Justin Dowd - Watts McCray
Partner and Chairman

Area of expertise
Family Law: property, children's issues, financial, international, complex family law issues, settlement conferences, mediation, collaborative

Qualifications
LL.B., Accredited Family Law Specialist, Notary Public, Accredited Arbitrator

About Justin
Justin has specialised in family law since 1987 and has an excellent understanding of the family law system having been employed as the Senior Registrar of the Parramatta Registry of the Family Court, then as Regional Registrar of the Court with responsibility for NSW and the ACT. His past and current legal experience includes very complex family law cases, including matters that comprise offshore assets and children's issues.

Nicole Stevens - Watts McCray
Solicitor

Area of expertise
Family Law: children's issues

Qualifications
 LL.B.

About Nicole Stevens
Nicole has been working in the area of family law since 1999, and has worked closely with the Partners of Watts McCray on many large family law matters. Her expertise lies in the area of children's issues and as an independent children's lawyer.

Alexandra Tindale - Watts McCray
Solicitor

Area of expertise
Family Law: children's issues, domestic violence, property, financial

Qualifications
 B.A., LL.B. (HONS)

About Alexandra Tindale
Since being admitted, Alexandra has practised exclusively in the area of family law and has a particular interest in property and parenting issues. Alexandra's experience encompasses a strong knowledge and practical base in dealing with victims of assault.

Wendy Cousens - Watts McCray
Senior Legal Clerk

Area of expertise
Family Law, Financial, De Facto, Probate and Wills, Commercial Litigation, Property, Criminal

Qualifications
 Associate Degree Law

About Wendy Cousens
As a Senor Legal Clerk for Watts McCray, Wendy's extensive experience has been gained in working across all fields of law including family law, de facto, probate and wills, commercial litigation, property, and criminal. Her main focus since 1994 however, has been in the areas relating tofamily law, working closely alongside the firm's senior partners, solicitors and clients toresolve matters.

Kirstie Colls - Barry Nilsson
Senior Associate

Area of expertise
Family Law: International child abduction, negotiating complex property settlements

About Kirstie
Kirstie has specialised in family law since 2002 and in 2009, gained Specialist Accreditation - Family Law with the Queensland Law Society.

Kirstie has experience in all aspects of family and de facto law including divorce applications, parenting issues, property settlements, child support and financial agreements.

Geoff Sinclair - Barry Nilsson
Partner

Area of expertise
Family Law: International child abduction, negotiating complex property settlements

About Geoff Sinclair
Geoff has been appointed by his colleagues to Chairperson of the Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia.

Sophie Cossart - Barry Nilsson
Lawyer

Area of expertise
Family Law: Divorce, property settlements, parenting matters and child support.

About Sophie
Sophie has been with Barry Nilsson Lawyers for three years and practises exclusively in the Family Law team.

Sophie's experience and determination to excel in negotiation, mediation and advocacy, means she has the necessary skills to progress and finalise each and every matter in a timely manner making the experience positive for her clients.

Sophie's expertise extends to assisting clients who require protection order applications to be made or defended in local Magistrates Courts.

With a strong emphasis on achieving a practical resolution, Sophie's interpersonal skills allow her to approach every matter with empathy and integrity in order toensure that clients are listened toand satisfied with the outcome.

Sophie has a Bachelor of Business and Laws and is a keen volunteer at the Women's Legal Service.

Lois Clifford - Dobinson Davey Clifford Simpson
Director

Area of expertise
Lois has expertise in all areas of family, de fact and same sex couple disputes, specifically in complex property matters involving corporate structures, trusts, tax and superannuation issues, as well as sensitive and complex parenting, and intra and inter-national child disputes. 

About Lois
Lois Clifford is a director of Dobinson Davey Clifford Simpson and has over 25 years experience practising as a lawyer with the last 20 years focusing on family law. She has been an Accredited Family Law Specialist with the NSW Law Society since 1994.

Currently Lois serves on the Family Law and Professional Complaints Committees of the ACT Law Society. She is also member of the Family Law Section of the Law Council, and the Women Lawyers Association of the ACT, as well as a panel lawyer with the Women's Legal Centre. Lois has alspresented papers at specialist family law conferences.

Michael Trezise - Dobson, Mitchell & Allport 
Partner

About Michael and area of expertise

Michael was admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Tasmania in 1986. He became a director of Dobson Mitchell & Allport in 2004.

Michael has developed a considerable practice as a family lawyer, having practised almost exclusively in that jurisdiction since 1992. He is involved as both solicitor and counsel in the conduct of his own files in all areas of family law litigation and is often instructed by other legal firms in the capacity of counsel for opinions and/or representation in property/financial litigation and in parenting disputes. In 1998, Michael was granted accreditation as a specialist in Family Law by the Specialisation Board of Law Institute Victoria.

He is a member of the Family Law Practitioners Association of Tasmania, the body representing family lawyers in the State, and a member of the Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia.

Michelle Giacomo - Michelle Giacomo, Sole Practitioner 
Solicitor

Area of expertise
Family Law: Complex property matters, Binding financial agreements, Binding child support agreements, Parenting matters including the representation of children, Children's Court matters, De factorelationship property settlements.

About Michelle
Michelle obtained a Bachelor of Laws from the Australian National University in 1996 and has been practising exclusively in Family Law since this time. Michelle has practised Family Law in Canberra, Sydney, Darwin and London before relocating to Griffith in 2011. Michelle is an Accredited Specialist in Family Law with the New South Wales Law Society.

Michelle is an experienced advocate who regularly appears in Family Court, Federal Magistrates Court and Children's Court.

Sally Nicholes - Nicholes Family Lawyers
Senior Legal Clerk

Area of expertise
Family Law: international family law disputes, complex property settlements and litigation, including, dealing with complex corporate and trust structures, financial restructuring combining succession planning/estate planning with corporate restructure, same-sex relationship, parenting or financial agreements, de factocohabitation and pre-nuptial agreements, complex parenting arrangements, including multi-party or high conflict disputes, child support matters, international child abduction, inter-country adoption, international and domestic relocation disputes, complex child welfare issues including special medical procedures such as gender reassignment or body tissue donations, collaborative law.

Qualifications
LLB/BA (University of Melbourne), Accredited Independent Children's Lawyer, Accredited in Collaborative Law (LIV).

About Sally
Sally has practiced exclusively in family law for over 14 years during that time has developed a strong practice with substantive experience in all aspects of family law, acting for a range of corporate, institutional, and private clients.

Kate Ettershank - Nicholes Family Lawyers
Associate

Area of expertise
Family Law

Qualifications
BSc (Melb), DipEd (Melb), JD (Melb)

About Kate
Kate started at Nicholes Family Lawyers in 2010 as a legal graduate after completing her law degree and practical legal training. Kate previously worked as a secondary science school teacher, where she gained experience working with young people in a pastoral care role and developed an interest in matters that affect children.

While at NFL, Kate has worked on complex property matters, special medical procedure applications and childrens matters. Kate has gained experience in range of family law matters while volunteering at a community legal service as well as experience in an in-house corporate legal enviroment. She has also worked as a legal intern for the Office of the Health Services Commisioner where she carried out legal research. Kate is now committed to working exclusively in family law.

Paul Boers - Nicholes Family Lawyers
Special Counsel

Area of expertise
Family Law: Extensive volume of financial settlement matters, including complex matters involving companies and family trusts, Spousal maintenance claims, Contested parenting matters involving complex social science issues, Same sex relationships including contested parenting disputes, and financial settlements, and the creation of families, Special interest matters involving artificial conception and surrogacy, including parenting and parentage orders arising out of surrogacy arrangements, De facto relationship financial settlements, Financial agreements arising out of marriages and de facto relationships, Child support matters, including child support agreements, Alternative dispute resolution approaches, including collaborative law.

Qualifications
LL.B (Queensland University of Technology), Accredited Specialist (Family Law) (Law Institute of Victoria and Law Society of New South Wales), Accredited in Collaborative Law (Law Society of New South Wales), Accredited Mediator (Institute of Aribitrators and Mediators of Australia)

About Paul
Paul has practised as a lawyer for over 20 years, and exclusively in family law for over 15 years. He has been an Acccredited Specialist (Family Law) since 1999. Previously, Paul has worked as a Registrar of the Family Court of Australia at both Melbourne and Sydney, and more recently in the private profession across the entire spectrum of family law matters. In addition, Paul volunteered at the Inner City Legal Centre in Kings Cross in Sydney for 13 years providing family law advice, and was previously a board member and co-chair of its board of directors.

Andrew Davies - O'Sullivan Davies Lawyers  
Partner

About Andrew and area of expertise

Andrew graduated from the University of Western Australia with a B. Juris and LLB and was subsequently admitted to the Supreme Court of Western Australia and the High Court of Australia. Andrew has been practising Family Law for over 25 years and is an accredited Family Law Specialist.

Andrew has a particular interest in the specialised areas of complex financial settlements, Financial Agreements, International Family Law and asset tracing. This has involved him working with clients in many countries and in particular New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, India, South Africa, UK and USA. As a result of his involvement in these cases over many years, Andrew has established numerous contacts with lawyers and other professional advisors around the world who provide considerable assistance to his clients when seeking a final resolution to matrimonial disputes.

Andrew has presented numerous papers and lectures at state, national and international conferences and has been a guest lecturer at Murdoch University Law School. He is also a mediator, a fellow of the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, former Chair of the Family Law & Family Rights Section of LawAsia and current Chair of Australian Institute of Family Law Arbitrators and Mediators.

Andrew is a Member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners.

Sarah Bright - O'Sullivan Davies Lawyers  
Solicitor

About Sarah and area of expertise

After graduating with a Bachelor of Law and Arts (with distinction majoring in Political and International Studies) from Murdoch University in early 2007, Sarah joined O'Sullivan Davies to work in the paralegal section of the firm.

During her studies, Sarah worked for Minter Ellison Lawyers and gained international experience at the UK firm of Mustoe Shorter Solicitors. She also spent part of her legal studies at the University of Waterloo, Canada.

In 2005, Sarah was awarded a High Distinction for her paper "International Human Rights and Vedic Hinduism: Are there irreconcilable differences?" which was recommended for publication in the South Pacific Law Journal.

Diana Dichiera - Tindall Gask Bentley Lawyers
Senior Associate

Area of expertise
Divorce, Matrimonial and De Facto Relationships, Child Issues, Child Support, Financial Agreements

Qualifications
Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Law and Legal Practice, Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice

About Diana
Diana has been practicing as a family lawyer since 2005, and has played a significant role in many major family law matters. She is experienced with property settlements and has helped manage complex asset pools ranging from $70,000 to $1.3 million.

Andrew Johnston - Tindall Gask Bentley Lawyers
Lawyer

Area of expertise
Divorce, Matrimonial and De Facto Relationships, Child Issues, Child Support, Financial Agreements

Qualifications
Bachelor of Laws and Legal Practice, Bachelor of Arts

About Andrew
Andrew was admitted to practice in 2008, and has a specialised focus on children's issues. Before settling in to family law, Andrew's diverse experience included a stint in youth employment advice and a clerkship at the Attorney General's office in Canberra.

Jane Miller - Tindall Gask Bentley Lawyers
Partner

Area of expertise
Family Law: Divorce, Matrimonial and De Facto Relationships, Child Issues, Child Support, Financial Agreements, Wills and Estate Planning.

Qualifications
Accredited Family Law Specialist, Bachelor of Law and Legal Practice, Bachelor of Arts, Accredited Specialist in Family Law

About Jane
Jane manages the largest family law practice in South Australia, after starting her career as a lawyer just ten years ago. In 2005 she was one of the first and youngest to become an Accredited Family Law Specialist in SA, and now represents her state on the National Steering Committee for specialist accreditation for family lawyers. Jane was also a finalist in the SA Telstra Business Women's Awards 2011.

David Creais - Bartier Perry
Executive Lawyer

Area of expertise
Commercial Litigation

Qualifications
LL.B.

About David
David's principal practice area is commercial litigation. Building and construction litigation (both residential and commercial), insolvency, commercial contracts and real property (including retail and commercial lease disputes) are specialty areas of David's practice.  David is an Accredited Specialist in Commercial Litigation and holds a Certificate in commercial mediation making him eligible for appointment to the NSW Law Society's Mediator's Panel.

Gavin Stuart - Bartier Perry
Executive Lawyer

Area of expertise
Commercial Litigation

Qualifications
BSC LLB

About Gavin
Gavin has wide ranging experience in all manner of commercial litigation including debt recovery, banking/finance litigation and securities enforcement, insolvency, contractual disputes, intellectual property and insurance including professional indemnity. Gavin regularly manages cases arising out of secured loans, supply, manufacturing and construction contracts, property acquisitions, sale of business, partnerships and corporate/personal insolvency.

Denise Wright - Bartier Perry
Executive Lawyer

Area of expertise
Commercial Litigation

Qualifications
DIPLAW (LPAB)

About Denise
Denise has specialised in commercial litigation since graduation. She has acted in a wide variety of commercial disputes, including trade practices claims, property and leasing disputes, building and construction litigation and in a range of issues associated with disputes with franchisees.  Denise's practice also has a focus on security enforcement and debt recovery for lenders, from banks to private organisations.

