When a relationship ends, one of the most important issues is how property, liabilities, superannuation and financial resources will be divided. In Australia, property settlement is not based on an automatic 50/50 split. The Court does not apply a fixed formula. Instead, it considers what outcome is just and equitable in the circumstances of each …
Property Settlement After Separation: 2026 Family Law Changes Read More »
You have signed the contract, chosen your conveyancer and are waiting for the next step. Instead of a costs disclosure, you receive a questionnaire asking where your deposit is coming from, whether you hold or have ever held a prominent public office in any country, and whether you are acting on behalf of someone else. …
AML Conveyancing Rules: What NSW Buyers Need to Know Read More »
A recent Federal Court decision has set aside a visa cancellation character test ruling because the Tribunal failed to engage with handwritten letters from three children. A reminder that decision-makers cannot treat children’s voices as mere character references. The Case at a Glance In Sumeo v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs [2026] FCA …
Visa Cancellation & the Character Test: How Children’s Evidence Can Change the Outcome Read More »
Every litigator who briefs experts has had the experience of opening a draft report and feeling a quiet drop in the stomach. The opinion is fine but the reasoning is gone. Or the assumptions are wrong. Or the witness has wandered into a paragraph that no person in their field could give. Thankfully, there is …
Briefing the expert: what the judges actually say Read More »
Michael Meek J was appointed to the Supreme Court of New South Wales in late 2022 after more than two decades at the equity bar. 138 published judgments since. No decision overturned on appeal. Several already cited as authority by the Court of Appeal. “When you’d buy vinyl, you’d have this lovely-sized object with a …
A $3 billion company is being forced to rebrand in its home market after years of trademark infringement, and the honest concurrent use defence it relied upon has been decisively rejected by the High Court. This decision isn’t just a corporate cautionary tale; it’s a warning to any business that has ever assumed a name …
When relationships break down, many parents understandably worry about the impact of separation on their children. Research on children and divorce conflict consistently shows that the focus should not be on whether separation occurs, but on how its consequences are managed. Under Australian family law, the guiding principle in s 60CC of the Family Law …
How Children and Divorce Conflict Shapes Outcomes More Than Separation Itself Read More »
You’ve bought a faulty car, a caravan that leaks, or an appliance that stops working after a few months. You know your rights under the Australian Consumer Law. You ask for a refund. And then the pushback starts. In our experience, most manufacturers and suppliers don’t simply say no. They give you a reason, often …
ACL Refund Rights Australia: What Manufacturers Say And Why They Are Wrong Read More »
How to reduce the risk of contested wills in NSW is an issue more families are facing as wealth passes between generations and estate disputes become more common. While no estate plan can completely eliminate the risk of a legal challenge, careful planning and clear communication can greatly reduce the chances of a will being …
How to Reduce the Risk of Contested Wills in NSW Read More »
Most people will never deal with a subpoena until one unexpectedly arrives. Someone might hand it to you at work, deliver it to your home, or serve it on your business with little explanation beyond a court seal and a deadline. Some people feel immediate concern. Others feel confusion. What is this document? Why are …