Current practice
John heads the Freehills Charity Law practice. This practice specialises in providing advice, constituent documents, and other legal services to charities and to individuals, corporates and governments establishing charities.
Experience
The common law concepts and statutory laws affecting charities are complex and evolving, and operate in complex taxation and other regulatory frameworks. John’s specialised and extensive experience enables him to work effectively in this area.
John is familiar with Australian Taxation Office views and its administrative processes in charity tax issues.
John also has significant involvement with tax and charity law policy issues with governments.
Professional background
John Emerson is recognised Australia wide as an expert in the tax laws applicable to charities. He joined the firm in 1971 and was admitted to partnership in 1976.
John has been appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) ‘for services to law and to the community, particularly through the provision of advice to charities and not-for-profit organisations and the development of public administration reform to encourage philanthropy in Australia’.
He is the Melbourne office Pro Bono Partner and is a member of the Board of Taxation and of a number of legal and public sector committees active in the charity tax and pro bono areas.