Philip Brand - Bartier Perry
Consultant

Area of expertise
Commercial Litigation

Qualifications
BA, LLB

About Philip
Philip practises in the Supreme and Federal Courts, acting for clients in commercial and corporate disputes. He also advises on equitable remedies and trust obligations.  Philip specialises in the area of estate litigation, involving contested wills, family provision claims and mental capacity acting on behalf of a number of major Trustee companies. Insolvency litigation advising administrators liquidators and other insolvency practitioners is also an area of speciality.

Bill Andrews - Bartier Perry
Senior Associate

Area of expertise
Commercial Litigation

Qualifications
BA LLB (hons)

About Bill
Bill has been practising in commercial litigation for over 15 years.  He is widely experienced in dispute resolution procedures at a practical and informal level as well as in courts and tribunals.  Bill specialises in commercial claims recovery as well as in creditors' remedies against insolvent individuals and companies including bankruptcy and company winding-up procedures.

Carrie Peterson - Bartier Perry
Senior Associate

Area of expertise
Commercial Litigation

Qualifications
LPAB

About Carrie
Carrie specialises in litigation and dispute resolution in: Advocacy; Mediation; Contract disputes; Judicial review; Consumer protection and Equity.  Carrie has briefed and appeared with some of the most specialised Queen's Counsel and Senior Counsel in Australia. She has appeared as an advocate in most New South Wales jurisdictions and has run a matter before the Full Bench of the High Court of Australia.

Elias Yamine - Bartier Perry
Associate

Area of expertise
Commercial Litigation

Stuart Hughes - Bartier Perry
Lawyer

Area of expertise
Commercial Litigation

Natalia Panchenko - Bartier Perry
Lawyer

Area of expertise
Commercial Litigation

Monica Allen - Bartier Perry
Associate

Area of expertise
Commercial Litigation

Natalie Ng - Bartier Perry
Partner

Area of expertise
Commercial Property

Qualifications
Diploma of Law, Bachelor of Law, Bachelor of Economics

About Natalie
Natalie has been accredited by the Law Society as a specialist in property law and has a particular focus on the acquisition and disposal of commercial property including hotels, development sites, commercial buildings and industrial properties. Natalie also acts for landlords in respect of their lease portfolio and for developers in off the plan sales.

Ilija D Vickovich - Macquarie Law School 
Lecturer

Qualifications
BA (Hons) LLB (Syd) LLM (Macq)

About Ilija
Mr Vickovich was involved in general legal practice for approximately 20 years. He then ventured into legal publishing and writing, as well as part-time lecturing of Law units at business schools run by Curtin University of Technology, La Trobe University and Central Queensland University before joining Macquarie Law School.

Ilija is currently unit convenor and lecturer in contracts as litigation at Macquarie Law School. His research interests include the law and society, the law of church and state; contract law and theory; the law of work; dispute resolution and legal history.

James Dickson - Piper Alderman
Partner, Head of Corporate Division

Area of expertise
Corporate Transactions, Financial Services

Qualifications
B.Ec, LL.B (Hons), GCLP, GradDipAppFin&Inv

About James
James is a corporate practitioner with significant experience in corporate transactions, corporate governance, directors' duties and compliance with the Corporations Act, ASIC requirements and ASX Listing Rules. His practice has a strong focus on mergers and acquisitions, takeovers (both for bidders and targets), IPOs, other capital raisings and corporate structuring and reconstructions.

James also focuses on financial services, including financial services licensing, registered and unregistered managed investment schemes, PDSs and securities industry issues. He provides advice on corporate and commercial matters and advises high net worth individuals and businesses on appropriate asset protection structures and succession planning issues. James is a member of the Takeovers Panel, a councillor for the Australian Institute of Company Directors (SA/NT Division) and a member of the AICD Law Committee.

Craig Yeung - Piper Alderman
Partner

Area of expertise
Corporate Transactions, Financial Services

Qualifications
B.Com, LL.B (Hons), GDLP, LL.M

About Craig
Craig is a corporate law specialist and has extensive experience in advising on corporate and securities law, as well as general commercial matters. Craig has significant experience in corporate advisory, including advising on directors duties, corporate governance, and mergers and acquisitions for private, public and ASX listed companies in a variety of industries, including mining and resources, technology and financial services.

In addition, Craig has advised many private and public companies in relation to their capital raising needs, from angel or venture capital funding for early stage entrepreneurs and start-up companies, to IPOs for companies in biotechnology, resources and information technology.

Mark Gordon - Piper Alderman
Partner

Area of expertise
Banking and Finance

Qualifications
LL.B

About Mark
Mark is a specialist banking and finance lawyer with over 20 years experience.  He advises and acts primarily in corporate and commercial matters involving corporate lending, loan syndication, consumer finance, Corporations Act compliance and commercial contracts. Mark also advises on privacy issues relating to the Privacy Amendment (Privacy Sector) Act 2000.

Mark has extensive experience in public listed company transactions and has provided advice on a wide range of matters to a number of high profile companies and government agencies.

Simon Venus - Piper Alderman
Partner

Area of expertise
Corporate Law, Commercial Law

Qualifications
LLB/LP (Hons), Grad Dip Leg St, BA

About Simon
Simon practises in Piper Alderman's Corporate division. He utilises his drafting skills on a broad range of corporate and commercial transactions for major Australian corporations, Australian and international private clients and SMEs.

Simon has been involved in many business and share sale and acquisition projects, as well as general corporate and commercial advisory work, having drafted and negotiated a broad range of commercial documentation including Government funding agreements, supply contracts, commercial collaboration and alliance agreements, service agreements and licensing and distribution arrangements.

Tim Somerville - Somerville Legal Solicitors & Notaries
Founding Partner

Area of expertise
Business law and tax law

Qualifications
Bachelor of Arts, Sydney University 1972, Bachelor of Laws, Sydney University 1975

About Tim
After becoming qualified in 1975, Tim became a partner in a medium size city firm. In 1983 Tim established Somerville & Co. The firm rapidly grew to be the largest firm in North Sydney.

Tim is an accredited specialist in business law and provides business and taxation advice to small and medium sized businesses. He was president of the North Metropolitan Law Society from 2005 to 2009  and has served on the Law Society Committee for specialist accreditation in business law.

Paul Edward Freed - Simpson Freed Lawyers
Proprietor

Area of expertise
Business sale and purchase, Trusts, Business planning and structures, Estate planning, Revenue Law, Franchising, Property transactions, Leasing

Qualifications
B.A. Ll.B. Sydney Uni

About Paul
Paul was admitted as a solicitor in March 1970 and has been practising for over 40 years. Paul was accredited by the NSW Law Society as a business law specialist in 1993 and has continued with that specialty practice for 17 years.

Paul participated for 8 years as a member of the Business Law Accreditation Committee of the Law Society which conducts the assessments and examinations for accreditation of candidates for specialisation. He also served for a number of years as a committee member on each of the Property Law Committee and the Business law Committee of the NSW Law Society.

Peter Kelso - Peter Kelso - Consultant
Consultant

Area of expertise
Business Law, Commercial Law, Debt Recovery, Insolvency

Qualifications
BA, LLB

About Peter
Peter Kelso is an accredited specialist in business law under the Specialist Accreditation Scheme administered by the Law Society of NSW and has practised extensively in the area of commercial law, with an emphasis on a debt recovery and insolvency.  He was the author of a manual on "Debt Recovery NSW" published by Butterworths (since discontinued), is the author of the chapter on "Receivers" in Halsbury's Laws of Australia, and is also the author of the chapters on "Winding up", "Receivers and Controllers" and "Voluntary Administration" in the Australian Encyclopaedia of Forms and Precedents.

Peter has lectured extensively in the areas of debt recovery and insolvency, and continues to present an annual seminar on debt recovery practice.

Christopher Camillin - Holmann Webb
Partner

Area of expertise
Business Law, Commercial property law

Qualifications
BA Hons, University of Kent, Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales

About Christopher
Christopher's initial experience was as a prosecutor for the Department of Transport in London but he subsequently became a partner in a North London firm and was a founder member of Camillins Solicitors in London and subsequently in Melbourne. He has worked on a number of interesting company and commercial and commercial property matters including the acquisition and break up of the former USAF Bentwaters air force base in the UK and various transactions involving the establishment and sale of Non-Fossil Fuel obligations and the sites for building Green power stations. Since coming to Victoria in 2002, Christopher has worked on a number of major property focussed matters including some significant residential development projects for clients.

Warren Wackerling - Team Lawyers
Principal

Area of expertise
Property, Commercial law, Estates

Qualifications
LLB (QUT), BCOM (DIST) (USQ)

About Warren
Warren has over 15 years property and commercial experience. He routinely acts for clients in property, business and estate law on a range of matters.

Stephen Hardy - Equity Trustees Limited
Legal Consultant

Area of expertise
Wills, Estates, Trusts

Qualifications
Bachelor of Social Work; Bachelor of Laws (Hons)

About Stephen
After completing his law degree and being admitted to practice in 1998, Stephen worked in commercial and property law and with a boutique estate planning firm.  Stephen has also worked as State Manager, Estate Planning, for a major bank and as Principal Lawyer in Estate Planning and Estate Litigation for a national law firm.

Geoff Rees - JRT Partnership
Director

Area of expertise
Business law, Contracts law, Business structures, Purchase and sale of businesses

Qualifications
Bachelor of Laws, Bachelor of Commerce, Accredited Business Law Specialist (LIV since 1991)

About Geoff
Prior to opening the doors to The JRT Partnership, Geoff Rees was a director of a well respected Melbourne law firm for 30 years. In recent times Geoff has been the key commercial advisor on various important transactions in the higher education and medical institute sectors. He also advises many listed and privately owned midsized corporations. Geoff's hands-on work in various sectors in which he has experience have led to a number of senior appointments. He was Chairman of the company that formed and then listed Melbourne IT Limited. In the course of that process he dealt with the Auditor General, many public compliance issues, the media, the NTEU and the Minister for Education. He was also Deputy Chairman of Melbourne University Private when it successfully obtained reaccreditation as an Australian University.

Martin Lovell - Johnson Winter & Slattery / Flinders University
Senior Associate, Johnson Winter & Slattery
Adjunct Lecturer, Flinders University of South Australia

Area of expertise
Banking & Finance, Major Projects, Trusts, Personal Property Securities Act 2009 (PPSA)

Qualifications
Master of Law (LLM) (Honours, First Class), Cambridge University, Bachelor of Law (LLB) (Honours, First Class) Flinders University of South Australia, Bachelor of International Studies - Flinders University of South Australia, Admitted in South Australia, Victoria, England and Wales

About Martin
Martin worked in banking and finance at a top-tier firm in Melbourne before joining the global project finance team at a magic circle firm in London where he worked on a number of high profile transactions, primarily in the areas of renewable energy, gas and infrastructure. He is currently a Senior Associate at Johnson Winter & Slattery and lectures in Trusts and Banking & Finance Law at Flinders University.

Bibi Sangha - Flinders University
Senior Lecturer, School of Law, Flinders University

Area of expertise
Contract, Advanced Contract, Comparative Aspects of Malaysian Law, Comparative Law on Miscarriages of Justice (Australia, Canada and Britain)

Qualifications
BA (Hons) in Law, Middlesex University, UK, LL.M, London School of Economics, UK

About Bibi
Bibi was called to the Bar at Lincoln's Inn in London, and has been admitted to practice as a Barrister and Solicitor in Malaysia, the Australian Capital Territory and South Australia. She appeared before the Privy Council in the last case on appeal from Malaysia. Prior to joining Flinders Law School in 1994, she was a lecturer in law at the Australian National University.

She has done extensive work in teaching and writing in contract, commercial and corporate law as well as comparative law on miscarriages of justice (Australia, Canada and Britain). In 2007 she was commissioned to provide an expert report to the Goudge Commission of Inquiry into Pediatric Pathology in Canada.

Alice Tay - Meyer Vandenberg
Partner - Corporate and Commercial team

Area of expertise
Intellectual property, Corporate law, Governance, Commercial law

Qualifications
Bachelor of Laws (University of Sydney)

About Alice
With more than 20 years experience, Alice has worked with entrepreneurs from set up, product development and protection, growth, through to exit. Along the way, she has assisted clients in almost every aspect of carrying on a business - ranging from capital raising, reviewing structures for expansion, and entering new markets in Australia and overseas. As part of this work, she has acquired particular expertise in all aspects of intellectual property.

Alice heads her firm's Corporate and Commercial team and her experience also extends to government and quasi-government organisations, as evidenced in her work with the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy and the Land Development Agency dealing with their commercial and Intellectual Property issues.

During Alice's career she has undertaken complex corporate structural work for leading Canberra businesses and also advised on numerous intellectual property matters.

Eve Martin - Meyer Vandenberg
Associate - Corporate and Commercial team

Area of expertise
Intellectual Property, Commercial, Property, Contract negotiations

Qualifications
Bachelor of Arts (Flinders University of SA, 1996), Bachelor of Laws (first class honours) (University of New England, 2002)

About Eve
Eve is an experienced commercial and intellectual property lawyer, with experience gained both as an in-house counsel and in private practice. Prior to joining the firm, Eve was a Senior Lawyer at the Australian National University, a Group of Eight university.

Eve has extensive experience advising in relation to intellectual property transactions and commercialisation such as IP ownership, licensing, assignments, collaborations, alliances and sponsorships. She presently advises the University of Canberra, investment managers and start-up companies on a wide range of issues including subscription arrangements, non- disclosure, collaborative research and development and the commercialisation of their product developments. Eve also has significant experience structuring and establishing new entities, advising in relation to grant funding and preparing funding agreements and preparing commercial documents on a broad range of issues.

