Robert Nicholls
Robert Nicholls – Legal Director, Principal Consultant & Founder
MBA (With Distinction), LL.B (Hons), Grad Dip Leg Prac,
Grad Dip CSP, FCIS, GAICD
Armed with professional qualifications that denote his calibre, Rob Nicholls has more than 22 years’ experience in the provision of legal advice and the conduct of complex litigation.
Originally from Sydney, Rob ventured north to the Gold Coast to perform a business consulting engagement, was captivated by the myriad lifestyle benefits of south-east Queensland, its energetic and dynamic population and the enormous growth potential of the region, and eventually settled here.
He has a diverse range of legal knowledge in a variety of practice areas including business and commercial law, international trade law, corporate law and regulatory compliance, property law, criminal law, litigation and dispute resolution, employment law, franchising, mergers and acquisitions and finance.
He has been engaged as a police prosecutor in the New South Wales Police Force, solicitor in private practice, as in-house counsel for publicly listed entities and worked as a senior executive lawyer for the Australian Securities & Investments Commission.
But the breadth of his professional experience extends beyond legal practice. Rob has substantial experience as a chartered corporate secretary fulfilling the role of Group Company Secretary for several ASX listed entities. He has a strong track record of compliance and stakeholder management and extensive capability in establishing and implementing effective corporate governance frameworks.
In a commercial setting, he has considerable expertise in the management and oversight of businesses across a wide variety of industry sectors including consumer goods, property, investment, wholesale importation and distribution, mining, manufacturing, professional services, and start up technology ventures in both senior executive and non-executives roles as well as director and chief executive officer level appointments in ASX listed and unlisted private entities.
Solutions oriented, Rob is a rare breed of lawyer whose focus is results, rather than fees. Rob says his main strengths are “an ability to relate to all types of people” as well as “a knack for identifying the real issues and for implementing practical solutions while addressing technical considerations”.
Rob was inspired to establish Prestige because of what he perceived as “a disconnect between business client needs and the service offered by lawyers”.
“This was based on my own experiences while in senior executive roles in commerce. I wanted our firm to be an agent of change, evolving the role and perception of lawyers to business by promoting open communication with clients about fees and value and a renewed focus on listening to clients. I wanted to remove the ‘US and THEM’ approach and replace it with what I call ‘relationship based lawyering’.
“This concept is premised on the idea that a good human relationship underpinned by a mutual and open understanding of needs, expectations, capabilities and requirements promotes better long-term value for all concerned. We continually work with clients to gain a detailed understanding of their commercial and other drivers and adopt a holistic approach to providing value from our services and relationships.”
Equipped with this vision, Rob harnessed his technical prowess and hands-on experience, and reinforced them with the trait that attracts clients and generates word-of-mouth referrals – his capacity to communicate.
“I listen,” he says, “And I also maintain open dialogue with clients so they are always kept fully informed of progress at every stage, even when things are pending, just to keep them updated.”
As Rob explains: “Lawyers can often tell clients what they think they want to hear, not what the client needs to hear for dealing with their particular issues practically and efficiently. This is why my first questions to clients are always ‘What are you expecting we can do for you in this matter?’ then ‘What is it that you would like to happen once we do this?’
“This in my view is vastly different from the standard approach consisting of ‘these are your rights and this is how we will address them for you’.”
Rob’s ethos is backed up by testimonials from clients who report Rob is adept at translating complex legal concepts in a meaningful and accessible way. “I identify client and legal issues quickly and responding with tailored and practical advice which delivers a sound commercial outcome.”
Feedback from clients includes gratitude for saving “valuable time, money and resources” in the legal process.
- Tony Di Carlo, Chief Executive Officer, Tyremil asserts: “Robert Nicholls offers an extremely high level of legal and commercial experience which has and will continue to benefit us tremendously. He has demonstrated that he is adept at local and international business transactions having partnered with us on these to achieve positives results for our business. The standard of commercial legal drafting offered by this firm and the extremely high level of service provided makes their professional services one of the best value add propositions on offer to people and their businesses.”
- Andy Panes, Director of Education, Paradise First Aid Pty Ltd says: “We have found Prestige Legal & Corporate Services to be very responsive and effective in delivering the information and advice we required. They always meet deadlines and are always happy to follow-up as needed. We have found their service to be dependable, friendly and open. Their attention to detail and willingness to listen to our needs are extremely important to our company.”
Client satisfaction and his own, is a motivating force. “I am driven by the personal interaction with my clients as people and their businesses as much as by practising law,” he says. “Building new client partnerships and personal relationships and continually trying to enhance existing ones for long term mutual benefit and association (professionally and personally) are key to success and satisfaction.”
Work and dedication to community are indivisible. The firm supports 4 ASD Kids in recognition of their work caring for children with autism spectrum disorders, and Rob is keen to further support the Gold Coast community.
A veteran of over two decades of the legal circuit, Rob is as passionate and idealistic as ever.
“I’d like to be remembered for having the conviction to stand-up for what I believe in; for always acting in the best interests of friends, family and clients; for giving 100% always and for never giving up in any situation.”
Qualifications …
- Master of Business Administration (With Distinction)
- Bachelor of Laws (Honours)
- Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice
- Graduate Diploma in Company Secretarial Practice
- Graduate Diploma Australian Institute of Company Directors
- Solicitor of the Supreme Court of New South Wales
- Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Queensland
- Legal Practitioner of the High Court of Australia
- Fellow of Chartered Secretaries Australia
Professional and Personal Accolades/Awards …
- Australian Credit Union Archives Prize (CSU) for the graduating MBA student with the most outstanding academic achievement in the year of graduation
- Finalist in the prestigious Superintendent J H Milne Public Speaking Competition for Police Prosecutors (NSW)
- Rotary Youth Exchange Student to Denmark (1988) – fluent in Danish language
- Caltex Award for Academic and Sporting Excellence (1987)
- Represented St Geroge Area in AFL (1980 to 1985)
- Represented NSW in Squash 1985
- Captained Sydney Metropolitan East Inter-School Squash Team to Regional Championship – Finalists (1986) and Winners (1987)
