Articles
We aim to provide you with proactive and strategic legal and practical advice. Our articles provide a range of interesting and helpful insights on a vast array of topics.
Recent articles

Checklist for starting a Charity or Not-For-Profit Organisation
Setting up a not-for-profit organisation can be a complex and rather daunting process. We have compiled a checklist of key matters that you will need to consider beforehand.

Economic entitlements: what you need to know for Victorian property transactions
There have been recent amendments to the Duties Act 2000 (Cth) (Chapter 2, Part 4B) in relation to stamp duty and economic entitlements. We list below how these changes impact stamp duty payable for Victorian property transactions and key factors for avoiding unexpected duty obligations.

When do you have to pay redundancy?
A redundancy arises when an employer does not require anyone to complete a particular employee’s job. We list the key situations where redundancies may arise, and situations where you will be required to pay your employees redundancy pay.

Religious freedom and anti-discrimination law: Part 2: Religious exemptions: the state of play
The interplay between religious freedom and anti-discrimination laws is becoming increasingly relevant, and at points they seem to be headed for conflict. In this article, we provide a summary of the state of play in Victoria, with specific regard to the Equal Opportunity Act 2010 (Vic).

Religious freedom and anti-discrimination law: Part 1: Anti-discrimination law and religious organisations
The interplay between religious freedom and anti-discrimination laws is becoming increasingly relevant, and at points they seem to be headed for conflict. This article examines the current anti-discrimination law in Victoria, and how it applies to religious organisations and organisations with religious affiliation.

Religious freedom and anti-discrimination law: Part 3: Practical tips for avoiding discrimination claims
The interplay between religious freedom and anti-discrimination laws is becoming increasingly relevant, and at points they seem to be headed for conflict. In this article, we provide some practical tips for avoiding discrimination claims.

Victoria’s new Portable Long Service Leave scheme
Victoria's new Portable Long Service Leave Benefits scheme for the community services, contract cleaning and security industries commenced on 1 July 2019. If you are an employer having employees in any of these three industries, you will need to participate in the scheme on behalf of your employees.

6 things to know about Affidavits
In this article, we answer 6 frequently asked questions about Affidavits. An Affidavit is a legal document that contains a true written and signed statement, which may be used as evidence in a court or tribunal. Each Court and Tribunal has its own template, guidelines, formats and signing requirements. It is important to use the correct template when preparing for your court or tribunal hearing.

Revocation of Power of Attorney
Powers of Attorney convey a great deal of responsibility on those appointed as an Attorney. As your circumstances change, you may decide that there is someone more suitable or that your current attorney (or alternative attorney) is no longer a suitable person to make decisions on your behalf. In this situation, you may need to revoke your current Power of Attorney to ensure the right people are authorised to make decisions for you, when you can no longer do so. We provide a list of some of the most effective ways to revoke a Power of Attorney.

Can I legally be charged a cancellation fee for a service?
Generally speaking, agreeing to pay for a service (whether it be via booking an appointment or booking a service such as a hotel room) equates to entering into a verbal contract. As with any contract, these agreements come with terms and conditions to which you are bound, including any cancellation policy.

Retail leases: How to know if you’re a party to one, and what it means
A retail lease is a lease of premises which are used predominantly for the sale or hire of goods or the retail provision of services. Whether or not a premises is used for the sale or hire of goods is generally self-explanatory, however whether or not it is used for the retail provision of services may be more difficult to determine. See here for more information.

First home buyers guide: 9 tips for purchasing your first property
Being a first home buyer is an equally exciting and daunting time. With all the information available, it can be quite overwhelming trying to understand the process of purchasing your new home. We have 9 tips to assist you through this process.