When in-house, Eve had sole carriage for assisting the University to form a company for the spin-off of intellectual property developed by University and external academics. She is also a lead lawyer for the firm's engagement with the University of Canberra.

Christine Murray - Meyer Vandenberg
Partner - Property, Commercial and Finance team

Area of expertise
Contract preparation & negotiation, Property acquisition, Property development & sales, Self-managed superannuation fund advice, State territory taxes

Qualifications
Bachelor of Commerce/Laws (Australian National University 2000), Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice (Australian National University 2002)

About Christine
Christine has many years experience in Property. She provides leasing advice to government departments and has acted for property developers in providing accommodation to government departments. Christine presently advises ACT Commissioner for Social Housing on a wide range of issues including property acquisition and development.

Christine is the Team Leader of the Property, Commercial and Finance Team and manages the Team's property and banking and finance matters. She is the firm's lead adviser to the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy for their accommodation requirements.

During Christine's career she has undertaken high level property work for leading Canberra businesses, including the acquisition of Canberra House at 40 Marcus Clarke Street, Canberra and the sale of 82 Northbourne Avenue, Canberra. She also advised the Doma Group regarding the provision of the Department of Health & Ageing's new office accommodation in Woden, ACT.

Ben Fuller - Meyer Vandenberg
Partner - Property, Commercial and Finance team

Area of expertise
Property, Construction, Planning and environment

Qualifications
Bachelor of Aerospace Engineering (Hons) (RMIT), Bachelor of Laws (First Class Hons) (ANU)

About Ben
Ben joined the Partnership in Meyer Vandenberg in February 2010 after working with Mallesons Stephen Jaques in their Canberra office for approximately 8 years. During his career, Ben has worked on numerous high profile property and construction matters in the Australian Capital Territory and other jurisdictions and also has particular experience in the field of compulsory acquisition. Prior to embarking on his legal career, Ben worked as an Aerospace Engineer in the RAAF and as a Systems Engineering consultant to the Department of Defence as part of the Defence Materiel Organisation's major capital acquisition program.

Ben is a lead Partner in Meyer Vandenberg's Building and Construction Team and as such is heavily involved in the firm's engagement with property developers and construction projects. Ben has also been actively involved in the ACT Division of the Property Council of Australia for a number of years, particularly on the Sustainability Committee. Due to his experience in the area, he has conducted a number of industry workshops on emerging issues of interest, in particular focussing on sustainability issues such as "green leasing" and planning. Ben was recently elected to the Board of the ACT Division of the Property Council of Australia and is Chairman of the Planning Committee. Ben has also advised the Australian Greenhouse Office and other Federal Government Departments on proposed legislation or programs, including green leases and mandatory disclosure of energy efficiency associated with commercial office buildings.

During Ben's career he has undertaken high level property and development projects for a range of "institutional" private sector clients as well as Commonwealth clients. These include Westpac, Mirvac, Stockland, Canberra International Airport, The Australian National University, the University of Canberra, Department of Health, IP Australia, and the Australian Sports Commission. Ben has also worked on a number of large projects conducted by "non-institutional" private sector clients, usually involving the acquisition or disposal of property assets, green-field site developments, or construction and leasing of office buildings or retail complexes.

Alan Karp - Karp Steedman Ross-Adjie  
Partner

About Alan and area of expertise

Alan practices in the areas of general and commercial litigation, insolvency, banking and finance litigation, building and construction, and trade practices.

Alan draws on his experience as a barrister in South Africa where he conducted numerous trials as counsel, as well as on his many years as a solicitor in Western Australia, where he has acted as instructing solicitor in several significant trials in the Supreme Court and in the Federal Court on behalf of a wide range of clients, including banks and large, medium and small international and national corporations and individuals.

Alan holds Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Law degrees, as well as a Master of Laws degree.

Eric Ross-Adjie - Karp Steedman Ross-Adjie  
Partner

About Eric and area of expertise

Eric practises in the areas of banking and finance, commercial property, general commercial, corporate, franchising and licensing law. Eric holds Bachelor of Jurisprudence and Bachelor of Laws degrees from the University of Western Australia.

Eric maintains a strong emphasis on endeavoring to resolve commercial disputes by means of alternative dispute resolution. He is an Associate Member of and an accredited Mediator with The Institute of Arbitrators and Mediators Australia.

His clients include prominent financial institutions, property developers, national and international corporations, charitable institutions and medium to small businesses.

Eric also devotes time and energy to the Anglican Diocese of Perth as a Trustee and Deputy Chancellor.

Lorraine Madden - Karp Steedman Ross-Adjie  
Senior Associate

About Lorraine and area of expertise

Lorraine offers her clients extensive commercial litigation and advocacy experience, having practiced both in Sydney and London before moving to Perth in 2000.

Lorraine's areas of expertise include: insurance litigation, occupational health & safety legislation, planning disputes and deceased estates. Her knowledge and experience has been used to successfully act for large corporations, and individuals in a diverse range of professions including law, medicine, insurance, accounting, engineering, and construction. Having practiced in the area of insurance litigation for many years, Lorraine is well placed to advise clients on policy issues.

Currently at KSRA, Lorraine is involved in a number of commercial disputes in Federal, Supreme and District Courts; as well as advising on matters relating to deceased estates, and defending prosecutions for breaches of occupational health and safety legislation and planning legislation.

Lorraine's love of animals sees her being actively involved with the RSPCA and other animal welfare groups. She regularly puts her skills to good use as the Western Australian pro-bono co-ordinator for the RSPCA.

Greg Milner - Karp Steedman Ross-Adjie  
Associate

About Greg and area of expertise

Greg practises in the property and commercial law division of the firm. Greg advises and represents public and private companies, property developers, charitable institutions, franchisors and individuals in a broad range of commercial matters.

Greg's primary areas of expertise include contractual disputes, property law, commercial and corporate advice, leasing, intellectual property and franchising. Greg also has experience in wills, strata title, trade practices law and a range of litigious matters.

Greg holds a Bachelor of Laws (with distinction) and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Western Australia. Greg joined Karp Steedman Ross-Adjie in July 2006 and was appointed an Associate in October 2006.

Parisa De Jonge - Karp Steedman Ross-Adjie  
Associate

About Parisa and area of expertise

Parisa joined the firm in 2010 and made her presence felt with a bright personality, unwavering dedication to research and an impeccable attention to detail.

Parisa practices in the firm's general commercial litigation division dealing with Supreme, District and Magistrates Court matters and is on track to complete her re-qualification examinations early in 2012.

She earned her Bachelor of Laws from the internationally respected Essex University's School of Law before attending the prestigious College of Law in York.

Parisa started her career in the London office of a large American firm before qualifying as a solicitor with a national UK firm. She then moved to a boutique commercial practice in Manchester, where she became an associate. Her expertise includes corporate and personal insolvency, consumer credit litigation for national and multi-national corporations and insurance litigation.

Christopher Hall - Karp Steedman Ross-Adjie  
Solicitor

About Christopher and area of expertise

Chris commenced as an articled clerk with the firm in January 2006 and has gained significant experience in both commercial and commercial litigation matters and proved himself to be a valuable addition to our team. Since being admitted to practise as a legal practitioner in the Supreme Court of Western Australia in February 2007, Chris has worked primarily in the firm's commercial team.

Chris holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from Murdoch University and a Bachelor of Nursing degree from Edith Cowan University, and was formerly employed as an operating room registered nurse at St John of God Hospital, Subiaco, specialising in neurosurgery.

Chris has a number of diverse interests outside of the law including travelling, mountain-biking and scuba-diving which compliments his ability to relate to and identify both legal and practical solutions for clients.

Maria Trichilo - Karp Steedman Ross-Adjie  
Associate

About Maria and area of expertise

Maria practises in the firm's general and commercial litigation division dealing primarily with Federal, Supreme and District Court matters.

Maria has been and continues to be involved in large scale Federal Court and Supreme Court litigation and practises in the areas of intellectual property law, banking and finance law, corporations law, property law and trade practices law.

Maria's client base comprises international and local corporations, businesses and individuals.

Maria graduated with first class honours from the University of Notre Dame in 2003. During her time at the University of Notre Dame, Maria was the recipient of the Vice Chancellors medal 2002 for the highest student under graduate in that year (across all faculties), and the recipient of the John Ralph Prize for the most outstanding under graduate in the graduating class of 2003 (across all faculties). Maria was also awarded the inaugural Russell Roberts Award for top student in International and Comparative Law.

Maria became an Associate of the firm on 31 October 2006.

Kenton Steicke - Kelly & co
Partner

Area of expertise
Kenton practises in all areas of banking and finance, including project finance, asset finance, property finance, acquisition finance and general corporate finance. In this work, he has acted for a range of financiers, sponsors and borrowers. He has also acted on corporate work-outs and has advised on various insolvency law aspects of these matters.

Kenton also has particular experience in projects and infrastructure finance and has recently acted on some of Australia's largest Public Private Partnerships.

Qualifications
Bachelor of Laws (with Honours), University of Adelaide, Bachelor of Commerce, University of Adelaide, Master of Laws, University of Melbourne

About Kenton
Kenton is a specialist Banking & Finance Partner in Kelly & Co.'s Property & Financial Services Department.  Kenton joined Kelly & Co. as a Partner in 2010 following several years as a senior associate with Mallesons Stephen Jaques in Melbourne. Prior to that Kenton worked in the banking team at Norton Rose in London and, prior to that, worked as a senior associate at Freehills in Melbourne for over six years.

Philip Page - Mellor Olsson
Partner

Area of expertise
Philip has worked in the areas of Commercial and Property Law for more than 30 years. His approach is to provide clear, concise and timely advice. He has extensive experience in property and commercial transactions involving large corporations, financial institutions, local government bodies and individuals, including all aspects of lending, securities, leasing, licensing, and conveyancing.

Qualifications
Bachelor of Laws, University of Adelaide

About Philip
A specialist in legal drafting, Philip prepares tailor-made documents, including Deeds and Agreements of all kinds, to give effect to complex property and commercial transactions.  He also drafts and conducts revisions of constitutions and by-laws.

Philip chairs the Property Committee of the Law Society of South Australia and, in that role, is actively involved in the review of proposed legislation affecting property and in the preparation of submissions for law reform.  He is also the South Australian representative on the Australian Property Law Group of the Law Council of Australia and the Property Law Reform Alliance.

Steve White - White SW Computer Law
Principal

Area of expertise
Intellectual property, Information technology, Telecommunications, Litigation

Qualifications
BSc(Comp-Sci)/LL.B, University of Melbourne, Masters of Industrial Property, University of Sydney, Professional Certificate in Arbitration and Mediation, University of Adelaide, Advanced Insolvency, University of Southern Queensland

About Steve
Steve has acted for parties in litigation with the US Government, ACCC, the Commonwealth of Australia, various State Governments, Telstra, Optus and other many other substantial commercial disputes involving intellectual property, information technology and telecommunications.

Steve has also acted as arbitrator in numerous substantial commercial disputes including April 1, 2011 - Larkden Pty Limited v Lloyd Energy Systems Pty Limited [2011] NSWSC 268 and a mediator in numerous commercial mediations for many commercial disputes involving intellectual property, information technology and telecommunications.

Tim Tierney - Tierney Law
Principal

Area of expertise
Property and Commercial Law, Wills and Estates

Qualifications
LLB

About Tim
Tim has practiced Property and Commercial Law ,Wills and Estates  since the start of 1980's . Tim is a long standing member of the Property Law Committee of the Law Society of Tasmania, receiving the Society's 2001 Presidents Award for service to the profession  . He has represented the Law Society on many committees including  the Australian Property Law Group and  the Law Council working party on E-conveyancing.

Leon Loganathan - Ward Keller
Managing Partner

Area of expertise
stamp duty, payroll tax property law and conveyancing

Qualifications
Bachelor of Economics (University of Western Australia), Bachelor of Laws (University of Queensland), Master of Laws (Deakin University) 

About Leon
Leon joined Ward Keller in March 2003 after spending six years in Sydney and Brisbane in the Taxation Division of global accounting firm Ernst & Young. He has both private and public sector experience and spent two years advising the Northern Territory Commissioner of Taxes on tax policy and legislation.

Anthony Forsyth - Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Consultant

Area of expertise
Collective bargaining, Workplace dispute resolution, Comparative labour law

Qualifications
Bachelor of Laws (Hons), Monash University (1993), Bachelor of Jurisprudence, Monash University (1993), Graduate Diploma in Labour Relations Law, University of Melbourne (2000), PhD, University of Melbourne (2005) 

About Anthony
Anthony has been a Consultant in the Melbourne Workplace Relations Group at Corrs since 2005. He is also an Associate Professor in the Department of Business Law & Taxation at Monash University. Anthony's past legal experience includes working as in-house counsel at the Transport Workers' Union, as a policy adviser to a federal politician, and as a lecturer in the law schools at the University of Melbourne and Australian National University. He has published widely on Australian employment and labour law, particularly in the areas of collective bargaining, workplace dispute resolution and comparative labour relations.

