Practice areas
Six areas of law, done carefully.
Each area below is led by lawyers who practise in it every week. For each one we set out what we help with, how a matter usually runs and what to bring to a first meeting, so you can arrive prepared.
01
Family law
Separation is hard enough without legal uncertainty. We help you understand where you stand, keep things out of court where that's safe and sensible, and act firmly when it isn't.
Led by Margaret Burley and Hannah Lisle
What we help with
- Separation and property settlement
- Parenting arrangements
- Consent orders
- Binding financial agreements
- Family dispute resolution and mediation
- Superannuation splitting
- Divorce applications
- Family violence orders
A typical process
- First meetingWe listen, explain the law that applies to your situation and outline your options and likely costs.
- Information and disclosureWe gather the financial and family information needed, and both sides exchange documents.
- Negotiation or dispute resolutionLawyer-assisted negotiation, family dispute resolution or mediation. Most matters resolve at this stage.
- Formalising the outcomeWe prepare consent orders for the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, or a binding financial agreement.
- Court, if neededWhere agreement isn't possible or safety is at risk, we prepare and run your case, briefing a barrister where appropriate.
What to bring to a first meeting
- Key dates: when you started living together, married and separated, and your children's dates of birth
- A list of assets, debts and superannuation (rough figures are fine)
- Recent payslips and your last two tax returns
- Any existing orders, agreements or court documents
- Letters or emails from your former partner or their lawyer
02
Criminal and traffic law
Our office is directly across Knowles Place from the ACT Magistrates Court and Supreme Court. If you've been charged, we can meet you before your first appearance, advise you clearly and stand beside you in court.
Led by Daniel Walsh and James Kerrigan
What we help with
- Bail applications
- Drink and drug driving
- Licence suspension and disqualification
- Speeding and other traffic offences
- Assault and property offences
- Drug offences
- Pleas and sentencing
- Defended hearings and trials
A typical process
- Early adviceIdeally before you speak to police or attend court. We explain the charge, the process and what you should and shouldn't say.
- Reviewing the evidenceWe obtain and review the police brief of evidence and identify any weaknesses in the prosecution case.
- Plea or defenceWe advise on your options frankly, including negotiating with the prosecution to have charges withdrawn or amended.
- PreparationFor a plea, we gather references and reports for sentencing. For a hearing, we prepare witnesses and evidence.
- In courtWe appear with you, and afterwards explain the outcome and anything you need to do next.
What to bring to a first meeting
- Your charge sheet, court attendance notice or bail conditions
- Any infringement, suspension or disqualification notices
- For traffic matters, your driving record from Access Canberra
- A short written timeline of what happened, written while it's fresh
- Details of your work, study or caring responsibilities
03
Wills, estates and elder law
Good estate planning is quiet work done early. We prepare clear wills and powers of attorney, guide executors through probate, and help families with the legal decisions that come with ageing.
Led by Margaret Burley and James Kerrigan
What we help with
- Wills and testamentary trusts
- Enduring powers of attorney
- Probate and letters of administration
- Estate administration for executors
- Family provision claims and will disputes
- Guardianship and ACAT applications
- Retirement village and aged care contracts
- Family accommodation arrangements
A typical process
- ConversationWe talk through your family, your assets and what matters most to you.
- AdviceWe recommend a structure, including choice of executors and attorneys and whether a testamentary trust would help.
- Draft for reviewYou receive plain-English drafts to read at home and query before anything is signed.
- SigningDocuments are signed and witnessed correctly at our office. We can keep the originals in safe custody at no charge.
- ReviewWe suggest a review after major life changes such as marriage, separation, a new grandchild or a property sale.
What to bring to a first meeting
- Your current will and any existing powers of attorney
- A rough list of assets, debts, superannuation and life insurance, including any nominated beneficiaries
- Names of the people you're considering as executors or attorneys
- For a deceased estate: the death certificate, the original will if you have it, and recent bank statements
04
Property and conveyancing
Buying or selling in the ACT comes with its own rules, from Crown leases to the documents a seller must provide before marketing. We handle the legal side so settlement day is uneventful.
Led by Thomas Okafor
What we help with
- Residential purchases and sales
- Off-the-plan purchases
- Contract review before auction or exchange
- Contracts and required documents for sellers
- Transfers between family members
- Unit titles and owners corporation issues
- Crown lease variations
- Commercial property purchases
A typical process
- Contract reviewBefore you bid or sign, we check the contract, the Crown lease and the required documents, and flag anything unusual.
