Peter Coats

Michael practices in all areas of trade mark law including availability and infringement searches, prosecution, opposition and trade mark infringement issues and related copyright, trade practices and associated common law actions. Michael manages the trade mark portfolios of numerous Australian and multi-national companies. Michael has particular expertise in internet related trade mark and copyright issues and he heads up Davies Collison Cave’s domain name practice group. He was a mem...

Howard has more than 30 years’ commercial dispute experience. He has an active practice in complex commercial litigation and in significant white collar criminal investigations and prosecutions involving a wide range of commercial criminal matters, regulatory investigations and large scale inquiries, including Royal Commissions and Commissions of Inquiry. Howard has been involved in nine Royal Commissions and Commission of Inquiry and has lead his team in acting for four parties involve...

Joseph acts for institutional investors and private clients in commercial, industrial and retail property transactions. His clients include major listed property groups such as Dexus. Joseph advises on all areas of property law including acquisitions and disposals, commercial office, industrial and retail leasing, development projects and land subdivisions. He is well regarded for drafting and negotiating complex lease documentation and for handling high-value property transactions. Joseph le...

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 ...

Hugh has extensive experience in corporate and commercial law with an emphasis on mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructuring, capital raisings, managed investment schemes and financial services. His practice includes working on takeovers, schemes of arrangement, venture capital and private equity deals, infrastructure investments, privatisations, prospectuses, underwritings and managed funds, and advising clients with a mutual structure.

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.

Kate is a Principal at Harwood Andrews in the Planning, Environment and Local Government team. She recently joined Harwood Andrews from a national law firm where she was a Senior Associate in the Public Law Group, specialising in planning and environment law. She was admitted to legal practice in 2003 and holds a Bachelor of Arts/Law from Deakin University. Kate acts for both government and private clients in metropolitan and regional Victoria. She regularly appears in a variety of planning m...

Nicole Tumiati is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Commercial Law. Nicole practices law in Melbourne, Australia Best Lawyers has recognized Nicole Tumiati since 2025. 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 Nicole Tumiati is held by other lawyers.

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 ...

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...