The firm is structured around 5 key areas:


1. Corporate & Commercial

2. Wills, Estates & Succession

3. Property & Development

4. Commercial Litigation

5. Family Law

In this way our lawyers can concentrate their knowledge and time to their field of expertise, therefore ensuring high quality advice to clients. At all times, we aim to provide a personal, friendly and efficient service to clients, with an emphasis on flexibility, responsiveness and good communication.

Corporate & Commercial

The firm's Corporate & Commercial Group provides the full range of commercial services to individual, small business and corporate clients from a wide range of industry sectors. By understanding our clients' needs, we aim to provide clear, concise legal solutions that add to the value of clients' businesses and help to achieve their objectives.

Members of the group are experts in their fields and are kept up to date with current legislation.

Services provided by the Corporate & Commercial Group include:

Members of the Corporate & Commercial Group include:

Tom White

Peter Flanagan

Julien Uyttenhove

Cherie Ford

Michael Johnston

Wills, Estates & Succession

It is important that you ensure your affairs are in order. A Will allows for any particular requirements you might have eg leaving assets to friends, extended family, charity or other and makes it more difficult for people to contest the distribution of your assets. You should also consider the impact of your assets being left to family members in relation to asset protection, pensions and tax. However your Will only comes into affect after you have gone.

Plan for the future - now. In terms of Succession Planning, there are asset protection and tax effective strategies that can be used and superannuation issues to consider that may impact on your current business operations or personal assets. Good wealth management today can create greater results and security for the future.

Things to consider:

> long term planning issues and strategies with respect to the succession
   or sale of your business
> reviewing your current business structure and consider the impact
   on future succession issues
> using a range or combination of structures to achieve desired outcomes
> ensuring existing trusts allow for change and minimise CGT consequences
> tax effective personal asset protection strategies
> strategies that protect business and family assets from possible family
   breakdown
> the impact of GST amendments on inherited land
> superannuation issues impacting on succession and estate planning

Services:

> incorporation of family trusts
> estate planning
> succession planning
> asset protection
> age pension planning
> superannuation and tax advice
> powers of attorney (including financial and medical)
> wills
> probate administration

Our lawyers work closely with Accountants and Financial Planners to ensure that your objectives are met and all issues that may impact on your personal and business affairs in the future are taken into consideration. We also work closely with clients to analyse their current status, to understand their objectives and to advise on the best possible structure to realise the desired outcomes.

Call 5273 5211 to discuss your business and/or personal needs.

Members of the Succession Planning & Wills Group include:

Lawyers

Kevin Roache
Amy Fisher
April Slater

Wills & Probate Clerks

Daria O'Donnell
Melissa Purcell

Allison Walker

Property & Development

The firm's Property & Development Group provides the full range of commercial services to individual, small business and corporate clients from a wide range of industry sectors. We work closely with engineers, surveyors, architects, valuers, builders, financiers, banks and other parties on property transactions and attend multi party meetings as and when required by clients.

Members of the group are experts in their field and are kept up to date with current legislation.

Services provided by the Property & Development Group include:

> acquisitions and sale
> carpark planning and construction
> commercial leasing
> construction contracts
> environment & planning
> heritage aspects of development
> joint ventures
> liquor licensing applications
> property and construction litigation
> property trusts
> retail and residential development
> shopping centres
> subdivisions

Members of the Property & Development Group include:

Lawyers

Vaughan Lamb

Simon French

Vesna Smigowski

Cherie Ford

Property Clerks

Sally Cole

Alicia Crowe

Christine Fox

Debra Ryan

Commercial Litigation

Our lawyers have participated in complex and large scale litigation primarily in the County and Supreme Courts of Victoria, and the Federal Court of Australia. Through this experience we have developed a commitment to confidentiality, accountability, flexibility and the ability to work to tight deadlines. Alternative dispute resolution is an integral part of our service and strategy. It is a valuable alternative to litigation due to the cost and time savings resulting from avoiding the Court process.

> commercial and contractual disputes
> construction disputes
> property disputes
> trade practices
> tax litigation
> product and public liability
> professional indemnity
> directors and officers liability
> trust and estate disputes
> coronial inquests and other investigations
> prosecutions under environmental legislation
> occupational health and safety prosecutions
> alternative dispute resolution

Members of the Commercial Litigation Group include:

Simon French

Martin Reid

Stewart Pinkstone

Family Law

The firm's family lawyers provide an extensive range of services in a sensitive and confidential manner. They prepare for and appear in State and Federal Courts including the Supreme and County Courts of Victoria, Family and Federal Magistrates' Court - Geelong and Melbourne. They are also frequently involved in and place great emphasis on conciliation and mediation processes to resolve disputes. Their services include:

> Division of assets
> Divorce and all family law matters
> De facto agreements
> Superannuation and tax advice
> Child residence and contact matters
> Spousal Maintenance
> Child support

Members of the Family Law Group include:

Alicia Carroll

Rebecca Leonard

Anne O'Loughlin