Current Practice

Brian Norris retired as a director of Greenwoods & Freehills Pty Limited as of 31 December 2001, but remains as a consultant to the firm.

His accounting qualification was gained while working full-time with one of the major international accounting firms. Shortly after qualifying for membership of the Institute in 1957, Brian became totally involved in advising on revenue laws and related matters. He became a partner of the predecessor firm of Greenwoods & Freehills in 1960 and in due course became senior partner.

He became a director of Greenwoods & Freehills in 1985 upon the creation of that firm.

Industry Experience

His experience extends across a wide range of industries but in particular, has comprised property development and investment, construction, engineering, international and domestic funds management, life assurance, banking and finance.

From the late 1960s he has assisted major clients with their international expansion into Europe, USA and Asia. In the 1970s he spent considerable time overseas advising not only on taxation matters but on a wide range of commercial issues, including fund raising and management activities. Brian is a director of a number of domestic and international companies.

Professional Background

He holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Sydney and is a Fellow of The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia.

Brian has been chairman of many taxation committees with The Institute of Chartered Accountants and the Taxation Institute of Australia. He has been an author and presenter of papers at numerous international and domestic congresses; and in particular gave the taxation lecture at the Accountants' Centenary Congress.

For many years he assisted in the editing of "Income Tax Law & Practice (Commonwealth)" for the Law Book Company of Australasia, the copyright in which was sold by that company to CCH and formed the basis of the present "Federal Tax Reporter".