Steven Smith

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.

John O’Kane is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Construction / Infrastructure Law. John practices law in Melbourne, Australia Best Lawyers has recognized John O’Kane 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 John O’Kane is held by other lawyers.

John-Paul acts for Australia’s major media organisations, including News Corp Australia, Channel Nine, Channel Seven, Nine Newspapers, AFL Media, Racing.com, the ABC, SBS Australia, Southern Cross Austereo and Radio 3AW. John-Paul provides daily pre-publication advice seven days a week and 24/7 on urgent matters to editors and newsrooms across the country. John-Paul specialises in defamation, contempt of court, suppression orders, privilege, breach of confidence, freedom of information,...

Cath is an experienced corporate lawyer with significant national and international experience in mergers and acquisitions. Cath specialises in founder exits, inbound multinational acquisitions, and acquisitions and disposals for Australian corporates. With over 20 years of national and international experience, Cath has advised on deals across the pharmaceutical, health, childcare, civil construction, industrial, and technology sectors. Cath's clients include founders and owners, start-ups, ...

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...

Paul Fildes is an Accredited Family Law Specialist with over four decades of experience, having practised exclusively in family law since 1983. Recognised nationally for his expertise, Paul is ranked as one of the Preeminent Family & Divorce Lawyers in Melbourne by Doyle’s Guide 2026 and is also recognised nationally as a Leading Family & Divorce Lawyer. Paul has been consistently listed by Doyle’s Guide as a Preeminent family lawyer every year from 2019 through 2026, refl...

Elizabeth (Liz) specialises in all aspects of trade mark protection including selecting, searching, applying for and prosecuting trade mark applications (local and international). Liz has an extensive opposition and non-use practice and has exceptional knowledge and expertise in running opposition matters through to Hearing in the Trade Marks Office. Liz started the firm working in Davies Collison Cave Law Pty Ltd in 2000, working in all areas of IP litigation for 10 years before moving to th...

Mark Farquhar is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Litigation. Mark practices law in Melbourne, Australia Best Lawyers has recognized Mark Farquhar since 2023. 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 Mark Farquhar is held by other lawyers.

Justin acts for Australia’s largest media and technology companies, including News Corp Australia, Nine, all three commercial television networks (Seven, Nine and Ten), national radio stations, AFL Media, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, and technology companies including X Corp, Google and Reddit. Justin is available 24/7 for urgent advice and is ranked Band 1 by Chambers Asia Pacific for Media for 15 consecutive years — the longest uninterrupted Band 1 ranking for Media ...

William Moore is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Trusts and Estates and Wealth Management / Succession Planning Practice. William practices law in Melbourne, Australia Best Lawyers has recognized William Moore 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 William Moore is held by other lawyers.