Donna Rayner

Alison has close to 18 years’ experience in a wide-ranging employment practice, advising private sector and public sector clients on all aspects of employment, industrial relations and human resources law, and work health and safety law. She also advises private and public sector organisations on the application of privacy legislation. Alison has been recognised in The Best Lawyers in Australia in employee benefits law every year since 2014 and as a recommended employment lawyer in Vict...

Adele Katzew is our Head of Family Law, a Principal, and Law Institute of Victoria Accredited Specialist in Family Law. Adele’s strength is helping people feel comfortable whilst they're dealing with the legal complexities and emotional strain of separation and divorce . She achieves this by helping clients identify and get a positive outcome, sorting things out on their behalf - and most importantly, providing people with as much certainty as possible when their lives may feel out of t...

Lauren acts for employers across a wide range of industries. Her clients include Federal, State and Local Government agencies, major private sector organisations (including those in health and aged care, biotechnology, engineering, manufacturing and retail), and not-for-profit organisations. Based in Melbourne, she advises clients nationally and internationally. Lauren advises on the full spectrum of employment and industrial relations matters, including contracts for employees, executives an...

One of Australia’s leading estate planning lawyers, Bernie has over 40 years’ experience advising individuals, family groups and businesses on all aspects of estate and business succession. Often acting as advisor to prominent families, Bernie’s knowledge of family trusts, superannuation and estate and elder law enables him to provide clear, practical solutions for clients with complex family and asset structures. He is often asked to provide a second opinion on existing suc...

Martin practices commercial law with extensive experience in contracts and commercial litigation. Martin focuses on corporate, commercial, regulatory and private clients, with particular expertise in the sports and media sectors. Martin’s clients include public and private corporations, numerous well known national and international sporting organisations, governing bodies, athletes, sponsors, agencies and high profile individuals. Martin has worked on high-profile and complex transacti...

Aaron Yates is a lawyer in the Law Group at Davies Collison Cave’s Melbourne office and practises in intellectual property litigation. Aaron has completed a Bachelor of Laws (with Honours) and Bachelor of Science (focussing on genetics and molecular biology), and has a particular interest in patent litigation and advice. Aaron has been involved in a number of patent, design and trade mark proceedings in the Federal Court and also has experience providing advice to a local and internatio...

Bonnie Phillips is an Accredited Family Law Specialist with the Law Institute of Victoria and has been recognised in Best Lawyers and as a Preeminent Family & Divorce Lawyer in Regional Victoria in the 2025 Doyle’s Guide. Bonnie is a Director and Principal of Coulter Legal and acts for clients in all aspects of Family Law, ranging from divorce and intricate parenting matters, through to complex and multifaceted financial matters, including multi-party international disputes. Bonnie ...

John Spender is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Family Law. John practices law in Melbourne, Australia Best Lawyers has recognized John Spender since 2021. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which John Spender is held by other lawyers.

Bruce Crosthwaite is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Insurance Law and Personal Injury Litigation. Bruce practices law in Melbourne, Australia Best Lawyers has recognized Bruce Crosthwaite since 2026. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Bruce Crosthwaite is held by other lawyers.

John has more than 25 years’ experience as a corporate and commercial lawyer. Having worked on deals in Australasia, Europe and the United States, John has extensive corporate and funds transactional experience. Primarily, his work has focused on property fund mergers and acquisitions, initial public offerings and secondary capital raisings, fund restructurings, and the launch of wholesale and retail syndicates and joint ventures. He has substantial experience in structuring, managing a...