Ronald "Ron" Merkel KC

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...

Jason Walker is a Partner at Forte Family Lawyers and is an accreditation specialist in Family Law (2005). Jason has over 25years of experience helping clients through family and relationship breakdown. He has particular expertise in complex parenting matters and complex financial litigation, acting for high net worth individuals in matters involving trusts, companies and businesses. Jason’s practice includes international family law, often involving jurisdictional and forum disputes. H...

Michael is a patent attorney and principal of Davies Collison Cave where he heads up the firm’s organic chemistry/pharmaceutical group. Michael’s professional activities include drafting and prosecuting patent applications, providing patent infringement and validity advice, conducting patent oppositions, filing and prosecuting patent term extensions and providing strategic patenting advice. Michael is the Immediate Past President of the Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys...

John Spender is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law. John, who practices law in Melbourne, Australia, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which John is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

John-Paul Cashen is recognised as one of Australia’s most prominent media lawyers, with extensive experience in all aspects of media law. He is a specialist in defamation, contempt of court, suppression, privilege, breach of confidence, freedom of information, urgent injunctions and racial vilification claims. John-Paul is a lawyer who always puts his clients first. Understanding that in litigation most clients are going through challenging times, John-Paul ensures his clients know they...

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 ...

Cameron joined the firm in 2009 as a partner and has over 20 years’ experience in public liability, product liability, professional indemnity, contractors all risk, property and industrial special risk insurance and self-insurance. Cameron also has experience in dust diseases, intentional torts arising out of child sexual and physical abuse and bullying, commercial litigation and building and construction litigation. Cameron provides pre-contractual advice in relation to insurance polic...

Natalie has close to 20 years’ experience in property, planning and environment law and has been recognised as a leading Australian lawyer in this area in Doyle's Guide to the Australian Legal Profession. She has also been recognised in the The Best Lawyers in Australia in Real Property Law every year since 2017 and was a Finalist at the 2016 Lawyers Weekly Partner of the Year Awards in real estate and for Partner of the Year at the 2014 Australian Law Awards . Natalie acts primarily fo...

Evelyn Marcou is an experienced property and leasing lawyer with expertise in retail and commercial leasing . She also has a strong background in sales and acquisitions of all types of retail, industrial and commercial property.Evelyn’s Practice Evelyn maintains a vibrant practice in retail, commercial and industrial leasing for both landlords and tenants and has an in-depth knowledge of practices and procedures in the leasing market across all jurisdictions. She is also experienced in ...

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...