Meet Chris Lillie

Chris is a Special Counsel at Bennett & Philp Lawyers and a member of our Business Advisory team.

As an experienced business lawyer, Chris advises a range of clients, from small businesses to national and international corporations in the areas of contract law and commercial transactions.

Chris’s areas of expertise include:

• Business sales and purchases;
• Start-ups and structuring advice including shareholder and buy-sell agreements;
• Commercial and retail leasing;
• General contract advice, including drafting terms and conditions, supply agreements and consultancy agreements; and
• Franchising advice.

Prior to Bennett & Philp, Chris was principal solicitor and Founder of boutique Spring Hill law firm, Chilli Law, which he established in 2010.

Chris brings with him a background in commercial and property matters gained both in private practice and as in-house counsel for a Brisbane property development group. He has extensive experience of a wide range of commercial and property matters, including business and share sales, buy/sell agreements, joint ventures, franchising, corporate capital raising, commercial property and retail and commercial leasing.

Chris has acted for clients across a broad range of industries, from recruitment to hospitality, and from professional services to industry.

Chris acted on the simultaneous purchase of 31 veterinary practices for the ASX listing of Greencross Limited and the project leasing of large scale retail shopping centre redevelopments in Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia. He has also presented seminars to regional branches of the Institute of Chartered Practising Accountants on asset protection and to the accountant members of the Legal Resource Club on property development strategies.

Chris’ extensive commercial and property knowledge combines well with a background in business and tax structuring to deliver value to clients at all stages of the life cycle of a business.

In 2019, Chris joined Bennett & Philp Lawyers upon the merger of Bennett & Philp and Chilli Law bringing his extensive commercial experience and clientele following to the firm.