Blog
When a person dies without a will (intestate), the law provides rules about who inherits the estate. But what happens when a person claims to be the deceased’s de facto partner and wants to either administer the estate or make a family provision claim under the Succession Act 2006 (NSW)? The case of...
When planning to build a home, it’s common for homeowners to consult different builders and compare prices and design ideas. However, few realise that using someone else's house plans without permission, even with some modifications, can breach copyright law.
In this blog, we unpack the decision in...
Disputes over trees growing on a neighbouring property can be emotionally charged and legally complex. Homeowners often face difficult questions when overhanging branches or falling limbs cause damage or raise concerns about safety. In these situations, Part 2 of the Trees (Disputes Between Neighbou...
Selling a business isn’t just about agreeing on a price. It’s about clearly defining who gets what and when. A Supreme Court of NSW case, Dangerous Goods Training Centre Pty Ltd v South Pacific Training Group Pty Ltd [2025] NSWSC 1356, sheds light on a common yet often overlooked issue in business s...
Since November 2021, all company directors in Australia have been required to apply for and hold a Director Identification Number (Director ID). The reform, part of the Australian Government’s Modernising Business Registers (MBR) program, was a key step towards improving transparency in corporate go...
Franchising is a popular business model in Australia, allowing brand expansion without direct operational control of each outlet. However, franchisors can be held responsible for serious breaches of workplace laws committed by their franchisees. The Full Court of the Federal Court’s decision in Bake...
In a recent decision of the NSW Supreme Court, Hederics v Spare Weel Pty Ltd [2025] NSWSC 1171, Justice Williams considered the breakdown of a farming partnership and a subsequent dispute over land ownership – raising important questions about proprietary estoppel, boundary realignment, and implied ...
A recent Appeal Panel decision of the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (Take Two Seven Pty Ltd v Hewson Properties Pty Ltd [2025] NSWCATAP 1) has confirmed that a lessee’s claim to the entire basement of a leased commercial premises can be defeated where the terms of the lease and supporting do...
Running a business can be both rewarding and risky—especially if its a cafe operated not by a single owner but by business partners—often friends or family—who decide to “go in together.” But when agreements are made informally, without clear written contracts, disputes can quickly arise.
The recen...
Running a café in a small town can be as much about the relationship with your landlord as it is about your menu. A recent case before the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal—Gardener v Bright; Bright v Gardener [2025] NSWCATCD 23—serves as a stark reminder of the importance of clear agree
...
For clients buying or selling a business, especially one involving leased premises, it is critical that we consider whether the business operates from leased premises, and how that lease is to be dealt with as part of the sale. Usually, having leased premises will require a special condition to be ...
In personal and business relationships alike, large sums of money often change hands informally. When disputes arise, courts are frequently called upon to determine the true nature of such transactions. The recent decision in Kempe v Grine [2025] NSWDC 227 shines a spotlight on the legal complexitie...