Val Gostencnik - Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Partner

Area of expertise
Government, Workplace Relations, Discrimination, Employment, Industrial Relations & Dispute Resolution, Occupational Health & Safety

Qualifications
Bachelor of Laws (Hons), Monash University (1994); Bachelor of Economics (Hons), LaTrobe University (1985); Post-Graduate Diploma in Industrial Relations, Victoria University of Technology (1989) 

About Val
Val Gostencnik is sought equally by governments, corporations and charitable organisations and is an expert and author on workplace legislation and its impact on business and society. Val is at the forefront of workplace reforms - leading the Corrs' National Workplace Relations Practice Group to act for major Australian and international companies on enterprise agreements and workplace practices, including Multiplex, Downer EDI, Thiess and Transfield Services.From test cases before the High Court to coronial inquiries, Val works across all court and tribunal jurisdictions, and was Solicitor Instructing Counsel Assisting the Victorian 2009 Bushfires Royal Commission. Val's other passion is managing Corrs' Giving Back program, which covers the firm's pro bono legal offerings, philanthropy and staff volunteering.

Nicholas Ellery - Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Executive Lawyer

Area of expertise
Government, Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Workplace Relations, Discrimination, Employment, Industrial Relations & Dispute, Resolution, Occupational Health & Safety

Qualifications
Bachelor of Laws, University of Western Australia (1991) 

About Nicholas
Nicholas is known for pushing the boundaries. As a front line workplace relations lawyer, his name is linked with ground-breaking cases and high profile industrial disputes. Nick regularly appears as counsel in the superior courts and tribunals for leading companies from a diverse range of industries including resources, construction, utilities, health, maritime, insurance and the government sector.

Nick has been recognised by his peers and the industry as one of the leading strategists and resolvers of disputes in his field.

John Tuck - Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Partner

Area of expertise
Workplace Relations, Discrimination, Employment, Industrial Relations & Dispute Resolution, Occupational Health & Safety

Qualifications
Bachelor of Arts, Monash University (1987), Bachelor of Laws, Monash University (1989) 

About John
In the often complex world of industrial relations, John has proven his worth through clear thinking and strategic advice. Whether it's developing industrial plans for multi-billion dollar site expansions or advising on national employment strategies, John possesses a unique perspective that can come only with extensive experience. This is just one of the reasons why John has been trusted by major employers including Foster's Group, ANZ. BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto, UGL Limited, WorleyParsons, Cadbury and the Australian Commonwealth Government.

Jack de Flamingh - Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Partner

Area of expertise
Workplace Relations, Discrimination, Employment, Industrial Relations & Dispute Resolution, Occupational Health & Safety

Qualifications
Bachelor of Commerce (Finance)/Law, University of New South Wales (1996) 

About Jack
Jack de Flamingh specialises in providing innovative and tailor-made workplace relations solutions. Working closely with clients to achieve desired results, he is noted for his outstanding legal knowledge and the understanding he brings to matters for employers across industrial sectors including in the mining, manufacturing, construction and tertiary education sectors.

Jack provides incisive strategic industrial relations advice. Jack regularly advises on the negotiation and interpretation of industrial instruments, and the practical resolution of collective and individual employee disputes. Jack is an experienced advocate who appears in industrial courts and tribunals, including by successfully defending a client in proceedings that have shaped the requirements for enterprise bargaining under the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth).

Jack has expertise in occupational health and safety and is focussed on advising employers, senior managers and directors on OHS compliance. He acted for directors and senior managers of a large publicly listed company in successfully avoiding individual prosecution. He is also experienced in responding to safety incidents, managing safety investigations, dealing with regulatory authorities and conducting legal proceedings. Jack advises and appears in Coronial inquests.

Janine Young - Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Partner

Area of expertise
Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Workplace Relations

Qualifications
Bachelor of Laws (Hons) (First Class) Deakin University (1995), Barrister and Solicitor, Supreme Court of Victoria (1997), Barrister and Solicitor, High and Federal Courts of Australia (1997) 

About Janine
Janine is an exceptional workplace relations practitioner.With an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the regulatory framework of workplace relations in Australia, Janine combines excellent technical and analytical skills to deal with complex legal issues in this challenging area of law. In particular, Janine has been involved in high profile matters involving large-scale, complex employment law and industrial relations issues for Amcor Ltd; drafting of submissions in relation to the exceptions and exemptions in the Equal Opportunity Act 1995 for the Catholic Education Office and conduct of the Coronial Inquest into the level crossing deaths at Kerang, Trawalla and Stony Point for V/Line Pty Ltd.

Janey Kuzma - Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Senior Associate

Area of expertise
Employment law and occupational health & safety

Qualifications
Masters of Labour Relations Law, University of Melbourne (2010), Bachelor of Laws (Hons), Monash University (2004), Bachelor of Arts, Monash University (2002) 

About Janey
Since joining the Workplace Relations Group in 2004, Janey has provided compliance and strategic advice to public and private sector clients in relation to employment law, discrimination law, industrial relations and occupational health and safety law. Janey has advised and represented several employers in the Victorian Government sector and particularly in emergency services, including the Chief Commissioner of Police and the Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services Board. From April 2008 to May 2009 Janey was seconded to the Department of Employment, Education and Workplace Relations in Canberra and assisted in the development and implementation of the Commonwealth Government's workplace relations reforms, including the Fair Work Act 2009 and associated transitional legislation.

Janey has also worked on secondment with the Office of the Fair Work Ombudsman as its Principal Lawyer in the Victorian and Tasmanian litigation practice and in 2009 and 2010 has represented the Fair Work Ombudsman in litigation in the Magistrates' Court of Victoria and the Federal Magistrates' Court.From March 2010 - September 2010 Janey worked with the Office of the Fair Work Ombudsman as a part of its Fair Work Implementation Strategy Team, providing legal and strategic advice in relation to the implementation of transitional arrangements in modern awards and Fair Work Australia's first annual wage review decision.

Jacqueline Parker - Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Special Counsel

Area of expertise
Employment & Industrial law

Qualifications
Bachelor of Laws (Hons), University of Melbourne (2001), Bachelor of Arts (Hons), University of Melbourne (2001), Solicitor, Supreme Court of Victoria (2002), Solicitor, Supreme Court of NSW (2005) 

About Jacqueline
Jacqueline has been involved in the drafting of or has advised on the drafting of all major pieces of federal workplace relations legislation (including building industry legislation) currently in operation as well as Victorian public sector legislation and occupational health and safety regulations. Jacqueline has twice been seconded into the federal Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations and in early 2007, left Corrs to work as a federal workplace relations policy advisor.

Since returning to Corrs in July 2008, Jacqueline has been involved in a broad range of litigious and non-litigious matters for both private sector and public sector clients.

Ruth Nocka - Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Senior Associate

Area of expertise
Employment and industrial law, Discrimination law

Qualifications
Bachelor of Economics, University of Adelaide (1995), Bachelor of Laws (Hons), University of Adelaide (1997), Graduate Certificate of Legal Practice, University of South Australia (1997) 

About Ruth
Ruth is a Senior Associate in the Sydney team of the Workplace Relations group. Ruth has considerable experience advising clients across a range of employment and industrial law matters. These matters include issues arising under relevant legislation including the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth), the Workplace Relations Act and discrimination legislation. Ruth also regularly advises clients in relation to termination of employment, damages, the intersection of insolvency and employment law, contractual disputes, bullying and discrimination issues.

Ruth has provided advice to a range of leading Australian companies in the industries of telecommunications, fast moving consumer goods, services and mining. In addition, she has conducted a broad range of litigious matters for employers at a State and Federal level, the District Court, the Supreme Court, the Federal Court and the Federal Magistrates Court. This has included appearing on behalf of clients before Fair Work Australia, the Australian Human Rights Commission and the Administrative Decisions Tribunal in matters concerning unfair dismissal and discrimination.

Ruth is currently completing a Master of Laws at Sydney University, specialising in workplace bargaining, discrimination law and executive employment.

Ruth Hart - Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Senior Associate

Area of expertise
Employment and Industrial Law

Qualifications
BA LLB (Hons) 

About Ruth
Ruth Hart joined Corrs' Workplace Relations Group in July 2006 and has become a key member of the Group in providing advice and assistance across a range of workplace relations matters. This includes in-house management of issues, such as enterprise bargaining, through various secondments to clients in the private and public sectors. Ruth has expertise in dispute management, employment, occupational health and safety, discrimination and privacy matters. In particular, she advises on compliance with specific laws regulating the construction industry. She is also an experienced litigator, regularly representing clients in civil penalty proceedings. Ruth has also been involved in drafting and reviewing of regulations and Compliance Codes.

Ruth was an integral member of the team of lawyers assisting the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission. She preformed the role of Project Manager for the team and was also responsible for managing the interaction between key stakeholders.

Leanne Dorricott - Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Senior Associate

Area of expertise
Employment & Industrial Law and Discrimination Law

Qualifications
Bachelor of Laws (Hons) Queensland University of Technology (1999), Graduate Certificate in Employment Relations, University of Queensland (2004) 

About Leanne
Leanne is a Senior Associate in the Corrs Workplace Relations Group. She specialises in workplace relations law, including: Managing employees, including dismissals, injured employees and disciplinary and performance issues, Compliance with minimum standards under the Fair Work Act, including modern awards and the National Employment Standards, Strategic advice on workplace change, Drafting employment agreements and policy and procedure manuals.

In employment litigation, Leanne has advised and represented clients in respect of a wide range of disputes including dismissals, discrimination claims, breach of contract and enterprise agreement claims, industrial action, right of entry and workplace health and safety.

Liana D'Ascanio - Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Senior Associate

Area of expertise
Employment law and occupational health & safety

Qualifications
Bachelor of Laws, University of Western Australia (2004), Bachelor of Economics, University of Western Australia (2004) 

About Liana
Liana has been with the firm since 2004, and a permanent member of the Workplace Relations practice group since 2005. Liana's practice spans the group's key areas of employment law, industrial relations, occupational health and safety, and equal opportunity. Liana also regularly assists the Corporate Advisory and Litigation groups in relation to employment / IR issues arising in relation to mergers and acquisitions, and insolvencies.

Liana acts for several of the firm's key clients across all areas of workplace law, including BP, Woodside, the Fair Work Ombudsman, the Water Corporation and Probuild Constructions. Liana's industrial relations practice includes assisting clients in the offshore marine industry in relation to issues arising in enterprise bargaining, industrial disputation, employer/union relationships and strategic IR planning for major projects including Gorgon and the BHPB Iron Ore port expansion project.  Clients include Total Marine Services, Offshore Marine Services, and Offshore Marine Services Alliance.

Kathryn Peterson - Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Lawyer

Area of expertise
Employment law and occupational health & safety

Qualifications
Bachelor of Economics (Honours, University Medal), University of Sydney 2004, Bachelor of Laws (Honours), University of Sydney 2006, Masters of Law (Labour Law and Corporate Law) (Distinction), London School of Economics 2008, Solicitor, Supreme Court of New South Wales 2006 

About Kathryn
Kathryn has worked in workplace relations law since 2006, and joined the Corrs Chambers Westgarth Workplace Relations group in 2008, following a break from practice in employment law to obtain her Masters of Law as a Menzies Scholar in the United Kingdom. Kathryn has been involved in providing advice on a number of aspects of workplace relations law including all aspects of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth), industrial strategy and collective bargaining, contract and executive employment matters, and discrimination and workplace diversity. Kathryn works with clients across a range of industries, including non-profit community organisations, mining, telecommunications and contract services.

Georgina North - Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Senior Associate

Area of expertise
Workplace Relations

Qualifications
Master of Laws, Queensland University of Technology (2003), Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice, Queensland University of Technology (2001), Bachelor of Laws (Honours), Griffith University (2000), Bachelor of International Business, Griffith University (2000) 

About Georgina
Georgina has represented clients in employment litigation, including dismissals, discrimination claims and workplace health and safety complaints and incidents and advised clients in respect of issues concerning: terminations, including redundancies and conduct-related terminations; employee entitlements, including remuneration and leave entitlements; workplace health and safety, including employee drug testing, remote workers, and bullying and harassment; superannuation; compliance with Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth), National Employment Standards, modern awards and enterprise agreements; and post employment restraints, including non-competition and non-solicitation.

Georgina is experienced in drafting employment-related documents including: codes of conduct; employment terms and conditions; grievance procedures; employment and independent contractor agreements; organisational charts; HR policies; handbooks and regulations; training materials; consents; severance agreements; and releases. Georgina has conducted HR-related due diligence and other transactional activities relating to mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures, including preparing reports and drafting correspondence to workers regarding post-transaction workforce integration.

Richelle Fewings - Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Lawyer

Area of expertise
Employment and occupational health and safety

Qualifications
Bachelor of Business, University of Newcastle (2005), Bachelor of Laws (Hons), University of Newcastle (2007), Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice, College of Law (2008) 

About Richelle
Richelle joined Corrs in 2010, having worked exclusively in workplace relations since 2006. She has considerable experience in advising some of Australia's leading companies on a broad range of workplace relations issues including employment contracts, performance management and discipline, termination of employment and post-employment obligations. Richelle has also conducted a range of litigious matters in State and Federal industrial, equal opportunity and health and safety jurisdictions.

Samantha Maddern - Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Special Counsel

Area of expertise
Executive employment, Human resources strategic planning, Discrimination, Bullying and Harassment, Workplace health & safety

Qualifications
Bachelor of Laws (Hons) and Bachelor of Arts, University of Melbourne (1987) 

About Samantha
Samantha joined Corrs in July 2003 as Special Counsel in the Workplace Relations Group. She provides specialist legal advice on industrial, employment and workplace matters.

