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Our experts
Below are our senior staff members in each region. They are available to assist with your business needs and are ably supported by a range of specialist staff, consultants and associates.
Grant Weyer – Brisbane Australia
Chairman
After completing his legal articles with a prominent South African law firm, Grant made an early transition to the corporate finance industry. Over nearly two decades he has acquired international experience at a senior executive level in M&A, venture capital, corporate and business advisory services. Grant has experience working with both government organizations and companies in China and India and is well positioned to assist with planning strategies for these markets. He has also worked extensively in Australia, Europe, US and Southern Africa negotiating deals at all levels from start-ups through to Fortune 500 companies and government bodies such as the US Department of Agriculture. As an entrepreneur he has been involved in the establishment of two successful ICT companies, a veterinary biosciences company and co-founded a successful boutique corporate finance house. He remains an investment principal of Archangel Capital where he evaluates investments in emerging technologies, and is currently the CEO of VE Biosciences.
Grant's undergraduate qualifications major in Law, and postgraduate qualifications include an MBA from the University of London. Grant immigrated to Australia in 2005 and has since helped establish the Australian and US business operations of a number of companies. He is a member of the Australian Venture Capital Association, Ausbiotech and sits on the advisory panel of the Queensland Government technology incubator, iLab.
Clarke Smith – Durban, South Africa
Managing Director and Head of Southern African Operations
Clarke is an experienced attorney, before joining Pacific Counsel as the Head of Southern African operations he spent many years as a partner of Woodhead, Bigby & Irving Inc. a leading South African law firm. Founded in 1922 Woodhead, Bigby & Irving counts many of South Africa’s major banks and blue chip companies as long standing clients. As head of the Litigation Department for over 10 years, Clarke managed the client relationships with numerous major banks, insurance houses and industrial companies. As an MSI member, he still has access to 250 law firms and accounting practices in 100 countries. As an experienced commercial lawyer, Clarke has an extensive knowledge of South African foreign exchange regulations and policy and can advise clients on how to lawfully invest capital outside of South Africa. He also assists international companies with structuring their market entry to ensure exchange controls do not restrict the free flow of capital. Clarke has a wealth of experience structuring a wide variety of commercial transactions including Mergers and Acquisitions. He will shortly also be admitted as a solicitor in Australia, and holds BA and LLB degrees from the University of Natal. He is a Citing Commissioner for SA Rugby (Pty) Limited, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Nambiti Private Game Reserve, a member of the Board of Governors of St Mary’s Diocesan School for Girls and a Trustee of the Matshitsholo Trust.
David Brown – San Francisco, USA
Head of North American Operations
David is a native New Yorker with a diverse range of US and international market expertise. During his years in the Wall Street financial district he led the marketing, advertising and public relations of a technology consulting firm focused on the financial services industry. David also has extensive management consulting and market entry experience having worked for Ernst & Young and developed the firm’s first Asia Pacific Marketing plans for the Asia Pacific Global Consulting practice. He also worked with high value Dun and Bradstreet clients helping them maximize their CRM marketing and sales strategies.
David currently spearheads the Pacific Counsel presence in the US based out of San Francisco. Over four years with the Victorian Government of Australia he created and directed the Access America (AA) Program. This highly successful export development program assisted more than 200 companies to deliver over $150 million of new export business and investment deals. The AA Program served as the export model for new international programs such as Access Hong Kong, Access China, and Access India.
David Brown’s MBA is in International Business and Marketing. He also holds a B.A. in History, as well as an A.S. David serves on the Board of Directors of the Australian American Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the ANZA Technology Network, Advance, California Academy of Sciences, de Young Museum and San Francisco Zoo.
David currently spearheads the Pacific Counsel presence in the US based out of San Francisco. Over four years with the Victorian Government of Australia he created and directed the Access America (AA) Program. This highly successful export development program assisted more than 200 companies to deliver over $150 million of new export business and investment deals. The AA Program served as the export model for new international programs such as Access Hong Kong, Access China, and Access India.
David Brown’s MBA is in International Business and Marketing. He also holds a B.A. in History, as well as an A.S. David serves on the Board of Directors of the Australian American Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the ANZA Technology Network, Advance, California Academy of Sciences, de Young Museum and San Francisco Zoo.
Eugene Jordan - United Kingdom
Head of European Operations
Eugene has been a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England & Wales since 1978. He has over 30 years of experience managing and negotiating commercial transactions. Eugene spent over 5 years with investment bank HSBC in the global financial centre of London’s square mile, before leaving to become a partner in a leading UK Commercial Law Firm specializing in the field of banking and Corporate Finance. Eugene has extensive experience in venture investing and establishing a market entry path for companies wishing to establish European operations. He is now resident in the UK, but having previously lived in South Africa, he intimately understands the needs and concerns of South African entrepreneurs and businesses. Eugene is a graduate of Oxford University and holds a Master’s degree in Jurisprudence and prestigious Oxford “Blue” for sailing . He also holds English national colours in the sport of sailing .
John Griffiths - Australia
Head of Professional Services
John is a Commerce graduate of the University of Queensland. He is also a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia and Tax Agent and resides in Brisbane. He commenced his career with Arthur Andersen & Co and worked with that firm (and/or their clients) in Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, London and New Zealand. He has practiced as a Chartered Accountant in Sydney, Toowoomba and Brisbane for the past 35 years. His range of clients and interests have been diverse from advising SME's in general business and primary production to assisting individual business migration to Australia. In that role he has travelled extensively in Europe, Japan, the US and South Africa.
John hails from one of Queensland's well known pastoralist families and grew up on the land. Whilst living in regional Queensland, he was heavily involved with the issues relating to economic advancement in regional Australia. John plays a key role in the agribusiness consulting function of Pacific Counsel, and assisting clients in the primary industries is an area he remains passionate about.
During his career, he has developed a wide range of contacts and relationships in government and business circles.
In recent years, he has specialized in commercial and taxation issues relating to South African migration to Australia.