Practice area
Resources on civil litigation and dispute resolution — court proceedings, mediation, alternative dispute resolution and the strategic decisions that shape commercial and personal disputes.
A practical Australian guide for employers, directors and HR teams on general protections claims — adverse action, workplace rights, industrial activity, freedom of association, the reverse onus of proof, the Fair Work Commission and court process, remedies, penalties and personal liability of managers.
A practical Australian guide for employers, directors and HR teams on unfair dismissal — eligibility, the Fair Work Commission process, time limits, valid reason, procedural fairness, remedies and how to respond to an application.
A plain-English Victorian guide to owners corporation disputes — levies and special levies, repairs, common property versus lot property, water leaks, building defects, short-stay, noise and pets, committee decision-making, managers, internal dispute resolution, Consumer Affairs Victoria, VCAT and the costs and practical risks of escalation.
A plain-English Victorian guide to restrictive covenants — how they appear on title, common examples, due diligence, section 32 disclosure, planning permit issues, breach risks, Supreme Court modification and practical steps if a covenant is discovered late.
A plain-English Victorian guide to property boundaries and fencing disputes — how legal title boundaries are determined, why fences are often in the wrong place, licensed surveyors, encroachments, retaining walls, trees, access, the Fences Act 1968 (Vic), mediation and Supreme Court proceedings.
A plain-English Victorian guide to adverse possession — the 15-year limitation period under the Limitation of Actions Act 1958 (Vic), continuous and exclusive possession, intention to possess, fencing and boundary encroachments, Crown land exclusions, applications through Land Use Victoria and Supreme Court proceedings.
A plain-English Victorian guide to easements — drainage, sewerage, carriageway and utility easements, building over an easement, neighbour disputes, removal and variation under section 36 of the Subdivision Act 1988 (Vic) and section 23 of the Property Law Act 1958 (Vic), and pre-purchase due diligence.
A plain-English Victorian guide to caveats on land — caveatable interests, voluntary withdrawal, section 89A lapsing notices, urgent Supreme Court applications under section 90(3), and compensation for wrongful caveats under section 118.
Search orders (formerly Anton Piller orders) authorise entry to premises and the preservation of documents and electronic records at risk of destruction. A plain-English Victorian guide to the threshold, the role of the independent supervising solicitor, and the costs and contempt risks.
Freezing (Mareva) orders preserve assets so that a future Victorian judgment is not rendered worthless. A plain-English guide to the evidence required, the undertaking as to damages, interstate and overseas reach, and the costs and contempt risks of breach.
When assets, confidential information or transactions are at imminent risk, an urgent injunction may be the only effective remedy. A plain-English Victorian guide to interim and final injunctions, ex parte applications, the serious-question and balance-of-convenience test, the undertaking as to damages, and the costs and contempt risks.
Who pays legal costs in Victorian court proceedings? A plain-English guide to the 'costs follow the event' rule, party/party vs solicitor/client costs, indemnity costs, Calderbank offers, offers of compromise and the costs risks of estate and commercial disputes.
Received a drone fine, CASA notice or complaint about drone use? A practical guide to Australian drone rules, penalties, privacy issues and when to seek legal advice.
How bankruptcy affects family law property settlement in Australia — the role of the trustee, vested property, the rights of the non-bankrupt spouse, creditors, clawback issues and what to do if your former partner becomes bankrupt.
A practical Victorian guide for business owners on resolving commercial disputes before court — letters of demand, negotiation, mediation, expert determination, arbitration, VCAT and cost-effective strategies.
What a letter of demand is, common types of claim, time limits, preserving evidence, the risks of ignoring correspondence, negotiation and settlement options, and when to obtain legal advice.
A plain-English guide to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal — its jurisdiction and powers, starting and responding to proceedings, hearings, evidence, costs and practical tips for applicants and respondents.
A plain-English guide to Family Violence Intervention Orders in Victoria — who can apply, what counts as family violence, interim and final orders, conditions, children, contesting an order and the consequences of breach.
How PSIOs protect people from threatening or harmful conduct outside a family relationship — who can apply, the court process, interim and final orders, and the consequences of breach.