Between 1996 and 2003, Samantha was the Senior Employee Relations Adviser at the Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Western Australia. Samantha helped to establish CCI's inaugural employment consultancy service "CCI Workplace Solutions" which provides strategic, practical & legal advice on employment and industrial relations matters to a range of WA businesses. Samantha worked for a variety of clients particularly in the manufacturing, mining, construction, retail and hospitality sectors.

Prior to this, Samantha worked at WMC's Mt Keith Nickel Mine during construction/commissioning in human resources on a 14 days on / 7 days off fly-in fly-out basis before transferring to WMC's Nickel Division as a Commercial Lawyer, providing legal advice to three nickel mines, the Kalgoorlie Smelter, Kwinana Refinery & Corporate Head Office.

Rachel Dawson - Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Lawyer

Area of expertise
Workplace Relations

Qualifications
Bachelor of Laws (Honours), Bachelor of Behavioural Science, Advanced diploma of Performing Arts 

About Rachel
Rachel joined Corrs as a graduate in 2009, was admitted to practice in December 2009 and joined the Workplace Relations team in Perth in January 2010.  Rachel has experience in a range of employment law areas including discrimination, termination of employment, transactional work and occupational health and safety. Rachel also has experience in commercial litigation.

Emma MacDougal - Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Lawyer

Area of expertise
Employment law and occupational health and safety law.

Qualifications
Master of Laws, Melbourne University (commenced July 2010), Bachelor of Laws, Monash University (1999-2002), Bachelor of Arts, RMIT University (1995-1998) 

About Emma
Emma has nearly 5 years experience advising public and private sector clients on various aspects of workplace relations law including general employment matters, occupational health and safety and industrial relations. Emma has also been involved in a number of litigious matters, including arbitration proceedings and industrial disputation proceedings before Fair Work Australia, civil penalty proceedings in the Federal Magistrates' Court and Magistrates' Court, as well as prosecutions for breaches of occupational heath and safety laws in the Magistrates' Court. In October 2008 Emma was seconded to the Office of the Fair Work Ombudsman for five months as its Acting Principal Lawyer, co-ordinating civil penalty proceedings for its Victorian and Tasmanian litigation practice, and since returning from a break from employment law practice, has been seconded to two public sector clients providing industrial relations advice and support, and occupational health and safety advice. Emma is currently completing a Master of Laws at Melbourne University.

Melissa Brunning - Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Lawyer

Area of expertise
Employment and industrial law including occupational health and safety and discrimination

Qualifications
Bachelor of Arts, University of Sydney (2004), Bachelor of Law (Hons), University of Sydney (2004), Melissa was the recipient of the 2005 University of Sydney prizes for Employment and Industrial Law and Discrimination Law 

About Melissa
Melissa has been a lawyer in the Sydney Workplace Relations group for close to 5 years. Melissa has been involved in providing advice to a range of leading Australian companies in relation to a number of aspects of workplace relations law including industrial relations, discrimination and general employment matters. In addition, she has been involved in a range of litigious matters for employers at both State and Federal level in Fair Work Australia and the District,Supreme and Federal Courts and also in relation to WorkCover investigations in New South Wales. Most recently she had carriage of a $9 million breach of contract claim by a former Chief Executive Officer of a listed company, been involved in discrimination conciliations/mediations and a matter involving 49 claimants of employee entitlements of a failed financial congolmerate. The latter matter also had a number of elements of insolvency law.

Breen Creighton - Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Consultant

Area of expertise
Bachelor of Laws, Queen's University Belfast (1969), Bachelor of Laws (Hons), University of Melbourne (1998), Doctor of Philosophy, University of Cambridge (1976)

Qualifications
Bachelor of Arts, University of Sydney (2004), Bachelor of Law (Hons), University of Sydney (2004), Melissa was the recipient of the 2005 University of Sydney prizes for Employment and Industrial Law and Discrimination Law 

About Breen
Breen worked in the Workplace Relations Group at Corrs from 1997 until 1999, and was a partner from1999 until 2008. He has been a Professor of Law at RMIT University since 2009, and a Special Adviser to the Workplace Relations Group since early 2011. He has held academic appointments at the University of Edinburgh, University of Melbourne and La Trobe University. Other relevant positions have included Legal Officer at the ACTU (1986), Principal Legal Officer, ILO (Geneva) (1988-91) and head of an Interdepartmental Taskforce on Ratification of ILO Conventions for the Commonwealth Government (1991-92). Breen has served on various public bodies in Australia, and has acted as adviser to governments, employers, employer organisations and trade unions both in Australia and overseas. He has published extensively in the fields of employment law, labour law, occupational health and safety, equal opportunity law and international labour law.

Brooke Pendlebury - Pendlebury Workplace Law
Principal Lawyer / Mediator / Investigator

Area of expertise
Workplace Relations, Employment Law, OH&S

Qualifications
Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Finance and Marketing, a Bachelor of Laws and a Masters of Commerce majoring in Industrial Relations and Organisational Behaviour from the University of New South Wales. 

About Brooke
Having established Pendlebury Workplace Law in May 2006, Brooke brings over ten years experience in advising employers and employees on all areas of workplace relations and employment law. Brooke is also an adjunct lecturer in law at the University of NSW and the Macquarie Graduate School of Management.

Brooke's industrial and legal experience is varied and extensive. She has worked as a Senior Industrial Officer with industrial unions in the local government, and public and private health sectors. She has also worked for employer industrial associations as a Solicitor and Senior Advisor/Advocate to some of the largest metals and manufacturing companies in Australia.

Guy Biddle - Finlaysons
Partner

Area of expertise
Workplace Relations, Occupational health and safety, Workers compensation, Insurance

Qualifications
Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Laws, Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice 

About Guy
Guy has an extensive background in workplace law, general insurance and civil litigation.Guy has more than 20 years experience in South Australia and Queensland as a litigator working with insurers,claims managers,brokers and businesses providing advice on occupational health and safety, workers compensation, industrial relations, insurance and liability claims.

Mark Stokes - Finlaysons
Associate

Area of expertise
Workplace Relations, Occupational health and safety

Qualifications
Bachelor of Laws and Legal Practice, Bachelor of Behavioural Science 

About Mark
Mark has been involved in advising and representing employers in a wide range of workplace matters including industrial and employment, occupational health, safety and welfare and discrimination matters. Mark has been involved in conducting workplace investigations involving allegations of bullying and sexual harassment as well as representing employers at conciliation conferences before Fair Work Australia and negotiating settlements.

Melisa Kaharevic - Finlaysons
Associate

Area of expertise
Workplace Relations, Workers compensation, Occupational health and safety

Qualifications
Honours degree in Law and Legal Practice 

About Melisa
Melisa spent four years with a general practice gaining considerable experience in a range of fields including employment law, workers compensation, civil litigation, trade practices, personal injury, medical negligence, defamation and criminal law.

Since joining Finlaysons she has been involved in a variety of industrial and employment issues facing employers as well as work in the area of workers compensation and occupational health, safety and welfare.

Sarah White - Finlaysons
Solicitor

Area of expertise
Workplace Relations, Occupational health and safety, Insurance

Qualifications
Bachelor of Law with Honours 

About Sarah
Sarah has been involved in a wide range of workplace matters.This includes a strong interest in assisting employers with the management of their workers compensation claims and as well in relation to liability insurance claims.

Giri Sivaraman - Maurice Blackburn 
Principal

Area of expertise
Industrial Relations and Employment Law, including employment contracts, redundancy, restraint of trade, discrimination and adverse action.

About Giri
Giri advises and represents employees nationally and his clients include unions and their members, senior executives, medical professionals and senior public servants. He is a NSW Law Society accredited specialist in employment and industrial law, a member of the NSW Law Society Employment Law Committee, and is recommended as an Employment Law and Workplace Relations lawyer for employees in NSW in the Doyles Guide to the Australian Legal Profession, 2011 Edition.

Aron Neilson - Maurice Blackburn 
Lawyer

Area of expertise
Aron has substantial experience in advising and conducting litigation in all areas of industrial and employment law and has a particular focus on employee and executive rights protection in the workplace.

About Aron
Aron has acted as an advisor to large national trade unions and their members along with senior executives in both the private and public sector. Aron has published previous articles on employment and industrial law issues both within Australia and internationally and is admitted to practice in both NSW and England in Wales. In 2010, Aron was invited by a non government organisation to the International Labour Organisation annual conference in Geneva to present and discuss issues related to freedom of association in Turkey.

Andrew Haddon Rider - Selborne Chambers
Barrister

Area of expertise
Taxation Law

Qualifications
B.Ec (Hons) (Syd), LL.M (Syd) 

About Andrew
Andrew Rider is a member of the New South Wales Bar specialising in taxation law. Andrew regularly appears for both tax offices and taxpayers in the various Federal and State courts and tribunals. In addition to his appearance work, Andrew advises extensively on taxation laws, including CGT, income tax, GST, stamp duties and land tax. Prior to commencing practice at the Bar, Andrew was a solicitor in private practice for 12 years advising on the taxation aspects of a wide range of commercial, property and financing transactions. Before commencing work as a solicitor, Andrew was an Associate to Justice Michael Kirby. Over the years, Andrew has lectured in taxation laws at the University of Technology, Sydney and co-edited the leading Australian stamp duty publication Australian Stamp Duties Law.

Andrew is a Fellow of the Taxation Institute of Australia (TIA) and a member of the TIA/Office of State Revenue Liaison Committee.

Carolyn Chudleigh - Holding Redlich Lawyers
Partner

Area of expertise
Acquisition, land titling, financing and selling of residential and mixed use developments, Specialist advice regarding the use of management statements in mixed use developments, Mezzanine debt financing and general property financing, Corporate real estate acquisitions, development and disposals including sale and leaseback agreements and options, Property related advice in connection with listed and unlisted property funds, creating structures for investment funds and advising on issues relating to real estate funds management, Agribusiness and rural industries including water law

Qualifications
Bachelor of Economics - University of Sydney, Bachelor of Laws - University of Sydney 

About Carolyn
Carolyn has specialised in property law for nearly 20 years and leads the national property group at Holding Redlich. Carolyn is a recognised property expert with a particular interest in property ownership and development, especially the delivery of land subdivision, titling and governance solutions to value-add to a project and provide solutions that are commercially sustainable. Coupled with these skills are property and project finance expertise and structuring knowledge. Carolyn is a regular presenter and commentator on property law and property finance topics both within the legal industry and to property industry bodies. Carolyn has been a director of the Property Council of Australia since 2007 and sits on the national board.

Vanya Lozzi - Holding Redlich Lawyers
Senior Associate

Area of expertise
Acquisition and disposal of commercial, residential and rural properties in NSW, Drafting off-the-plan master contracts for the sale of land, Subdivision of land, drafting of section 88B instruments and strata by-laws, Foreign Investment Review Board aspects of acquisitions and disposals of property, GST and duty issues affecting property, Water licences, Old system and company title

Qualifications
Bachelor of Economics - University of Sydney, Bachelor of Laws - University of Newcastle 

About Vanya
Vanya is a very experienced general property lawyer and has acted in a wide variety of matters involving property ownership, property development and the creation of interests in land. Prior to joining Holding Redlich, Vanya worked with a national legal firm and acted for significant energy, mining and local government clients in relation to property matters.

Mark Pezzano - Holding Redlich Lawyers
Senior Associate

Area of expertise
Sale and purchase of commercial and residential property, Preparing master contracts for "off-the-plan" sales, Strata and community schemes law, Easements, encumbrances, interests in land, encroachments, boundary issues, Retail, commercial and telecommunications leasing and licensing, Security documentation, including mortgages, guarantees and fixed and floating charges

Qualifications
Bachelor of Laws - Macquarie University, Bachelor of Arts - Macquarie University 

About Mark
Mark is extremely experienced across a wide range of property law areas and has recently specialised in strata and community scheme developments. Mark has been instrumental in solving some of the more complex easement, access, management and land titling issues in a number of major property developments within Sydney.

Tim Tierney - Tierney Law
Principal

Area of expertise
Property and Commerical Law, Wills and Estates

Qualifications
Bachelor of Laws, Diploma of Legal Practice 

About Tim
Tim has practiced Property and Commercial Law ,Wills and Estates since the start of 1980's . Tim is a long standing member of the Property Law Committee of the Law Society of Tasmania, receiving the Society's 2001 Presidents Award for service to the profession . He has represented the Law Society on many committees including the Australian Property Law Group and the Law Council working party on E-conveyancing.

John Boag - Everingham Solomons
Principal

Area of expertise
Accredited Specialist in Property Law

Qualifications
Diploma of Law (Solicitors Admission Board) 

About John
Admitted as a Solicitor in 1978 and have practised law since then. Principal areas of practice have been conveyancing with a special interest in rural conveyancing and Wills & Estates law.

Brendan Maier - Colin Biggers & Paisley
Partner

Area of expertise
Acquisitions and disposals, Joint venture and project delivery arrangements, Hotels and serviced apartment structures including compliance with the Corporations Act and ASIC requirements, Property-focused revenue law, Development agreements, Contractual disputes, Retail and commercial leasing, Project delivery and financing structures, Strata schemes, Stratum subdivision

Qualifications
Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Laws 

About Brendan
Brendan Maier is a partner in the Property & Development Group at Colin Biggers and Paisley. Brendan has significant experience in the property and finance industry, having spent two years as in-house legal counsel for one of Australia's largest property developers.

