Simon Tsapepas

Simon is an accomplished commercial solicitor with extensive experience appearing in both State and Federal jurisdictions. Known for his pragmatic and strategic approach, Simon brings a commercially astute perspective to each matter he undertakes, ensuring clients receive effective and practical legal solutions. Simon has a broad practice background, having acted for a diverse range of clients including major banks, manufacturers, individual proprietors, small to medium enterprises, and ASX-listed corporations. His legal experience encompasses various areas including corporate advisory work, business succession planning, and partnership arrangements. He regularly advises on banking and finance matters with a focus on lending transactions and the enforcement of securities. His expertise extends to emerging sectors such as blockchain and cryptocurrency, where he provides guidance on the regulatory and commercial aspects of Web3 ventures. Simon also handles shareholder disputes, including oppression remedies and insider trading issues under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth). Additionally, he advises on personal and corporate insolvency and reconstruction matters. Simon has considerable experience in domestic and commercial building and construction disputes, addressing claims under the Domestic Building Contracts Act 1995 and the Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 2002. A significant part of Simon’s practice involves proceeds of crime and confiscation law litigation. He is an active member of the Confiscation and Proceeds of Crime List Users’ Group for the Supreme Court and County Court of Victoria and regularly represents clients in proceedings under the Commonwealth and Victorian confiscation regimes. Notable outcomes in proceeds of crime matters include negotiating substantial settlements that markedly improved initial offers, managing complex Supreme Court proceedings to avoid multimillion-dollar liabilities, and achieving rare full exclusions of restrained assets during ongoing criminal proceedings. In the technology and Web3 space, Simon has played a central role in advising start-ups expanding internationally, providing strategic advice on corporate structuring, fundraising rounds, corporate governance, secretarial services, and cross-border partnership transactions. His recent work in the financing area includes advising on loan settlements valued between $500 million and $600 million, involving various forms of real estate financing such as mezzanine and construction finance. Simon has supported the structuring and settlement of syndications and development financings with total realisations exceeding $1 billion. He has also assisted funds management groups with substantial loan facilities and the establishment of debt funds, as well as guiding clients through major property acquisitions and commercial development projects. Simon's nuanced understanding of the intersection between legal frameworks and commercial objectives enables him to deliver solutions that advance his clients’ interests effectively across a wide spectrum of complex matters.