Emma Butler

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...

Philip Duffy is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Labour and Employment Law. Philip, who practices law in Melbourne, Australia, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Philip is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Chris’ major area of practice is intellectual property litigation. He has more than 30 years experience in patent, trade mark, design, copyright, trade practices and confidential information litigation on behalf of both applicants and respondents. He has also acted in patent and trade mark oppositions before IP Australia. Chris joined the firm in 1989, becoming a partner in 2001. Chris has successfully acted in a number of significant matters before State Courts and the Federal and High...

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 ...

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.

Rory has over 10 years’ experience in planning and environmental law and was recognised in 2016 as a “Rising Star” in Planning and Environment, and again in 2018 as a Recommended Town Planning & Development Lawyer in the Doyle’s Guide to the Australian Legal Profession . Rory has a focus on major projects and infrastructure and large scale infill and growth area development projects. He has experience in development approvals across a broad scale, compulsory land a...

Paul has profound experience in the area of sports and employment law. He has been involved in the drafting, reviewing and advising on constitutions, policies and by-laws for incorporated associations and LLCs. This includes the drafting of a new constitution for Commonwealth Games Australia to facilitate their transfer from an incorporated association to a limited liability corporation after 37 years, as well as drafting the policies and by-laws to accompany that constitution. Paul has exten...

Stephanie Doyle is a highly respected family lawyer in Australia, known for her extensive experience and expertise in family law matters. With 20 years of experience, Stephanie is committed to continuing her professional education and is currently serving as the Chair of the LIV Family Law Section Education Work Group. She is also a member of the LIV Family Law Section Courts Practice and Executive Committees, where she advocates for the family law profession and education of the profession m...

Over the last 40 years Lou has advised various large property development companies, government bodies and overseas investors in relation to all facets of property law. Such advice has encompassed sales, acquisition, structuring, subdivision, titling, planning and development, GST, stamp duty and financing. Lou’s practice has a significant focus on all aspects of ‘off the plan’ sales and the preparation of related contracts. Throughout his career Lou has been involved in and...

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 ...