Brendan has worked with property developers, construction companies, state and local government authorities and commercial and retail investors. He has advised on a range of transactions including site acquisition and disposal, development agreements, finance and syndication arrangements, environmental remediation of development sites, hotel and serviced apartment development and management, contractual disputes and "off the plan" sales of residential and commercial units.

Brendan was admitted as a solicitor in the ACT in 1997 and in NSW in 2000. He is admitted to practise in the Supreme Court of NSW, Federal Court and High Court of Australia.

Brendan is a member of the Law Society of NSW and Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA).

James Price - Mills Oakley Lawyers
Partner

Area of expertise
Has a strong commercial focus with proven ability to work with key external and internal managers to achieve commercial objectives, is efficient, accurate and comfortable with complexity, supervises teams of lawyers on very complex transactions, and provides practical and precise legal advice to some of Australia's largest companies; and Development and disposal of major property assets, and Commercial and retail leases

Qualifications
Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Laws (Honours), Admitted to practice in April 1996 

About James
James has 16 years experience advising clients on their commercial development contracts, contracts of sale, and leases. James' experience includes:

• Accredited specialist in property law by the Law Society of NSW
• Acting for the Charter Hall/CBus Property joint venture the development of 171 Collins St, the first premium office constructed in Melbourne in the last 20 years, and the new BHP Billiton headquarters.
• Acting for Charter Hall in relation to the development of the commercial office building at 685 LaTrobe Street Melbourne.
• Acting for Lend Lease in relation to a strata office development in Collins Street.
• Acting for Grocon on the development of the Carlton Brewery apartments.
• Acting for the developer of the 27 Little Collins Street apartments, and the new Sheraton Hotel.
• Acting for Industry Superannuation Property Trust in relation to the development and leasing of 740 Bourke Street, Docklands, 100 St Georges Terrace, Perth, and 447 Collins Street, Melbourne.
• Acting for Metcash on a range of its Victorian property projects.
• Acting for AMP as landlord in relation to its leasing of 600 Bourke Street, Melbourne and 222 Exhibition Street, Melbourne.
• Acting for GPT in relation to its leasing of 530 Collins Street, Melbourne and Melbourne Central Tower.
• Generally, acting for both tenants and landlords of many industrial, commercial and retail premises.
• Acting for institutional investors and listed property trusts in the purchase of major office buildings including 565 and 569 Collins Street, 222 Exhibition Street, 200 Queen Street, 11 Exhibition Street, 436 St Kilda Road, and the Telstra Office portfolio, valued at over $570 million
• Acting for AMP in relation to the purchase of Ocean Keys Shopping Centre ( a major regional centre in WA) from Coles Myer.
• Acting for the institutional investors and listed property trusts in the sale of buildings including 500 Collins Street, 133 Collins Street, 580 St Kilda Road.
• Acting for Brambles in relation to the purchase and leasing of industrial land throughout Australia including all environmental and contamination aspects.

Catherine Hallgath  - Mills Oakley Lawyers
Partner

Area of expertise
Catherine has worked with a number of leading Australian and Asian property owners and has considerable expertise in: acquisition and sale of commercial office blocks, industrial and bulky goods parks and retail shopping centres leasing including:

• Stream leasing and 'green or environmentally sustainable leasing
• Retail, commercial, industrial, strata title and special purposes leases
• Agreements to lease and leases for 'purpose built' premises
• Preparing standard leasing documents, including heads of agreement
• Negotiating and advising tenants in relation to leases including negotiation of heads of agreement
• Lease dispute work including: locking out defaulting tenants, make good advice, market rent review advice, whether a lease proposal is binding
• Advising on issues arising with the ownership and management of property assets
• Caveats
• Off the plan sales
• Mortgages 

Qualifications
Bachelor of Arts (UQ), Bachelor of Laws (UQ), Accredited specialist in property law by the Law Society of NSW, Admitted to practice as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of NSW and also of the Supreme Court of QLD 

About Catherine
Catherine understands that many property transactions are the start of a long term relationship between the parties. She is expert in ensuring that her clients' needs are met and desired outcomes are obtained whilst maintaining a strong relationship. Recent appointments:

• Member of the Property Law Advisory Committee to the Law Society Accredited Specialist Programme
• Author - Leasing and Land Tax Modules for LexisNexis Practical Legal Guidance
• Lexology/ACLA Author of the Year - Commercial Real Estate 2010
• Lecturer in property law for several legal service education providers
• Examiner of candidates for accreditation as property law specialists for the Law Society of NSW
• Member of the Anti-Doping Tribunal of the International Kendo Federation

Andrew Johnson  - Mills Oakley Lawyers
Partner

Area of expertise
Andrew is a partner in the Brisbane Property and Commercial team where he specialises in: property development, complex strata titling and off the plan pre-sale contracts and acquisition and disposal of management rights, funds management, listed and unlisted property trusts, commercial and industrial property sales, acquisitions and commercial and industrial leasing, securities and mezzanine funding, Clients appreciate Andrew's ability to deliver creative, dynamic and pro-active solutions that are unmatched in competing markets. Andrew has excellent negotiation, project management and drafting skills, which he uses to develop and maintain strong client relationships

Qualifications
Bachelor of Laws - Bond University (Qld), Master of Laws - Bond University (Qld) 

About Andrew
Recent transactions include:

• Negotiating and assisting with the contract of sale and due diligence for ISPT's acquisition of CPI Brisbane
• Advising on a $200 million industrial real estate transaction and associated capital raising in Brisbane through a newly listed property trust
• Lexology/ACLA Author of the Year - Commercial Real Estate 2010
• Lecturer in property law for several legal service education providers
• Limited and Eureka Funds Management Limited on various strata property developments, including; land subdivisions,drafting sales documentation for flat land residential developments, community title structuring under the Mixed Use Development Act, the Body Corporate and Community Management Act, Property Agent and Motor Dealers Act and the applicability of the managed investment provisions of the Corporations Act

Jack Stuk  - Mills Oakley Lawyers
Partner

Area of expertise
Jack is an external consultant to the National Taxation & Accountants Association Ltd (representing over 7,000 Tax Agents, Australia wide) and regularly delivers seminars, lectures and writes articles on taxation law and practice. He is frequently called upon to share his knowledge and experience, and has been quoted in Business Review Weekly, The Age and other publications in taxation related features.

Jack has extensive experience in the establishment and structuring of major projects, including real estate, IP, hi-tech start ups and agricultural joint ventures. The tax team have a special interest in complex estate and succession planning, particularly in medium to large family businesses.

Jack's expertise includes: Income tax; Capital gains tax; Superannuation; Part IVA of the ITAA 1936 (Schemes); Fringe Benefits; International Tax Treaties; Goods and Services Tax; Stamp Duties, Land Tax and Pay-roll Tax across all jurisdictions; Tax law secrecy, FOI access and audits; Private Ruling Applications to the ATO; Complex Estates (Trust Deeds); and Business/Corporate Consolidations, Succession Planning and Consultancy

Qualifications
B. Juris/LLB (Monash University)

About Jack
Jack Stuk is the Leader of Mills Oakley's Taxation Team. Jack has helped executives, commercial and business clients achieve their goals for over 25 years. Using his business acumen, experience and a thorough knowledge of Australian taxation laws (including international double tax treaties), Jack's advice maximises client financial returns, without compromising primary commercial objectives for tax benefits. He has extensive experience in negotiating with senior department heads of the Australian Taxation Office to achieve optimum results for clients, whether arising from the objections process, litigation or dispute resolution.

Lachlan Paterson  - Mills Oakley Lawyers
Partner

Area of expertise
Commercial property development, Leasing, Joint ventures, Strata and stratum subdivision, Structuring of property developments

Qualifications
Bachelor of Arts (UNSW), Bachelor and Master of Laws (Syd), Admitted to practice as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of New South Wales and also as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of the ACT

About Lachlan
Appointments:

• Acting for the lessee on a long term lease of 99 Harrington Street, The Rocks from the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority which involved a commercial, retail and residential development and accompanying title issue, as well as heritage aspects to the building and the development
• Acting for the developer of "The Cooperage" at Pyrmont which also involved lengthy negotiations with the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority
• Acting for the purchaser of a one-half interest in the "Metcentre" at 60 Margaret Street for the Motor Trades Association of Australia involving reviewing and advising on co-ownership agreements and conducting a lengthy due diligence of the complex, retail and commercial leasing aspects of the building
• Acting for an industrial organisation (The Teachers Federation) and its associated health fund on a significant property development involving the consolidation of multiple lots followed by a stratum/strata subdivision of residential and commercial whilst simultaneously maintaining the continuing operations of the existing retail and commercial activities in the building
• Acting for a joint venture of private investors and the Sullivans Cove re development authority (in Tasmania) for the re-development of Sullivans Cove and the Elizabeth Street piers and silos
• Drafting and negotiating development/project management agreements associated with mixed residential retail and commercial development at Townsville, Wollongong and Kingscliff on behalf of Quantum Development
• Acting for the National Information and Communications Technology Australia Limited (an organisation that plays a major role in promoting science and innovation in the ICT industry) in relation to their development of land at the University of New South Wales
• Acting on the acquisition and subsequent redevelopment of 350 George St, Sydney. This project involved complex strata staging over different development levels, uses and time frames
• Acting for a retirement village developer and manager in Sydney metro and regional areas.
• Acting for Royal Agricultural Society of NSW in re-development and management of the Showground site at Homebush
• Recovery and mortgagee in possession sales, especially for commercial and retail sites

Christopher Conolly  - TressCox Lawyers
Partner, Property Practice Group Leader

Area of expertise
Admitted to practice: 1988; Jurisdiction: High Court of Australia, Supreme Court of New South Wales

Qualifications
Bachelor of Arts (University of Sydney, 1986), Bachelor of Laws (University of Sydney, 1988), Accredited Specialist in Property Law, 1995

About Christopher
Christopher has extensive experience in all aspects of commercial property law including corporate sales and acquisitions, leases and agreements for lease, project development agreements, subdivisions and options. He also has significant experience in providing advice in: leasehold transactions, staged strata developments, stratum subdivisions, retirement village and aged care facilities, community title developments and public positive covenants.

Marcus Young  - SC - Marcus Young
Partner, Property Practice Group Leader

Area of expertise
Equity, Commercial law specialises in real property

Qualifications
BA (Hons), Sydney University, Dip Law, Barristers Admission Board, Senior Counsel (SC)

About Marcus

Marcus Young has been a full-time practitioner at the NSW bar since 1993 and was recently appointed as Senior Counsel (SC). In that period he has practiced principally in the area of equity and commercial law, with much of his work during the last decade being in the field of mortgages.

Marcus Young is a co-author of the LexisNexis Butterworths publication The Essential Guide to Mortgage Law in New South Wales.

Greg Vale - Binetter Vale Lawyers
Founding Solicitor Director

Area of expertise
Revenue laws, Trusts, Business structures, Superannuation, Estate planning

Qualifications
BComm (Finance), LLB (UNSW), LLM (Sydney University), Accredited Specialist - Business & Personal Tax FTIA

About Greg
Greg Vale is a founding solicitor director of Binetter Vale, Lawyers a boutique specialist taxation legal practice in Sydney. Greg Vale was previously a solicitor director with Kevin Munro & Associates, a firm he joined in 1996. Prior to joining Kevin Munro & Associates, Greg Vale worked at a second tier accounting firm, BDO Nelson Parkhill, in their taxation advisory section.

Greg is an accredited specialist in Business and Personal Tax as accredited by the Specialist Accreditation Board of the Law Society of New South Wales.

Greg is a regular speaker on taxation, estate planning, superannuation and business structuring issues for legal and accounting groups. Greg has spoken on behalf of the Law Society of New South Wales, UNSW, the CLE Centre, the College of Law and the Taxation Institute of Australia. Greg also speaks to discussion groups of members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and CPA groups and other private groups.

Peter Moran - Donaldson Trumble Lawyers
Principal

Area of expertise
Business law, Commercial litigation, Property law

Qualifications
Bachelor of Arts/Law(Hons), Law Institute of Victoria – Accredited Specialist Business Law

About Peter
Peter Moran commenced practising as a lawyer at leading Australian law firm Allens Arthur Robinson, where he worked in the areas of corporate and commercial, tax and litigation. Between 2006 and 2009 he was a partner at McCarthy Moran Lawyers and in 2009 joined Donaldson Trumble Lawyers. Peter has a broad range of commercial experiences with particular expertise in the commercial structuring and sale of businesses; corporate governance advice; insolvency; intellectual property; employment law; technology and telecommunications; property development and leasing law.

Sam Grindal - Donaldson Trumble Lawyers
Principal

Area of expertise
Property law

Qualifications
Bachelor of Arts/Law, Law Institute of Victoria – Accredited Specialist Property Law

About Sam
Sam’s practice now focuses primarily on all aspects of property law. He advises a diverse range of clients on the acquisition and sale of commercial and residential property, retirement villages, adverse possession claims, subdivisions and multi-level off the plan inner city apartment projects. Sam has acted for landlords in relation to CBD property leasing arrangements and the eventual sale of those properties. He also advises both landlords and tenants on their obligations under the law and their leases. Sam is accredited as Property Law Specialist with the Law Institute of Victoria.

