Selwyn Black

Selwyn Black is one of Australia’s most experienced commercial law partners. He has significant business acumen, enabling him to work together with clients to achieve practical solutions.

Selwyn listens carefully to clients to get the best understanding of their business, industry and goals. This enables him to help clients succeed.

Selwyn has particular expertise in the establishment, sale and/or purchase and restructuring of companies, trusts and businesses. He has worked in the pharmaceutical, food, media, IT, engineering and transport industries.

Selwyn is also a determined advocate and strategist in any dispute including business, compliance and estate disputes.

He has also provided legal advice to a range of property developers and investors and has undertaken an extensive range of projects involving hotels, shopping centres, industrial sites and offices.

Selwyn closely understands the needs of not-for-profit organisations. He acts for an industry association, and has carried out innovative restructures, managed acquisitions, outsourcing and other complex arrangements. He also assists with fiduciary, disciplinary, compliance and outsourcing issues.

Selwyn is on the board of St Vincent’s Curran Foundation, and carries out significant pro bono work for charities and a sports club.

“It is not just about the law. We add real value through industry knowledge and strategic insights. We pride ourselves on finding lateral solutions to difficult problems.”

Key Professional Achievements

• Selwyn is a graduate of the University of New South Wales having completed a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting and Financial Management), and a Bachelor of Laws degree. He also holds a Master of Laws degree from the University of Sydney, majoring in commercial and administrative law.
• He is, along with Peter Carroll, a co-editor for Butterworths of the AEFP Chapter on trust law precedents.
• He currently sits on the Business Law Advisory Committee of the New South Wales Law Society’s Specialist Accreditation Board.
• He is also a co-editor of the Trusts and Settlements Chapter for Court Forms Precedents and Pleadings NSW for Lexis Nexis.
• He has been a speaker at many conferences including in relation to transaction due diligence, and compliance issues for unions. He has also acted as an expert witness and as an expert appointed to determine disputes. He often receives referrals from other lawyers.
• Selwyn is immediate past Chairperson of the executive committee of the Asia Pacific Group for Primerus, a global network of firms of which Carroll & O’Dea is a proud member.
• Selwyn is an Accredited Specialist in Business Law by the NSW Law Society.

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