Wollongong Lawyers

BSM's team of expert criminal lawyers appear in court every day of the week – including the Local Court, the District Court, the Children's Court, the Criminal Court of Appeal, the Coroner's Court and the Bail Court. Our Wollongong team has represented and advocated for clients in all kinds of criminal cases including drink driving, assault, domestic violence, sexual offences, drug possession, drug importation and property offences.

The BSM Wollongong team is extremely experienced and runs most court matters without the need for a barrister. For serious criminal matters, however, we have a panel of barristers with who we engage. You can be confident that your rights will be fiercely protected and that we will fight tirelessly for you.

1. Assault and Affray Offences
2. Drug and Alcohol Offences
3. Robbery and Larceny Offences
4. Domestic Violence Offences
5. Sexual Offences
6. Firearms Offences
7. Property Offences
8. Bail Applications and Criminal Appeals

It is important to seek legal advice if you come in contact with the police or are arrested or charged. We are here to support you. You may come in contact with the police in the following ways:

1. Police interview
2. Search and Detention
3. Police Powers of Arrest
4. Detention and Bail

A traffic violation may constitute a criminal offence, which carries penalties like licence suspension and even a criminal record. Our Wollongong criminal lawyers know that this can seriously impact you, your family and your employment. We consequently take the highest care and diligence in handling every traffic matter, no matter how minor, and we strive to obtain the best outcomes for you.

We regularly appear in the Wollongong Local Court and defend the charges of:

1. Drink or Drug Driving
2. Dangerous or Negligent Driving
3. Mobile Phone Use while Driving
4. Appeal against Loss of Licence

BSM Wollongong Lawyers recovers over 90% of debts without needing court or mediation. We can help collect the money that is owed to you.

Our debt recovery lawyers have extensive courtroom experience and handles all debt collection cases without the need for a costly barrister. After a judgment has been rendered, our lawyers are skilled at navigating the legal enforcement tools available, including writs, garnishee orders, bankruptcies, and insolvency.

1. Letter of Demand
2. Statement of Claim
3. Litigation
4. Garnishee Orders
5. Bankruptcy and Insolvency
6. Writ for Levy of Property

Our Wollongong construction lawyers resolve over 85% of construction conflicts without the need for costly litigation. The strategies that we use allow our clients stay in charge of the dispute resolution process. We are specialists at writing and reviewing all kinds of construction contracts, from contracts for residential construction to those for major infrastructure projects. BSM construction lawyers are industry experts with over 50 years of combined experience dealing with residential, commercial, and industrial construction legal advice and building disputes.

BSM Wollongong lawyers work with builders, contractors, homeowners, engineers, property developers and body corporates. We have substantial experience in each stage of the building process, including pre-contract negotiations, drafting and review of construction contracts, negotiations and review of finance contracts, legal advice regarding construction claims and debt recovery and dispute resolution including adjudications and litigations in courts and tribunals.

Our team has worked on all kinds of projects, from small and medium-sized construction projects to infrastructure projects worth over $1 billion. BSM’s lawyers have provided legal advice, contract drafting, and dispute resolution services for major projects including the Sydney Airport Corporation's runway extensions, Sydney Ports Corporation's Enfield Terminal redevelopment, Barclay Mowlem's (acquired by Laing O'Rourke) rail constructions and civil works and Xstrata Coal's rail line to a mine in Queensland.

Our Wollongong lawyers has the experience, skills and commitment to provide world-class legal advice at a fraction of the price of large city firms.

1. Pre-Contract Negotiations
2. Construction Contract Drafting and Review
3. General Building and Construction Legal Consulting
4. Construction Claims
5. Home Building Disputes
6. Dispute Resolution
7. Debt Recovery

Our Wollongong family lawyers understand the end of a relationship is a stressful time with many hard decisions, often involving children, property and domestic violence. You can feel confident that we will help you through the challenging process, advise you, rigorously represent you and make sure no one takes advantage of you. We are proud to settle 95% of our cases without going to court. If required, our Wollongong family law team will confidently represent you in the Family Court, Children's Court and the Federal Circuit Court. Our lawyers are also proficient in drafting binding financial agreements and pre-nuptials.  Our Wollongong family lawyers have expertise in the following areas:

1. Divorce and Separation
2. Child Support and Parenting Agreements
3. Best Interests of the Child
4. Recovery and Location Orders
5. Property Settlement
6. Wills and Estate Planning
7. Family Dispute Resolution and Mediation
8. Domestic Violence (ADVO) and (AVO)
9. Same-Sex Couples Matters
10. De-Facto Relationship Matters
11. Binding Financial Agreements and Pre-Nuptials

At Brander Smith McKnight Wollongong, we offer a competitively priced fixed fee for conveyancing, with all work performed by lawyers rather than conveyancers. As a result of this, we can handle situations where a dispute may occur. We will make sure you stay informed during each stage of what can be a stressful process. Additionally, our lawyers can offer advice on easements for construction and forced sale of jointly owned property.

1. Conveyancing
2. Commercial and Real Estate Leases (buying and selling property)
3. Property Disputes
4. Strata
5. Easements
6. Off the Plan

Compare our costs; we have a competitive fixed fee for wills. Our Wollongong estate lawyers listen attentively to your needs and wishes before providing guidance on the most appropriate documents and structures. This guarantees that your assets and interests will be distributed per your preferences after your death and that your legal wishes and affairs are handled as you wish while you are still alive.

Brander Smith McKnight lawyers carefully draft your documents, giving you the chance to review them before they are finalised. Well-constructed and tailored legal documents will prevent future disputes and ensure that your wishes are followed. Additionally, our Wollongong lawyers offer professional legal advice and advocacy for executors and claimants in any estate, including the granting of probate, letters of administration and distribution and contested estates. We are experts in:

1. Will Drafting
2. Will Disputes
3. Probate and Letters of Administration
4. Power of Attorney and Enduring Guardianship
5. Estate Planning
6. Family Trust and Asset Protection

The civil and commercial litigation lawyers at BSM Wollongong routinely resolve disputes in and out of court.

Although "litigation" refers to the legal resolution of disputes in court, in practice, many of these disputes are resolved outside of court through methods like interlocutory applications and other types of alternative dispute resolution. 90% of the civil litigation cases we handle are resolved without the need for a formal hearing.

Should your matter proceed to trial, Brander Smith McKnight lawyers have a wide range of experience in Local, District, Federal and Supreme courts as well as tribunals and arbitrations. Our team of knowledgeable lawyers will tenaciously fight for you.

1. Commercial Disputes
2. Non-Commercial Disputes
3. Civil Litigation
4. Alternative Dispute Resolution
5. Litigation

With a combined experience of more than 50 years and world-renowned clients, our Wollongong business lawyers are leaders in their field. Our team provides expert legal advice to all different types of businesses, from start-ups and small businesses to large companies. We are proud to have developed enduring, committed relationships with our clients based on trust, professionalism, and exceptional commercial results.

BSM Law Wollongong offers a variety of responsive, client-centred, and fairly priced services to businesses. We can assist you with:

1. Business Startup
2. Pre-Contract Negotiations and Business Contract Drafting
3. Business Contract Review and Enforcement
4. Director's Duties and Disputes
5. Shareholder Agreements and Disputes
6. Commercial and Retail Leases
7. Bankruptcy and Insolvency

At least 85% of business disputes are settled by our skilled dispute resolution Wollongong lawyers without resorting to costly litigation. There are numerous types of disputes that can arise in day-to-day life, business or the workplace. Our legal practice is made up of a varied and specialised team. While there are many ways to resolve disputes, we make a significant effort to identify those that are most appropriate for your specific situation while still being practical, creative and commercially advantageous.

Most cases can be resolved by our lawyers through negotiation. If your matter goes to court, our experts will vigorously advocate for you, saving you the added cost of a barrister.

As reputable Wollongong solicitors, we recognise the difference a skilled lawyer can make in achieving successful dispute resolution.  If you require assistance in:

1. Negotiation
2. Mediation
3. Conciliation
4. Compensation
5. Arbitration
6. Adjudication
7. Expert Determination
8. Litigation