Uncategorised

When clients come to us for estate planning, one of the most common sources of confusion is the Binding Death Benefit Nomination, or BDBN. Many people assume that their superannuation works just like their Will. They think they can leave their super to whoever they choose, only to discover that the law imposes strict limits on …

Binding Death Benefit Nomination: Who Can Actually Receive Your Superannuation  Read More »

What Shinohara Changes Everything A landmark appellate ruling reshapes how courts treat dissipated and disposed-of assets in Australian family property proceedings Glance Every generation or so, an appellate court delivers a judgment that does not merely resolve the dispute before it,  it reshapes the legal landscape for all disputes that follow. Shinohara & Shinohara [2025] …

Addbacks Family Law Shinohara: What the Case Changes Read More »

A falling branch, an unguarded drop zone and a $70,000 fine – what this sentencing decision tells arborists, tree surgeons and WHS practitioners about the cost of a missing spotter SafeWork NSW v General Forest Tree Surgeon WHS case – The Case at a Glance On a November morning in Elderslie, NSW, a falling branch …

SafeWork NSW v General Forest Tree Surgeon WHS case: $70,000 fine over missing spotter Read More »

When getting judgment doesn’t mean you won the case The Star Entertainment Sydney Properties Pty Ltd v Buildcorp Group Pty Ltd trading as Buildcorp Interiors (No 2) (Costs) [2026] NSWSC 190 In what Justice Rees described as “fairly disastrous proceedings”, The Star Casino learned an expensive lesson about litigation strategy, the importance of suing the right …

Star Casino Costs Case: When Your Damages Win Doesn’t Cover the Costs 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 — …

ACL Refund Rights Australia: What Manufacturers Say And Why They Are Wrong Read More »

The trade mark dispute between Katy Perry and Katie Perry has become one of Australia’s most closely watched intellectual property cases. The case has drawn strong public attention because it involves a celebrity. It also offers important lessons about brand protection, reputation, and trade mark strategy. In Taylor v Killer Queen LLC [2026] HCA 5, …

Hot N Cold: When Celebrity Brands Collide with Trade Marks  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 »

Make good obligations NSW commercial leases are a perennial source of dispute in commercial leasing. In New South Wales, these obligations arise when a tenant must return leased premises in an agreed condition. This occurs at the end of the lease term. Lessee fit outs are increasingly becoming more costly and many commercial space fit …

Make Good Obligations in NSW Commercial Leases: What Landlords and Tenants Need to Know Read More »

Costs capping NSW civil litigation is an increasingly important issue for clients and practitioners concerned about disproportionate legal costs. Legal costs are often one of the key conditions clients consider when engaging a solicitor and deciding whether to commence proceedings. A common and legitimate question arises: why litigate a $30,000 debt if it costs $30,000 …

Costs Capping NSW Civil Litigation: How Courts Limit Disproportionate Legal Costs 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 …

A Letter You Can’t Ignore: Subpoenas in NSW Read More »