Lisa Gaddie - Lander & Rogers Lawyers
Partner

Area of expertise
Commercial,industrial and retail leasing, Commercial and industrial acquisitions and disposals, Property developments and projects

Qualifications
BA/ LLB (First Class Hons)

About Lisa
Lisa regularly presents to the legal industry on property related issues and is on the Academic Board for the NSW College of Law. Lisa was included in the 2010 & 2011 editions of Best Lawyers International (Australia) in real property.

Luckbir Singh - MacDonnells Law
Partner

Area of expertise
Property law, Commercial law

Qualifications
Admitted as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Queensland, Bachelor of Laws,University of Queensland, FNQ Law Association, Australian Institute of Management, Queensland Law Society’s Outstanding Achievement by a Young Lawyer Award (2008), Vice-Chair,Cairns Young Chamber of Commerce

About Luckbir
Luckbir is a MacDonnells Law Partner and the Practice Group Leader of the state-wide Commercial Team. Luckbir’s approach is to understand his client’s business focus and desired outcome so as to provide a legal service, which not only provides a high degree of technical proficiency, but also reflects the practical commercial world realities.

Luckbir's experience in commercial areas of practice covers a broad range of matters including duties, corporate advisory, body corporate, trusts, entity structuring, large scale commercial transactions, mixed use property development, dealing with and advising on GST, business contracts, leasing, drafting contracts for unique and one-off arrangements, securities, farming, property, business and commercial acquisitions and disposals, corporation affairs and association dealings and many others.

Gary Thomas - Tottle Partners


Area of expertise
Leasing (commercial and retail), Property development, Property and business transactions, Commercial contracts, Government contracts

Qualifications
BA. BJuris. LLB (Hons). LLM, Admitted in Australia and England and Wales

About Gary
Gary has been practising in Western Australia for 30 years. He has acted for a wide range of clients including banks, insurance companies, property trusts, private developers, property investors and Government. He has particular experience in the sale and purchase of major commercial properties (including shopping centres and office buildings) property development projects (including site acquisition, planning aspects, easements and related dealings in land) preparation of master leases and advising on all aspects of commercial and retail leasing (including advice relating to the Commercial Tenancy (Retail Shops) Agreements Act) and property securities, general commercial contracts and duty.

Gary would like to acknowledge the invaluable research assistance of Amy Hunt (law student and research assistant, Tottle Partners).

Gary Thomas - Mellor Olsson Lawyers
Partner

Area of expertise
Philip has worked in the areas of Commercial and Property Law for more than 30 years. His approach is to provide clear, concise and timely advice. He has extensive experience in property and commercial transactions involving large corporations, financial institutions, local government bodies and individuals, including all aspects of lending, securities, leasing, licensing, and conveyancing

Qualifications
Bachelor of Laws, University of Adelaide

About Phillip
A specialist in legal drafting, Philip prepares tailor-made documents, including Deeds and Agreements of all kinds, to give effect to complex property and commercial transactions. He also drafts and conducts revisions of constitutions and by-laws.

Philip chairs the Property Committee of the Law Society of South Australia and, in that role, is actively involved in the review of proposed legislation affecting property and in the preparation of submissions for law reform. He is also the South Australian representative on the Australian Property Law Group of the Law Council of Australia and the Property Law Reform Alliance.

Leon Loganathan - Ward Keller Lawyers
Managing Partner

Area of expertise
Stamp Duty, Payroll Tax, Property Law, Conveyancing

Qualifications
Bachelor of Economics (University of Western Australia), Bachelor of Laws (University of Queensland), Master of Laws (Deakin University)

About Leon
Leon joined Ward Keller in March 2003 after spending six years in Sydney and Brisbane in the Taxation Division of global accounting firm Ernst & Young. He has both private and public sector experience and spent two years advising the Northern Territory Commissioner of Taxes on tax policy and legislation.

Ilija D Vickovich - Macquarie Law School
Lecturer

Qualifications
A (Hons) LLB (Syd) LLM (Macq)

About Ilija
Mr Vickovich was involved in general legal practice for approximately 20 years. He then ventured into legal publishing and writing, as well as part-time lecturing of Law units at business schools run by Curtin University of Technology, La Trobe University and Central Queensland University before joining Macquarie Law School.

Ilija is currently unit convenor and lecturer in contracts as litigation at Macquarie Law School. His research interests include the law and society, the law of church and state; contract law and theory; the law of work; dispute resolution and legal history.

Christine Murray - Meyer Vandenberg Lawyers
Partner - Property, Commercial and Finance team

Area of expertise
Contract preparation & negotiation, Property acquisition, Property development & sales, Self-managed superannuation fund advice, State territory taxes

Qualifications
Bachelor of Commerce/Laws (Australian National University 2000), Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice (Australian National University 2002)

About Christine
Christine has many years experience in Property. She provides leasing advice to government departments and has acted for property developers in providing accommodation to government departments. Christine presently advises ACT Commissioner for Social Housing on a wide range of issues including property acquisition and development.

Christine is the Team Leader of the Property, Commercial and Finance Team and manages the Team's property and banking and finance matters. She is the firm's lead adviser to the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy for their accommodation requirements.

During Christine's career she has undertaken high level property work for leading Canberra businesses, including the acquisition of Canberra House at 40 Marcus Clarke Street, Canberra and the sale of 82 Northbourne Avenue, Canberra. She also advised the Doma Group regarding the provision of the Department of Health & Ageing's new office accommodation in Woden, ACT.

Dr. Stephen Phillip Pallavicini - Stockland
Senior Legal Counsel

Area of expertise
Real Property Law

Qualifications
B.Ec.; LL.B.; B. A. (Hons); LLM. Ph.D.

About Stephen
Stephen has worked for many years in property law. His practice has focused on commercial property law with a particular emphasis on capital transactions, property development and leasing retail assets. He joined Stockland as a senior legal counsel in 2003 after being at Abbott Tout where he was a senior associate. He is a member of the Law Society's Property Law Committee, Law Society's Property Specialist Accreditation Committee, Chair of the Property Law Reform Alliance and an occasional presenter of topics and articles on real property matters.

Richard Graham - Clifford Chance
Partner, Sydney

Area of expertise
Richard has over 15 years' experience advising clients on high profile corporate transactions and major projects.

He is considered a specialist in complex private treaty transactions, joint ventures, corporate governance, capital management, corporate reconstructions, infrastructure and asset procurement (including electricity, gas, rail, waste, mining and renewable energy), real estate and dealings with government.

Qualifications
BA, University of Sydney; LLB, Bond University; MLM, University of New South Wales

Jane Ann Gray - Clifford Chance
Special Counsel

Area of expertise
Jane Ann's principal areas of practice are: mergers and acquisitions including under Chapter 6 of the Corporate Act; business structuring and restructuring including schemes of arrangement; capital raisings; corporate regulation including for listed entities; and the legal aspects of the tax consolidations regime, in particular, tax sharing and funding arrangements.

Jane was admitted as a solicitor in New South Wales in 1979. Jane Ann practised for 20 years as a corporate and commercial partner first at Baker & McKenzie, then at Atanaskovic Hartnell, KPMG Legal and Middletons before joining Chang, Pistilli & Simmons as special counsel in July 2006, prior to its merger with Clifford Chance in May 2011.

Qualifications
BA (Hons), University of Sydney; LLB (Hons) (University Medal), University of Sydney; LLB, Harvard University

Kane Barnett - Clifford Chance
Senior Associate, Sydney

Area of expertise
Kane is a corporate lawyer, advising clients on mergers and acquisitions (including public takeovers and schemes of arrangement), capital raisings and reconstructions. He also has substantial experience in advising on funds and trusts, including listed and unlisted REITs and infrastructure funds and stapled entities, and on Australia's financial services licensing and regulatory regime.

Prior to joining Clifford Chance in May 2011, Kane spent over 10 years at Mallesons Stephen Jaques in Sydney where he was a Senior Associate. Kane is also a Fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia.

Qualifications
BCom, University of Wollongong; LLB (Hons), University of Wollongong

Owen Thomas - Clifford Chance
Associate, Sydney

Area of expertise
Owen has broad experience of complex corporate transactions in the Australian market, including inward investments, acquisitions, disposals, take-privates and joint venture establishments.

His experience includes drafting and negotiating agreements, managing completion of transactions and dealing with regulator and market submissions and approvals, including the ASX, ASIC, FIRB and the ACCC. Owen is also experienced in managing the intellectual property aspects of such transactions.

Owen joined Clifford Chance in Sydney in May 2011, shortly after its merger with Chang, Pistilli & Simmons. Prior to that, he had worked at Jones Day in Sydney. A graduate of the Australian National University in law and international relations, he is admitted in Australia.

Qualifications
BA, University of Canberra; LLB (Hons), University of Canberra

Matthew Morris - Clifford Chance
Associate, Sydney

Area of expertise
Matthew advises Australian and international clients on a range of corporate transactions including public and private mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, capital raisings, private equity, and corporate and securities law.

Qualifications
BCom, University of Sydney; JD, University of Technology Sydney; LLM (Hons), University of Technology Sydney

Jonathan Turnham - Clifford Chance
Associate, Sydney

Area of expertise
Providing advice to Australian and international clients, Jonathan's areas of expertise include private treaty mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, management buy-outs, strategic investments, private equity, co-investment and hedge funds and capital raisings.

Jonathan joined Chang, Pistilli & Simmons (which merged with Clifford Chance in May 2011) in November 2010. Prior to Chang, Pistilli & Simmons, Jonathan was an associate with a large full-service Australian firm and also a Judge's Associate at the Supreme Court of New South Wales.

Qualifications
LLB (Hons), University of Sydney; BSc (Crim) (Hons), University of Ottawa

Dr David Cox - Dr David Cox

Partner

Area of expertise
Commercial transactions involving intellectual property; disputes resolution in cases involving intellectual property (patents, trade marks, copyright, designs) and matters of a technical nature

Qualifications
BSc(Hons) PhD (West Aust) LLB(Hons) (Murd)

About David
David has a practice that covers both non-contentious and contentious matters. In addition to being a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Western Australia and the High Court of Australia, David is a registered Trade Marks Attorney.

Non-contentious matters include advising on intellectual property strategies, applying for trade mark protection, undertaking intellectual property audits and due diligence for sales, preparing transfer documentation and advising on employment agreements where they concern intellectual property assets.

Contentious matters include cases concerning the ownership of inventions, trade mark and patent oppositions, the enforcement of intellectual property rights including patents, trade marks (registered and unregistered), copyright and designs, the ownership and enforcement of confidentiality obligations and cases concerning matters of a technical nature.

John Kell - Hunt & Hunt Lawyers
Partner

Area of expertise
Advising clients on buying and selling businesses, goods and services in Australia and internationally; Health and ageing

Qualifications
University New South Wales, Bachelor of Arts/Laws; University of New South Wales, Master of Environmental Studies

About John
A dynamic, practical and commercially based approach that maintains pace with changing regulations and new legislation keeps John at the forefront of his profession. With a client list spanning many industries and businesses, John's focus has always been advising clients on buying and selling businesses, goods and services in Australia and internationally. His expertise draws on John's knowledge of many areas of the law including corporate and commercial law, competition and consumer law, financial services licensing and compliance.

John's efficient and fast turnaround, along with pragmatic plain English advice, has resulted in a very supportive client base. John is particularly renowned for his calm manner when solving very challenging and timely issues. Merger and acquisitions including due diligence, contract preparations and negotiations and all post completion attendances.

Practical business support such as set-up and structuring issues, shareholder arrangements, corporate governance, contracts and compliance.

Supporting Australian companies doing business overseas (especially in China) and foreign companies investing in Australia including set-up, exporting, and sourcing goods and materials.

Franchising issues, from drafting and reviewing contracts, system set-up, compliance issues and regulatory requirements, to operations and management issues regarding agreement termination and dispute resolution.

Tender preparation and submission, guiding clients through the process, preparing documentation, assessing tenders and negotiating final contracts.

Public and private health sector issues, such as day-to-day operations, hospital set-ups, procurement management, acquisitions of goods and services and outsourcing and disposal of surplus assets.

Adam Mazzaferro - Hunt & Hunt Lawyers
Senior Associate

Area of expertise
Corporate and Commercial, Mergers and acquisitions; Competition and consumer law; Internet and digital technologies

Qualifications
University of Wollongong, Bachelor of Laws; Southern Cross University, Bachelor of Arts; Universita' per Stranieri di Siena - Italy, Advanced Italian

About Adam
Adam understands the competitive environment in which his clients operate and provides his clients with practical and realistic advice to assist with the development of their business. He has acted for clients across a range of industries including automotive, banking and finance, e-commerce, film, retail and sport. His experience includes:

Advising and preparing a variety of documents for listed companies and local subsidiaries of multinationals and assisting with the corporate management of those companies and with the development of new businesses in Australia;

Conducting legal due diligence for mergers and acquisitions of Australian companies by domestic and international clients including contract negotiation and preparation and all post completion work;

Advising on establishment and structuring issues, shareholder arrangements, corporate governance, contracts and compliance;

Acting for clients on a range of privacy and e-commerce issues ensuring they adhere to their ongoing obligations, including the drafting of company policies;

Providing advice to companies on their obligations under various legislation and codes when advertising their products and services through all forms of media, including drafting, reviewing and advising on competition terms and conditions and company policies including direct marketing and e-commerce issues;

Drafting various commercial documents and agreements; Working closely with clients in relation to the development of new products and services to ensure that all legal, licensing and compliance (e.g. industry practice guidelines) requirements are met.

