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Andrew Neilson
Commercial legal support to help Aussie tech companies conquer the world.
Professional Background
Andrew Neilson is a seasoned commercial lawyer with over twenty years of hands-on experience in the legal field, showcasing his expertise as a solicitor with one of Australia’s foremost law firms. His distinguished career spans across Asia-Pacific, where he served as in-house counsel for NYSE-listed global IT firms. Furthermore, Neilson has held pivotal roles as general counsel and company secretary for various Australian technology companies, notably those listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) and the London Alternative Investment Market (AIM).
Neilson has carved out his niche in various aspects of commercial law and corporate governance. His specialties include commercialisation strategies, execution of sales and licensing agreements, corporate development through mergers and acquisitions, and joint ventures. His comprehensive legal acumen is reflected in his capabilities in drafting and negotiating commercial contracts with global partners, and he has adeptly handled matters concerning intellectual property and dispute resolution. His company secretarial work emphasizes corporate governance, focusing on compliance with listings on the ASX and London AIM.
One of Neilson's notable skills is in capital raising, where he has contributed significantly to the preparation of prospectuses and investor presentations, as well as conducting thorough due diligence for investor and broker relations. His hands-on approach and strategic insight have made him an invaluable asset to the legal and corporate sectors alike.
Education and Achievements
Andrew Neilson's educational background is equally impressive. He studied law and commerce at the prestigious University of Melbourne, where he graduated with Honours. Additionally, he completed the Diploma in Company Directors Course at the Australian Institute of Company Directors, equipping him with deep insights into effective governance practices and director responsibilities. Neilson also laid the foundation for his early education at Carey Grammar, a reputable institution known for its academic excellence.
His ongoing commitment to professional development is reflected in his memberships. Neilson is a proud member of the Law Institute of Victoria, the Association of Corporate Counsel, and the Governance Institute of Australia. These affiliations highlight his dedication to maintaining the highest standards in his legal practice and corporate governance roles.
Notable Positions
Over the course of his career, Andrew Neilson has held numerous significant positions that demonstrate his leadership attributes and legal expertise. Currently, he serves as the Principal at Elevate Legal, where he provides legal advice and services tailored to commercial operations. His past roles include Company Secretary at Sustainable Australia Fund and Pollinate Energy, where he facilitated corporate governance and compliance essential for non-profit and sustainable enterprises.
Neilson’s diverse experience encompasses general counsel and company secretary roles across various technology firms, including Seeing Machines and Converge International, where he played an integral role in strategic corporate governance and compliance. Additionally, he contributed as a consultant to the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and Meridian Energy Australia, where his insights have been crucial for the development of sustainable energy solutions in Australia.
His tenure as Non-Executive Director at nuCoria and various company secretary roles, including at Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited and the Sustainable Living Foundation, signifies his commitment to sustainability and innovative solutions to environmental challenges.
Achievements
Andrew Neilson’s extensive career is punctuated by numerous achievements that reflect his dedication and contributions to the legal and corporate landscapes. His work in capital raising has facilitated significant investments into companies he has worked with, allowing them to grow and innovate. His experience handling compliance for ASX and London AIM listings has ensured that organizations meet stringent regulatory requirements while navigating the complex landscape of international markets.
With a strong focus on corporate governance, Neilson has championed policies that promote transparency and accountability within organizations, helping to foster trust and reliability in corporate practices. His role in negotiating high-stakes contracts and managing commercial disputes has helped businesses mitigate risks and achieve favorable outcomes in challenging circumstances.
Andrew Neilson exemplifies the integration of legal expertise with strategic business acumen, making him a distinguished figure in the fields of commercial law and corporate governance. His blend of hands-on experience, educational grounding, and dedication to sustainable practices solidifies his reputation as a formidable leader in his domain.
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Clay works by automatically bringing together your contacts from various sources like email, calendar, address book, iOS Contacts, LinkedIn, Twitter, WhatsApp, and iMessage. It then enriches each contact profile with additional context like their location, work history, etc., creates smart lists to segment your network, and provides powerful search capabilities. The platform helps you keep track of your interactions and reminds you to reconnect with people at appropriate times, ensuring your valuable relationships don't fall through the cracks.
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Clay offers many advantages over other personal CRMs. Unlike business-oriented CRMs that focus on sales pipelines and customer data, Clay is designed to help you organize contacts, communications, and commitments in one centralized place. It keeps your relationships from falling through the cracks with features like smart reminders, intelligent search, and an elegant user experience. Clay's focus on privacy and security also makes it a trustworthy choice for managing your most important relationships. Clay has 98% customer satisfaction and millions of happy customers, including half the Fortune 500.
Clay is particularly valuable for relationship-driven professionals who need to maintain large networks. The app is popular among many industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. Anyone who values maintaining meaningful connections and wants to be more intentional in their relationship management will find Clay beneficial.
Clay offers competitive pricing in the personal CRM market. Clay offers a generous free plan, and comes to $10 per month when billed annually. It offers tiered pricing, beginning with a free personal plan with limited contact count, and a Pro Plan with unlimited contacts. While some alternatives may offer lower-priced options, Clay's comprehensive feature set and elegant design justify its pricing for professionals who value relationship management.
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Yes. Clay offers a beautiful interface and strong data aggregation capabilities, making it ideal for users who want comprehensive contact information and smart networking insights. Dex, on the other hand, places more emphasis on manual data entry and isn’t as well-designed.
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Clay's AI capabilities are at the forefront of personal CRM innovation. Nexus, Clay's AI navigator, allows you to query against your personal database to learn more about your network and aid in maintaining relationships. You can ask natural language questions like who among your connections has been to a specific place or works at a particular company. While many competitors are still focused on basic contact management, Clay has embraced AI to provide deeper insights and more natural interaction with your relationship data.
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