A NSW Government website

NSW Government
Rural Assistance Authority

John McGruther

Contact details:

Name:John McGruther
Phone:(02) 8068 9769
Mobile:0427 130 648
Email:mcgrutherlaw@ozemail.com.au
Mediations as mediator:4,000+
Mediations as advisor:80+
Mediations as co-mediator:15
Hourly fee:$350 + GST
Daily fee:$2,100 + GST (first 6 hours)
Fees are negotiable:Yes

Areas of experience:

  • Accountancy
  • Administrative
  • Banking
  • Commercial
  • Contracts
  • Corporate
  • Environment
  • Finance
  • Property
  • Resources
  • Securities
  • Sport
  • Taxation
  • Tort
  • Trade practices

Affinity with rural industries:

  • Farm debt mediator since inception 1994 – over 90% success rate (settlement in average approx. 4-5 hours)
  • Over 4,000 Mediations since 1982 (approx. 80% success rate)
  • On specialist mediation panels for produce and grocery industry NSW, Horticulture Code NSW and producer-farmer-wholesale markets-supplier disputes
  • Accredited Business Law Specialist – Law Society NSW – over 25 years
  • Accredited mediation experience of over 25 years in financial, banking and loan sectors across Australia/internationally
  • Close affiliation with rural areas, including some residential background, in NSW and QLD
  • Mediated and advised in disputes (and in contract, finance and other arrangements) in numerous matters in NSW and throughout Australia since 1976 across the following sectors:
    • Crop production, not exclusively wheat, cotton, fruit grains/other
    • Most farming and grazier sectors, not exclusively cattle, sheep/other stock/livestock
    • Dairy industry (extensive work), including with reference to milk production/derivative dairy product supplies/distribution/retail arrangements.
    • Food and beverage industries generally (extensive specialties experience)
    • Farm and stock transport/refrigerated transport/farm equipment supply/fertiliser/ingredient/chemical supply matters (extensive)
    • Close association and legal and mediation dispute work with Departments of Primary Industries (NSW & QLD) and related cooperatives (including primary production sector)
    • Inter-related banking, financial, loan/related contractual arrangements and facilities (associated with above)
    • Mining and extractive industries (including where overlapping into farming sector)
    • Water and other utility supplier arrangements/disputations/associations
    • Medical, veterinary and dental industries (and on several committees in this sector for many years)
    • Breeding, farm animals/Livestock branding and registrations – all related matters
  • Several years’ charity work with the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) and continuing – since 1994 Code of Conduct
  • Commissioner – NSW Country Cricket (with Cricket NSW) – since 1998
  • Longstanding active Panellist for many government / other mediator bodies – since 1988 including Retail Tenancy Dispute Unit NSW, Franchise Code of Conduct, Land and Environment Court NSW, Workers Compensation Commission NSW, NSW & QLD Law Societies, Victorian Law Institute, Resolution Institute
  • Master in Mediation (MATA, Italy 2010 & 2016, UK 2011 & 2013)
  • On Finance Committee of Australia Dental Research Foundation, amongst many other charitable involvements
  • On Arbitration Panel for Land Access disputes constituted under the Mining Act 1992 and the Petroleum (Onshore) Act 1991