Sven Burchartz the law of opposites

The law of opposites

Sven Burchartz

Lawyer, motorsport enthusiast, and heartfelt Porsche lover, Sven Burchartz has a passion for engineering and fast cars. Sven traces his path from childhood to the present – including Porsche’s enduring impact on his life.

Sven is now a veteran of his profession. ‘Starting when I was 23, my career in law now spans 34 years,’ he says. ‘Beginning as a litigation lawyer, I went on to also become a commercial lawyer and negotiator. ‘I left the firm I began with 10 years ago to start my own boutique commercial law firm and shortly after, together with a couple of colleagues we formed Kalus Kenny Intelex,’ Sven continues. ‘I now act for a range of businesses large and small, investment funds, advising their owners and managers on a range of commercial disputes and transactions.’

As Partner with his own firm, Sven encounters a diverse range of daily challenges. ‘The core of my job is fixing problems,’ he says. ‘I handle commercial disputes, which are multi-faceted, both legally and emotionally. Working with corporate groups as well as large families, I help people navigate through these conflicts, overseeing outcomes where everyone looks to walk away satisfied.’ Although his clientele ranges from families to international venture capital funds, some aspects of Sven’s work remain constant. ‘The most enjoyable part of being a lawyer is learning so much about how things work in the world,’ he says. Always keen to expand his interests, Sven is also Director and part-owner of Tickford Racing, a leading Supercars team. While law and motorsport may seem like an unusual combination, Sven expertly combines them. ‘Tickford has a very strong management and ingenuity team,’ he says. ‘My other Director and co-owner, Rod Nash, is responsible for how the team operates, with my technical involvement mainly extending to congratulating the drivers on their results!’

Yet this isn’t the whole story of Sven’s motorsport involvement, as we’ll soon learn.

Sven’s love of Porsches started early. ‘When I was young, my mum had the chance to borrow her employer’s 911 for a weekend and competed in a rally. Some years later – around 1974, I believe – I bought my first car magazine, Modern Motor, which had a 930 Turbo on the cover.

This is where it all really began for Sven. ‘That really ignited my passion,’ Sven recalls. ‘So, to scratch that itch, I bought my first 911 in the late ‘90s. I started enjoying that car, competing in the Porsche Club Victoria Championships for eight years. As well as having a lot of fun, I won a couple of club Championships.’ This promising start was followed up by further success. ‘In 2005, I started racing a GT3 in the Australian GT series, which I competed in over two years and won the Porsche Cup. Then, from 2008 to 2011, I did a deal with Porsche to own and run the GT3 Cup Challenge for it, winning a couple of Championships with that as well. I’ve been racing now for almost 25 years, including Touring Car Masters and historic events. I have strayed from the Porsche fold once. I shared a 1968 Ford Mustang with Chris Stillwell in 2015, and we were lucky enough to win the Touring Car Masters Pro-Am division together that year.’ Another itch scratched. During that time, Sven has collected many prizes and accolades – as well as a cache of rare Porsches that would be the envy of any car lover. ‘Along the way, I’ve managed to accumulate a series of Porches, both 911s and 928s,’ he says. ‘At one time, I was well into double figures. Now it’s the low double figures, as I have to be more responsible as I get older.’ Amid the mechanical excellence Sven's surrounded by, it’s the human connections he cherishes. ‘The great thing about my continued association with Porsche is the wonderful people I’ve met and the enduring friendships I retain to this day,’ he says. ‘Every Porsche owner sits somewhere on the “wacky” spectrum, so it’s never hard to strike up a conversation. Whether someone has an old 924 or the latest RS, everyone in the club with a Porsche badge on the bonnet has an unspoken affinity.’

CLIC K HERE TO LEARN MOR E One of Sven’s defining events was joining Sonic Motorsport in 2005, an elite race team offering him the chance to drive with some geniuses on the track. ‘As a driver with Sonic Motorsport for six years, I learned from and raced with David Reynolds, James Moffatt, Dean Fiore, and many other really talented young drivers in the Sonic team,’ he remembers. ‘That’s where I learned to drive – fast.

‘Sonic has always had some of Australia’s best drivers, who I was fortunate to have access to as teachers. Having done eight years of Porsche Club competitions as well as many track days, I’ve had a series of highly talented people teaching me the basics of how to steadily go more quickly.’

The Sonic Racing experience means a lot to Sven. ‘Together with team owners Michael and Maria Ritter, the people working with Sonic were simply on another level,’ he notes. ‘We were racing on GT3s and Cup cars, which were incredibly well-engineered; I enjoyed access to the best skill sets, both in engineering and driving. ‘I was an acceptably quick driver before starting with Sonic, but learned invaluable skills from the talented people there – not just driving fast, but also how to race,’ he remembers. ‘Sonic is an incredibly professional outfit. I wanted to do as well as I could in events – and win if possible, both of which fortunately happened.’ Among his own Porsches, Sven has a clear favourite. ‘It’s a 1973 911E, a left-hand-drive car which is the first I ever restored,’ he says. ‘The 911E holds a particular spot in my heart. Both kids grew up in the back, with two big baby seats strapped in. My wife and boys greatly enjoy being part of the Porsche family – so whenever I suggest selling the 911E, there’s a family uprising!’ To this day, Sven cherishes his deep connection with Porsche Centre Brighton and the PM Motor Group. ‘Not only am I a loyal and passionate customer, I also do their legal work.’ It’s all in a day’s work for this versatile lawyer with a passion for engineering excellence. •