About

Having successfully supported the country’s farming business for over 175 years, Elders is a leading agribusiness and an iconic Australian brand. The company provides various services to primary producers from finance, banking, and real estate services to wool, grain and livestock trading. Since 2010, Peter Hastings has been Elders’ general counsel and company secretary. He was the company’s group solicitor from 2003 until 2010 and so has an advanced understanding of Elders and its business. In handling legal matters affecting the company and its operations, Hastings is supported by legal and compliance officers Rhys French and Karena Milios who both left private practice roles in 2016 to take their first in-house legal positions. In 2017, the legal function has had a hand in a number of transactions such as the acquisition of New South Wales horticultural service provider and inputs retailer, Ace Ohlsson, in a move that sees Elders continue to grow its horticultural footprint and the acquisition of Southern Districts Estate Agency (SDEA) as part of Elders’ aggressive growth plans for its real estate business. Other recent important developments the legal function has been involved in include the partnership created with Waroona Home Hardware, which will provide local producers with increased agronomic support and the opening of beef trade with China under a new health protocol agreement for feeder and slaughter cattle.