- ExchangeWe manage exchange and explain the cooling-off period that applies to most residential purchases, and when it doesn't.
- Searches and financeWe carry out searches and work with your lender or broker so finance is ready on time.
- Pre-settlementWe calculate adjustments for rates and land tax and prepare the settlement statement.
- SettlementWe complete settlement electronically and confirm the moment it's done, so you can collect the keys.
What to bring to a first meeting
- The draft contract and any paperwork from the agent
- Your finance approval, or your lender's or broker's details
- Photo identification for verification of identity
- For sellers: your rates notices, any body corporate details and your preferred settlement timing
05
Employment and workplace
We advise employees and smaller employers through every stage of a working relationship, including the particular processes that apply in the Australian Public Service.
Led by Priya Raman
What we help with
- Unfair dismissal claims
- General protections claims
- Employment contracts and restraints
- Redundancy and termination advice
- APS Code of Conduct investigations
- Bullying and harassment complaints
- Fair Work Commission conciliation
- Settlement and separation deeds
A typical process
- Check the time limitsSome claims must be lodged within 21 days of a dismissal taking effect, so we check deadlines first.
- ReviewWe read your contract, any enterprise agreement or award, and the correspondence so far.
- StrategyWe advise on the options: an internal response, a negotiated outcome or a formal claim.
- RepresentationWe represent you in conciliation, mediation or a hearing, or in meetings with your employer.
- ResolutionWe review any settlement deed carefully before you sign, including tax, references and confidentiality.
What to bring to a first meeting
- Your contract or letter of offer, and any enterprise agreement or award that applies
- Any termination letter, warning, or notice of suspected breach of the APS Code of Conduct
- Recent payslips
- Key emails or messages, printed in date order
- A timeline of what happened and who was involved
06
Business and disputes
For Canberra businesses, practical commercial advice that keeps things moving. For anyone in a dispute, a clear-eyed view of what's worth pursuing and what it will cost.
Led by Thomas Okafor and Daniel Walsh
What we help with
- Business structures and set-up
- Buying or selling a business
- Commercial and retail leases
- Contracts and terms of trade
- Shareholder and partnership agreements
- Debt recovery
- Contract and building disputes
- Matters in ACAT and the ACT courts
A typical process
- AssessWe work out what's at stake and what the documents actually say.
- OptionsWe give you a commercial view: the likely cost of each path against the realistic outcome.
- Early resolutionLetters of demand, negotiation or mediation. Many disputes settle here.
- Proceedings, if neededWe run the matter in ACAT or the courts, with a budget for each stage agreed in advance.
- CloseSettlement, judgment and, where necessary, enforcement.
What to bring to a first meeting
- The relevant contract, lease or terms of trade
- Invoices, statements and payment history
- Key correspondence, in date order
- Your business details, including ABN or ACN
- Any court or tribunal documents you've received, with the dates you received them
FAQs
Common questions
If your question isn't here, call us. A short conversation usually answers it.
Yes. We offer a free phone chat of up to 15 minutes to understand your situation, tell you whether we can help and explain what a first meeting would involve and cost. We won't give detailed advice in that call, but we will tell you honestly whether you need a lawyer.
It depends on the work involved. Where the scope is clear, such as a will, a standard conveyance or many traffic matters, we offer a fixed fee. Otherwise we give you a written estimate by stage. Either way, you'll receive a costs agreement before we start, and we tell you before an estimate is exceeded.
Start with a solicitor. We manage your matter, give advice, prepare documents and appear in many court hearings ourselves. For trials and more complex hearings we may recommend briefing a barrister, a specialist advocate. If so, we'll explain why and agree their fees with you first.
Please call us as early as you can rather than emailing. Because our office is opposite the ACT Law Courts, we can often meet you before a Magistrates Court appearance at short notice. Bring any paperwork you've been given.
Yes. We offer early-morning and some Saturday appointments by arrangement, and video or phone meetings if you can't easily get into the city.
We must check for conflicts of interest before you tell us anything confidential. If we've acted for the other party, we can't act for you, and we'll let you know quickly so you can find another firm.
Not sure if you need a lawyer? Start with a free 15-minute call.
Tell us briefly what's happening. We'll tell you honestly whether we can help, who in the team is best placed, and what a first meeting would cost.