Yesterday one of our matters went to trial before Supreme Judge Allanson. It is rare thing. Only about two per cent of Supreme Court cases go to trial, and that is the same for all of our commercial disputes. The other 98% settle, usually with the assistance of a mediator. This trial was unusual, because […]
Supreme Court Trial Read More »
We saw a chap yesterday who owns a duplex property. The other duplex owner has built a higher fence next to an old existing fence and concreted half her back yard. Our client wishes to connect to sewerage but the connection point is on the other side of the concrete slab, which was laid after
Neighbour Disputes Read More »
Some clients of ours were not happy with their ex-accountant because he had been giving advice to a family member, who was also a client, which was averse to our clients’ interests. They then refused to pay one of his accounts and the accountant got his solicitor to threaten to sue them. The conflict of
Accountant Conflict of Interest Read More »
We have been working on a shareholder agreement with some slightly complicated succession clauses. In summary: (a) the company pays for insurance for the key persons associated with each of the shareholder companies; (b) in the event of death or total and permanent incapacity of a key person: (i) the shareholders associated with that key
Shareholder Agreements Read More »
We are meeting with two other solicitors this afternoon in an attempt to negotiate the settlement of a long-running and acrimonious dispute over a deceased estate. One of the solicitors belongs to the third law firm that has been engaged by the opposition, which has not helped the situation. The other represents the other defendant,
Resolving a Dispute with Solicitors Read More »
We had a good result for a client just before Christmas last year. Their company had provided over one million dollars in services between 1 July and 30 November, but had not been paid. The company’s former solicitor had concentrated on the disputes and not the common ground. We went for the low hanging fruit
Debt Collection Good Result Read More »
We had a new matter this week involving a contract for the sale of land. Our client is a company that owns a villa. The directors are a husband and wife. The husband thought the wife wished to sell, so he put the house on the market, an offer was made, and he signed the
Incomplete Sale of Land Read More »
We have been preparing some special purpose wills lately: Wills that make special provision for intellectually disabled children; and Wills that only allow the next generation to have the benefit of the income from the estate, with the capital going to the grandchildren. We have also prepared wills to give a schizophrenic son the benefit
Special Purpose Wills Read More »
Do you use a company to trade? Do you have the Australian Company Number for that company on your business card? What about your website? Did you know that it is a requirement under the Corporations Act that most documents issued by a company need to have its ACN published. If you, or anyone you
Corporate Compliance Read More »
What is estate planning all about? It’s about making adequate provision for those you leave behind. From a legal point of view this includes Wills, enduring powers of attorney, enduring powers of guardianship, and succession clauses in partnership, shareholder and unit holder agreements. For assistance with estate planning, see Michael Paterson & Associates.
What is Estate Planning? Read More »