Neda Whelan

Neda Whelan, as the Principal Lawyer at Whelan Lawyers, is a respected franchise lawyer based in Melbourne, known for her strategic advice and customised solutions tailored to the needs of franchisees and business owners. Her robust foundation in franchise and commercial law is built through years of practical application, ensuring her clients' interests are expertly preserved with clear guidance and effective legal strategies. Neda's notable career is distinguished by her unique perspective, drawing from extensive experience in both private practice and in-house legal roles within prominent national franchise networks. Prior to establishing Whelan Lawyers, she held significant positions at Clark Rubber, Jim's Group, and Cummins South Pacific. These roles provided her with vital insights into the intricate legal challenges encountered by franchisors, retailers, and multi-location enterprises. Her work with SMEs across a range of industries, including hospitality, manufacturing, and home services, has granted her an inside view of the impact of legal choices on business operations. Neda's academic credentials include a Master of Laws, which enhances her practical expertise with advanced legal theory. Her approach, described as second-order thinking, involves understanding the broader commercial context and the repercussions of legal decisions, fostering immediate and sustainable long-term outcomes for her clients. Her strategic insight and practical mindset are highly valued by those seeking exceptional legal counsel that transcends mere compliance and aligns with their business objectives. Her extensive legal experience is characterised by a focus on franchising law, including franchise agreements, compliance, and franchisee disputes, commercial law, business structuring, intellectual property, leasing, business sales and acquisitions, and serving as outsourced general counsel. Clients who work with Neda find a trusted advisor who appreciates the complexities of business growth and development, ensuring legal strategies resonate with real-world applications. Through her interim role as Practice Director at DC Strategy Lawyers and her past general counsel roles, Neda has consistently demonstrated her capacity for leadership in diverse business environments. Her educational background includes a Bachelor of Law from Deakin University and an LLB from the University of Cape Town, complementing her Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice from The College of Law Australia. With a focus on critical areas such as corporate governance and legal writing, Neda continues to bring a wealth of knowledge and insight to her practice, effectively guiding business owners and leadership teams across Australia.