Rhys Penning

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...

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 ...

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.

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...

Peter has more than 25 years experience in insurance and risk management, practising primarily on behalf of insurers, self insurers, underwriting agencies and claims managers in Victoria, Queensland and the United Kingdom. He has advised in respect of all aspects of insurer portfolios including: Interpreting policies and updating policy wordings to meet drafting deficiencies and changed underwriting circumstances; Advising on the effect and reach of legislative provisions, including the Insur...

Gavin Macrae is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Insurance Law. Gavin, who practices law in Melbourne, Australia, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Gavin is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Ian is a Principal in the Trade Mark Group. His areas of practice encompass all aspects of trade mark searching and clearance for use, registration, oppositions and advice in relation to trade mark enforcement internationally. He has handled trade mark matters in most countries worldwide, including directly before the Australian, United Kingdom, European Community Trade Mark, New Zealand and Pacific Island Trade Marks Offices. Ian represents both local and international clients with business ...

Keith is a key figure in tax advisory, having been in significant roles within the profession for over 20 years. He was appointed by the Federal Government to the Board of Taxation in March 2004 and was appointed Deputy Chair in May 2011. Keith’s involvement with the tax profession has extended to Chairman of the Public Accountants Committee, Victorian President, National Councillor and Chairman of the Taxation Centre of Excellence and the National Tax Advisory Committee for CPA Austral...

Nick Curran is a Partner in the Disputes team with more than 15 years’ experience in commercial litigation and dispute resolution, and restructuring and insolvency. He advises insolvency practitioners, banks and individuals in relation to all aspects of corporate insolvency including receivership, voluntary administration and liquidation, as well as personal insolvency. He also acts for a variety of companies and businesses involved in commercial litigation, including publicly-listed co...

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...