Specialties
In general, we handle legal matters for “people”, in both their personal and commercial affairs. Many of the “businesses” for whom we act are very large, but in the main they are owned and operated by people, whether they are individuals, families or a combination of several groups. These businesses range from small consultancies and retail shops to large retail chains and companies involved in joint ventures and the development of new products and services of all kinds.
Specifically, we have extensive experience in handling matters in the following areas:-
- Property Transactions — The sale, purchase, redevelopment, lease and financing of properties of all kinds, be they residential, commercial or rural, including properties in company title buildings and interests in retirement villages.
- Wills, Powers of Attorney and Appointments of Guardians — We frequently prepare Wills, Powers of Attorney and Appointments of Guardians for people in many and various circumstances, including Wills for clients who have been married before and who have a “blended family” and also Wills involving “testamentary trusts”. We also have considerable experience in advising clients who have a need to make special provision for particular beneficiaries, such as children with disabilities.
- Deceased Estates — We frequently handle deceased estates, both large and small, including those which have ongoing and continuing trusts. We have extensive experience in advising on the distribution of estate assets, which invariably involves consideration of important taxation and other similar issues.
- Estate Litigation — We handle various disputes and claims before the Courts in relation to Estates, including challenges to the validity of Wills, disputes between beneficiaries and executors and also claims of various kinds for further provision under the family Provision Act.
- Business and Commercial Law — We have extensive experience in handling a wide range of business and commercial matters, including the sale and purchase of businesses, advising on the structure and restructuring of those businesses, advising on insolvency issues and the duties and responsibilities of directors, assisting with partnership and joint venture agreements and advising and assisting in the finalisation of licences and franchises. The range and diversity of these matters is as broad as the great variety of the businesses involved. Doug (Spencer) has been an Accredited Specialist in Business Law since 1993.
- Litigation — We have extensive experience of handling commercial and other similar litigation in all jurisdictions, from the Local Court to the Supreme and Federal Courts.
- Local Government Appeals — Over the years we have handled a wide variety of matters involving issues and disputes with local councils and other statutory authorities. These include appeals to the Land & Environment Court in relation to building and development applications. Some years ago Doug (Spencer) was involved in a high profile case when he represented a community organisation which successfully opposed and application by the Hornsby Council to build a compost facility at Thornleigh.
- Employment Law — We regularly handle claims both for employees and employers in relation to claims concerning employment arrangements, which not only involve claims following the termination of employment contracts but also claims for relief on the basis that the employment contract was unfair in some respect.
- Criminal Law — Over the years we have handled a great variety of criminal and traffic matters. These primarily involve appearances before the Local Courts (as all of these matters at least start in those Courts) but also before the District Court in relation to more serious charges. We regularly appear for people who have maters before the Courts in relation to drink driving and other similar charges. For many years Doug (Spencer) managed the Duty Solicitor Roster at the Hornsby Local Court.
|