Matthew Latham - Jones Day Lawyers
Partner

About Matthew
Matt Latham's practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions and private equity transactions. He has represented Australian and offshore acquirers and targets in a number of acquisitions, divestitures, take-private transactions, buyouts, and joint ventures. He also advises clients on various corporate-related matters including directors' duties, corporate governance, and disclosure.

Jonathan Halliwell - Jones Day Lawyers
Associate

About Jonathan
Jonathan Halliwell's practice is focused on mergers and acquisitions, private equity transactions, business restructuring, and general corporate and commercial law.

Jonathan has worked on both domestic and cross-border transactions involving listed and unlisted companies and has provided assistance with due diligence, negotiations, drafting, and completion matters. He also has experience in commercial litigation.

Karin Ottesen  - Karin Ottesen Barrister
Barrister

Area of expertise
Karin has been approved as an Expert Determiner and Arbitrator with the NSW Bar Association. Alternative Dispute Resolution (Arbitration/Mediation/Expert Determination); Banking, Finance, Securities; Commercial Law; Corporations Law; Equity; Insolvency & Bankruptcy; Succession; Trade practices & competition law

Qualifications
BJuris LLB, Dip, Crim, BA, LLM (Hons II) and Grad Dip in Applied Finance and Investment Karin has held the following academic positions: Lecturer/tutor in business law and corporate law (since 2007) and international business law (since 2010), part-time lecturer in legal institutions, Law Extension Committee, University of Sydney (1994-2002) and Principal Examiner in Legal Institutions, NSW Legal Practitioners Admission Board (1995-2002), lecturer coordinating "Law relating to Banking" and "Public Unit Trusts" in the MBA program conducted by the University of New England (1996). 

About Karin
Karin Ottesen began practising at the New South Wales Bar in February 1994, after working as a banking and finance solicitor with Mallesons Stephen Jacques, a major commercial law firm. While at Mallesons, Karin spent 10 months on secondment to the Australian Payments Clearing Association Limited as in-house legal counsel reporting to the Chief Executive Officer.

James Dickson - Piper Alderman
Partner, Head of Corporate Division

Area of expertise
Corporate Transactions; Financial Services

Qualifications
B.Ec, LL.B (Hons); GCLP; Grad Dip App Fin & Inv

About James
James is a corporate practitioner with significant experience in corporate transactions, corporate governance, directors' duties and compliance with the Corporations Act, ASIC requirements and ASX Listing Rules. His practice has a strong focus on mergers and acquisitions, takeovers (both for bidders and targets), IPOs, other capital raisings and corporate structuring and reconstructions.

James also focuses on financial services, including financial services licensing, registered and unregistered managed investment schemes, PDSs and securities industry issues. He provides advice on corporate and commercial matters and advises high net worth individuals and businesses on appropriate asset protection structures and succession planning issues.

James is a member of the Takeovers Panel, a councillor for the Australian Institute of Company Directors (SA/NT Division) and a member of the AICD Law Committee.

Craig Yeung - Piper Alderman
Partner

Area of expertise
Corporate Transactions, Financial Services

Qualifications
B.Com, LL.B (Hons), GDLP, LL.M

About Craig
Craig is a corporate law specialist and has extensive experience in advising on corporate and securities law, as well as general commercial matters. Craig has significant experience in corporate advisory, including advising on directors duties, corporate governance, and mergers and acquisitions for private, public and ASX listed companies in a variety of industries, including mining and resources, technology and financial services.

In addition, Craig has advised many private and public companies in relation to their capital raising needs, from angel or venture capital funding for early stage entrepreneurs and start-up companies, to IPOs for companies in biotechnology, resources and information technology.

Mark Gordon - Piper Alderman
Partner

Area of expertise
Banking and Finance

Qualifications
LL.B

About Mark
Mark is a specialist banking and finance lawyer with over 20 years experience. He advises and acts primarily in corporate and commercial matters involving corporate lending, loan syndication, consumer finance, Corporations Act compliance and commercial contracts. Mark also advises on privacy issues relating to the Privacy Amendment (Privacy Sector) Act 2000.

Mark has extensive experience in public listed company transactions and has provided advice on a wide range of matters to a number of high profile companies and government agencies.

Jen Tan - Piper Alderman
Associate

Area of expertise
Corporate transactions, corporate restructure, risk managemenent

Qualifications
Bachelor of Laws and Legal Practice (first class honours), Bachelor of Commerce (accounting major)

About Jen
Jen has experience in providing advice to large corporate clients, partnerships, directors and high net worth individuals and drafting relevant documents in respect of corporate and commercial issues including corporate governance, compliance with the Corporations Act and ASIC requirements, risk management, corporate restructure, board restructure, directors' duties and ongoing day-today advice on strategic commercial board level decisions.

Jen also has experience in running complex legal disputes arising from commercial developments, dissolution of companies and partnerships, directors' duties, consumer protection, allegations relating to breaches of contracts, technology and intellectual property, joint venture mining, property law, building and construction and general debt recovery.

Jarrod Wilksch - Piper Alderman
Lawyer

Area of expertise
Corporate Law

Qualifications
LLB/LP (Hons); BCom (Acc)

About Jarrod
Jarrod is a lawyer in Piper Alderman's corporate division who has experience advising on corporate, commercial and securities law as well as ASIC and ASX Listing Rule requirements. He also has experience in general corporate advisory, including directors duties and corporate governance. In addition, Jarrod has broad commercial experience including drafting and advising on supply agreements, services agreements, shareholders agreements, confidentiality agreements, standard terms and conditions and other commercial agreements across a number of industries, including mining and resources, technology and renewable energy.

Kathryn Edghill - Truman Hoyle
Lawyer

About Jarrod
Kathryn has over 20 years experience. She provides competition and consumer law advise and representation to some of Australia's leading corporations. Her clients include Microsoft, Frucor, American Express and Vodafone.

Brian Hor - WillWorks
Principal and Legal Practitioner Director

Area of expertise
Brian is a fully qualified, specialist trusts and estate planning lawyer with over 24 years' experience in income tax law, corporations law and financial services law, superannuation law, capital gains tax, sophisticated wills, testamentary trusts, discretionary trusts, unit trusts, hybrid trusts, partnership deeds, shareholder agreements and business succession agreements.

Qualifications
BEc, LLB (Syd), DipFP, CTM, FTIA

About Brian
Brian Hor is the Principal and Legal Practitioner Director of WillWorks Pty Ltd, a boutique law practice specialising in providing sophisticated estate planning services.

Before establishing WillWorks Pty Ltd, Brian was a Partner with a "top tier" global professional services organisation and was a founder of its Private Clients Estate Planning practice in Australia.

Brian was also Chairman of the Financial Planning Association's Tax Committee and member of the FPA Public Policy Committee continuously from 1997 to 2004, and helped negotiate ATO concessions to assist financial planners' transition to the FSR regime, amend the PSI laws for the special circumstances of financial planners, and promote tax deductibility for tax advice given by financial planners. More recently Brian was an industry representative on the ATO's Alienation and Part IVA Working Group Review into the Alienation of Personal Services Income Rules in 2009.

Brian has published numerous professional articles, and regularly presents at professional training and legal education seminars on taxation, trusts, estate planning, asset protection and business structuring for organisations including The Taxation Institute, Television Education Network, LexisNexis, the Financial Planning Association, IBC Conferences, The Law Society of NSW, The CLE Centre, NSW State Legal Conferences, and The College of Law. 

Maria Tzannes - Antunes Lawyers
Special Counsel

Area of expertise
Wills and estates, trusts, commercial practice and commercial litigation.

Qualifications
Maria holds bachelor degrees in Arts and Laws and a Masters degree in Adult Education

About Maria
Maria was admitted as a legal practitioner in NSW in 1976. She has had extensive experience in general legal practice as an employed solicitor and as principal of her own firm as well as being a barrister. Recognising the need for better training of new lawyers, Maria moved into legal education and held positions at the College of Law, University of Sydney, University of Newcastle and University of Western Sydney where she led the way in bringing practical legal training into undergraduate law degrees. She was appointed Associate Professor and Director of Professional Legal Education and Chair of Academic Board at the University of Western Sydney. Maria has been published extensively in revered international journals on legal education and has delivered many papers at prestigious law schools internationally including Harvard, Yale, Stanford and Cambridge Universities on legal education.

Maria now spends most of her professional life as Special Counsel to a boutique legal firm specialising in wills and estates, trusts, commercial practice and commercial litigation. She is in high demand as a seminar presenter for continuing professional development and often acts as a Chair or facilitator for legal firm conferences and retreats.

Raymond Lim - Tresscox Lawyers
Special Counsel

Area of expertise
Estate planning for high net worth individuals; business succession planning, business and personal structuring and restructuring; taxation advice (income tax, capital gains tax, goods and services tax, land tax and stamp duty); tax review and objections; utilise and advise on superannuation debt trust, self managed superannuation fund deed, directional death benefit, buy/sell agreement, discretionary trust, unit trust, hybrid trust, shareholder / unit-holder / partnership agreement.

Qualifications
Raymond holds qualifications in accounting, finance and law and holds dual qualifications as a chartered accountant and solicitor. He is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and prior to practicing law in 2004, obtained his Masters degree in Commerce.

About Raymond
Raymond is a Special Counsel at TressCox Lawyers in the Estate Planning and Wealth Management team in Sydney.

Raymond has many years experience providing comprehensive estate and business succession planning services including structuring, tax advice and the implementation of all relevant documentation. He has been able to utilise his taxation skills in advising and structuring a range of clients in business succession planning, personal estate planning and asset protection.

Adrian Holmes - Adrian Holmes Lawyers

Partner

Area of expertise
Adrian is an Accredited Specialist in wills and estates Law. He conducts a specialist and consulting practice as Adrian Holmes Lawyer in estate and succession planning, complex deceased estates and probate litigation. Adrian is also an Accredited Specialist in family law.

About Adrian
Adrian Holmes was admitted as a solicitor in 1981. He has practised as a solicitor for over 30 years in Sydney and regional and rural NSW cities.

Ken Searle - Marsdens Law Group
Partner

About Ken
Ken Searle is the Partner in charge of the Camden office of Marsdens Law Group and Partner in charge of the entire Estate Planning department. He has been a lawyer for over 30 years. Prior to joining Marsdens in 1986, Ken was in partnership with the former Premier of New South Wales and Federal Minister for Finance, John Fahey.

Ken practices in most areas of law but predominantly in the areas of wills and estate law and commercial law.

Ken obtained his Law Society Specialist Accreditation in wills and estates law in 2004 and he is the only NSW Law Society Accredited Specialist in wills and estate law in the Campbelltown area.

Ken is also an Accredited Commercial Mediator.

Ken is currently completing a Masters in Applied Law (Wills & Estates) at the College of Law.

Ken is very active in the community and serves a number of local organisations, including President of the Camden RSL Club, member of the Camden Rugby Club & Camden Rotary Club and member of the finance committee of the St Paul's Catholic Church. 

Vincent Barrett - Bowring Macauley and Barrett
Partner

Area of expertise
Wills and Estates

Qualifications
BA LLB Sydney University

About Vincent
Vincent is a partner in the firm, conducting a general practice in the Camden, Picton and Campbelltown areas on the south west outskirts of Sydney. He has been in practice for over 35 years and his principal areas are wills and estates, commercial law, criminal law and property law.

He is an accredited specialist in wills and estates.

Christine Page - David Landa Stewart
Partner

Area of expertise
Estate planning: including advising clients on their estate planning options, the preparation of all necessary documentation including wills appropriate to the client's needs and circumstances, powers of attorney, appointments of enduring guardians, superannuation death benefit nominations and other documents as required.

Applications to the Court for grants of Probate of Letters of Administration - whether contested or uncontested; Acting for executors and administrators, advising and assisting them where necessary on the day to day administration of a deceased estate; Advising and acting for clients (as either the applicant or the estate) in regard to family provision or other contested estate matters.

About Christine
Christine has been an accredited specialist in Wills and Estates since 1995. She heads the Wills and Estates team at David Landa Stewart, but has previously also had extensive experience in estate planning and estate administration with a trustee company. Christine is a regular presenter on wills and estates topics for the legal industry and for financial advisors.

Simon Singer - David Landa Stewart
Partner

Area of expertise
Business/commercial law, Property law, construction and development, Personal and commercial finance, Land tax advice, Wills, Trusts and Estates.

About Christine
Simon gained wide experience at Allen, Allen & Hemsley Solicitors (now Allens Arthur Robinson) working in their Commercial Property and Planning Group for 5 years before joining David Landa Stewart in 1996. He became principal of the firm on 1 July 2002. He is now head of the Commercial Property Group and the firm's Managing Partner.

Stephen Lynch - Somerville Legal
Director

Area of expertise
Wills and estates

Qualifications
Bachelor of Economics, Bachelor of Laws

About Stephen
Stephen has been a director of Somerville Legal since 2010. He is an Accredited Specialist in wills and estates law, and is a member of the Society of Trust & Estate Practitioners. His extensive experience in estate planning includes the preparation of complex wills, complex applications for probate and letters of administration, and family provision proceedings. In 2009, Stephen was involved in the first case in NSW in which a court-made will was made for someone found to have pre-empted capacity.