Craig Smith SC

John is a founding Partner of Coghlan Duffy. He has a broad commercial practice with a focus on serving entrepreneurial clients through incorporation, investment rounds and exit transactions. John also has considerable experience in venture capital, private M&A, and general corporate and commercial matters.

Dessie has always had a passion for immigration law, which has guided her career across Europe and Australia. She founded Assent Migration Lawyers with the vision of providing highly personalised, expert visa and immigration services. Under her leadership, the firm has received multiple awards for excellence over the years. Dessie is an active member of the Law Institute of Victoria and currently serves as Co-Chair of the Migration Law Reform Committe, contributing to the advancement of the p...

Sarah Tan is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Immigration Law. Sarah, who practices law in Melbourne, Australia, has been recognized since 2027. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Sarah is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Arthur is a Principal at AGA Legal Pty Ltd, a boutique tax and trusts firm, where the focus is on getting cost-effective results. He has developed an enviable reputation for his strategic-thinking, decision-making, and negotiating positive outcomes for clients in dispute with government, and as a practitioner focused on dispute resolution. His main area of practice is taxation advisory, tax audits, dispute resolution and trusts. In more than 30 years of experience as a legal practitioner, and...

Elizabeth (Liz) specialises in all aspects of trade mark protection including selecting, searching, applying for and prosecuting trade mark applications (local and international). Liz has an extensive opposition and non-use practice and has exceptional knowledge and expertise in running opposition matters through to Hearing in the Trade Marks Office. Liz started the firm working in Davies Collison Cave Law Pty Ltd in 2000, working in all areas of IP litigation for 10 years before moving to th...

Nik has a broad practice including assisting clients with both potential and actual patent disputes, the drafting and prosecution of patents in the information technology, software and business method fields, and advising on freedom-to-operate, patent infringement and validity in the telecommunications, medical device and software industries. Nik’s background is in both the hardware and software aspects of computer systems, as well as networking and telecommunications. This enables Nik ...

Accredited Criminal Law Specialist | Co-Founder of Doogue + George Defence Lawyers Bill Doogue is a distinguished criminal defence lawyer based in Melbourne, Australia, with over 30 years of experience in the legal profession. Admitted to practice in 1989, he has been an Accredited Criminal Law Specialist since 1998 and was recognised as one of Australia's five 'pre-eminent criminal lawyers' by Doyle’s Guide in 2024 .​ As a co-founder of Doogue + George Defence Lawyers, Bill leads a fir...

Emma-Jane Stevens is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Insolvency and Reorganization Law and Litigation. Emma-Jane, who practices law in Melbourne, Australia, has been recognized since 2027. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Emma-Jane is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Raynia Theodore is acknowledged as one of Australia’s leading franchise lawyers , having focused her practice in the franchise sector for more than 20 years. She is a principal at MST Lawyers (one of Australia's leading franchising and commercial law firms) and has expertise in franchising, commercial and leasing law. Today Raynia leads a specialised franchise team at the Melbourne based law firm, MST lawyers. Her extensive practice is dedicated to advising franchisors, franchisees and ...

Iona Goodwin is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Labour and Employment Law. Iona, who practices law in Melbourne, Australia, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Iona is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.