Elizabeth Lathlean

Biography

Elizabeth is a Special Counsel in our Charities and Social Sector practice.

She has significant experience providing legal advice and assistance to charities, not-for-profits and social sector organisations. She advises on charity and not-for-profit formation, registration, regulation and compliance, mergers and acquisitions, restructuring transactions and corporate governance.

Elizabeth’s unique blend of corporate law experience, combined with her specialist focus in charity and not-for-profit law, means she is well placed to give holistic and strategic advice to those operating within the sector. This includes registered charities, industry and professional associations, schools, faith based organisations, ancillary funds, corporate foundations and those undertaking philanthropic activities.

Elizabeth has a Master of Laws from the University of Sydney and a Bachelor of Laws / Bachelor of Communication and Media Studies (Journalism) from the University of Wollongong. She is admitted as a solicitor of the New South Wales Supreme Court and the High Court of Australia and as a solicitor in England and Wales (non-practising).

Elizabeth is a volunteer director of CBM Australia, a registered charity and international development organisation.

Experience

Elizabeth’s experience includes advising:

  • AXA IM on its strategic partnership with Housing Australia and community housing provider St George Community Housing to develop affordable housing, with a project in Westmead, NSW being the first under a broader $300 million financing commitment from Housing Australia to support the partnership in delivering multiple projects at scale via a replicable financing model.

  • The Burnside War Memorial Hospital on all charity law matters related to its acquisition of Sportsmed SA Hospitals Pty Ltd, including its conversion from a for profit entity to a charity registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC).

  • Australian Institute of Company Directors on a complete governance review and refresh, including updating its constitution, board charter, membership framework and related documents.

  • Snow Medical Research Foundation on its establishment as a company limited by guarantee, registration as a charity with the ACNC and endorsement as a deductible gift recipient (DGR).

  • Australian Banking Association on its conversion of entity type from an incorporated association to a company limited by guarantee, including a governance review and constitutional rewrite.

  • City West Housing on complex governance and structuring matters, including regarding members powers, retention of charity registration, retention of community housing provider registration, stamp duty exemption and related matters

  • Sydney Breast Cancer Foundation on its spin out from Chris O’Brien Lifehouse into a newly established separate legal entity and registered charity, including assistance with all aspects of the transfer, as well as incorporation of the new company limited by guarantee, its registration with the ACNC and DGR endorsement.

  • Little Company of Mary Healthcare on its purchase of all the shares in publicly listed Japara Healthcare for approximately $380 million through a scheme of arrangement, before then flipping all 83 of the Japara entities into charities to fit Little Company of Mary Healthcare’s group structure and charity registrations. This was the first time a registered charity has been involved in a take-private transaction in Australia.

  • For Purpose Investment Partners on transaction structuring, charity law compliance and duty exemptions for various strategic acquisitions.

  • SydWest Multicultural Services on its acquisition of Participate Australia by way of membership transfer and governance restructure.

  • Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation, Compassion Australia, Boost Juice and others on charitable fundraising laws, licensing and regulation, including liaising with relevant state regulators and advising on structuring of charitable fundraising campaigns.

  • Various confidential clients on compliance reviews regarding existing ACNC charity registrations and associated Commonwealth charity tax concessions, including DGR endorsement.

Awards and Recognition

  • Chambers Asia-Pacific 2025

    Ranked Associate to Watch for Charities

  • Best Lawyers 2025

    Corporate Law

  • NSW Women Lawyers Achievement Awards 2015

    Elizabeth was a finalist for the Up and Coming Woman Lawyer of the Year award

  • Lawyers Weekly 30 Under 30 Awards 2014

    Elizabeth won the inaugural Pro Bono Award