Will
William Taylor was born in 1961. His professional life has combined commercial legal practice with long-standing personal involvement in Australian wine production. He has operated Will Taylor Wines with his wife for more than two decades and has worked with wine businesses across Australia and internationally.
Taylor studied at the University of Adelaide, completing a Bachelor of Economics, a Bachelor of Laws and a Master of Laws specializing in Companies and Securities. He also completed a Graduate Diploma of Finance and Investment at the Securities Institute of Australia, graduating as dux of the South Australian division.
Taylor is a partner at Finlaysons in Adelaide and leads the firm’s Wine Group, which he established in the early 1990s. His practice has been focused predominantly on the wine sector for more than three decades. He advises large and small wineries, beverage companies and international wine businesses on mergers and acquisitions, business structuring, joint ventures, capital raising, business succession, and the purchase and sale of wineries, vineyards and brands. His work also includes grape-procurement and distribution strategies, including transactions involving China, the United States and other overseas markets, as well as processing, bottling, wine-supply, product-development, labelling, competition and consumer-law matters. He acts for wineries throughout Australia and serves as Chair of Partners of Finlaysons. Alongside his legal career, Taylor is a vigneron and operates Will Taylor Wines with his wife, producing wines from grapes sourced from established Australian wine regions. He is also a director of Henschke Cellars Pty Ltd.
Taylor has participated in professional, industry and community organizations connected with law, corporate governance, finance, wine and education. His documented affiliations include the Australian Institute of Company Directors, the Financial Services Institute of Australasia as a life member, the Australasian Chapter of the International Wine Law Association, the Wine Australia Legislation Review Committee, the Council of Governors of St Peter’s College and The Adelaide Club. He has served as President of the Australasian Chapter of the International Wine Law Association, as a member of that association’s international board, as South Australian President and a member of the national board of the Securities Institute of Australia, and as Chairman of The Adelaide Club’s Wine Subcommittee.
Member.
Australian Institute of Company Directors , Australia
Life member.
Financial Services Institute of Australasia , Australia
Past President and former member of the association’s international board.
Australasian Chapter of the International Wine Law Association , Australia
Committee member.
Wine Australia Legislation Review Committee , Australia
Former South Australian President and member of the national board.
Securities Institute of Australia , Australia
Former Main Committee member and former Chairman of the Wine Subcommittee.
The Adelaide Club , Australia
Former member of the Council of Governors.
St Peter’s College , Australia
Taylor has been described in professional profiles as a trusted and respected adviser whose legal practice is informed by direct experience in wine production and the commercial operation of a wine business.
Quotes from others about the person
Martindale-Hubbell has listed Taylor as a reputable lawyer.
Taylor’s professional and personal activities are closely connected with the Australian wine sector. He operates Will Taylor Wines with his wife, serves on the board of Henschke Cellars Pty Ltd and has advised wineries, beverage companies and wine businesses in Australia and overseas. His industry involvement also includes participation in wine-law and regulatory bodies.
