Samantha Downes

Mark is the lead partner of the Hall & Wilcox Banking and Finance practice. Mark has almost 20 years' experience acting for Australian and overseas financial institutions and borrowers in a broad range of finance transactions, including construction and investment property finance, all forms of corporate finance, including syndicated and bilateral loans, mezzanine and quasi equity finance, acquisition finance, asset and equipment finance, and derivatives. Mark joined Hall & Wilcox in ...

Hamish McNair is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Defamation and Media Law and Litigation. Hamish, who practices law in Melbourne, Australia, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Hamish is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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...

Adam’s practice encompasses all aspects of trade mark law including search analysis and advice, prosecution of domestic and international trade marks, dispute resolution and advice in relation to breaches of the consumer protection provisions of the Trade Practices Act and passing off. Adam’s practice primarily involves advising in relation to Australian trade mark law, but he also has expertise in advising directly on all aspects of New Zealand trade mark law. Adam also has exten...

Kathryn Sharpe is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Law and Litigation. Kathryn, who practices law in Melbourne, Australia, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kathryn is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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...

Norman has more than 20 years' experience in dispute resolution and litigation, banking and finance, corporate insolvency, and bankruptcy. Norman acts for a number of major insolvency accountants and financial institutions, and has been an adviser in a number of Victoria’s large insolvency administrations. He also regularly acts for a number of major corporate clients in complex litigation. Norman’s approach is to work closely with his clients to identify commercial imperatives wh...

Meg is a Partner in the Hall & Wilcox Property and Projects team, specialising in planning and environment law. She has over 20 years’ experience advising clients in the government, retail, residential, health, industrial, water and energy sectors. She advises on environmental and planning approvals, liabilities, and statutory regulation for major infrastructure, property developments and commercial transactions. A significant component of her practice involves working with clients ...

Graydon leads the Hall & Wilcox Litigation and dispute resolution team. He acts on behalf of a number of national and overseas clients on large and complex commercial litigation matters and advises on all aspects of dispute resolution. He has particular expertise in contract disputes, negligence cases, regulatory matters including ASIC and ACCC investigations, coronial inquests and commissions, and product liability. He has advised clients in both the private and public sector. Clients ap...

Nancy Collins is a commercial litigation lawyer with a particular focus on private family wealth disputes. Her expertise lies in this complex area of law, together with family trust, deceased estates, and business and commercial disputes. Nancy co-founded King & Collins understanding that people going through a stressful legal experience want the combination of personal attention and expertise that only a small, specialist firm can offer. Nancy understands the emotional impact of these ki...