corporations, corporate and family businesses across a diverse range of industries. He has quality experience in the beef, cane, aquaculture, aviation, energy, solar, marine, mining, quarry, health, probity, property development and construction industries and sits on several private advisory boards in that regard. Mick is recommended by Doyles as a Leading Agribusiness Lawyer – Queensland, and is also a director of Mercy Community Services NQ.

When the weather’s good, Mick likes to hitch his boat to the back of his 4WD and set out with his four teenage sons Connor, Harri, Darcy and Sam, exploring the hidden gems of North Queensland.

JAYSON WALDON

Jayson has an approachable and genuine style coupled with an ability to take complex legal issues and break them down for clients, so they can gain a full understanding of their matter.  

Jayson is known for delivering practical clear advice to clients across regional Queensland. Having grown up in Ingham, Jayson has a strong connection with rural Queensland and a better understanding than most about what makes regional communities tick.

Jayson provides advice to private clients, family businesses, small to medium enterprise and rural enterprise on a range of corporate and commercial matters including all aspects of property law, estate and succession planning, elder law and rural law.

Jayson has an approachable and genuine style coupled with an ability to take complex legal issues and break them down for clients, so they can gain a full understanding of their matter.

Jayson is passionate about helping local businesses and individuals succeed, which is why he has built such a loyal client following and professional network over the past 20 years.

“Clients and community have always underpinned my approach to business. Throughout my career I’ve received unwavering support from the Hinchinbrook and greater North Queensland community, which is why it is important for me to do my utmost to return the favour and achieve positive outcomes for my clients and give back to the community.”

When he’s not at work you will likely find Jayson running one of his four boys to training or a sporting event on the weekend.

MATTHEW KEATING

Finding the right commercial lawyer can be tricky. Matthew has the proven experience and right attitude to guide you through your property and transaction matters.
Matt is passionate about achieving the best outcome, which is why he has a loyal following of clients.

“I build strong relationships with the people I work with and I really get to know their businesses. My clients know they can trust me to handle their matters whether it’s a higher-level property acquisition and sale, or a standard conveyance.”

Matt’s been in property law for over 12 years, and currently supervises the conveyancing practice at Keir Steele Waldon Lawyers. He works on a day to day basis with individual, commercial and retail clients on property acquisitions and sales, and has developed a skillset and passion for agri-business, having worked on a number of significant rural sales and property acquisitions in North Queensland.

Matt’s job requires an expert level of multi-tasking. One of his proudest career achievements was recently settling three large commercial and business transactions, including sale of an aquaculture operation, purchase of a pharmacy and acquisition of a transport company, in three days. The trifecta was achievable through relentless work ethic and countless iced lattes.

When he’s not on the tools at Keir Steele Waldon, Matt enjoys his charity work as a board member of the Tropical Brain and Mind Foundation, and is proud of the fact that the board successfully championed for Townsville to be named as Australia’s first Mentally Healthy City.