Keeping up with the drones

Most people will have noticed that remote controlled Drones are becoming more prevalent in the air. For most people they are little more than a

Failed merger of the Family and Federal Circuit Courts

Previously we have written about the Government’s proposal to merge the Family and Federal Circuit Courts of Australia in what many practitioners consider to be

Strata law update – Baxter barks back

The ever-present sight of cranes overhead reminds us that apartment living is now very much part of normal life in Newcastle in 2019 . A

McDonald Johnson Lawyers appear in High Court of Australia

McDonald Johnson Lawyers were the legal representatives for the First and Second Respondents in a case that was heard by the High Court of Australia

New laws reduce cost risk for small businesses

Small business face huge challenges when they are involved in a legal dispute with a large business. It can be a David and Goliath type

Are ‘make good’ provisions enforceable in commercial leases?

Commercial leases usually contain provisions requiring the tenant to leave the premises in a certain state at the end of the lease. These provisions are

Electronic witnessing of signatures – what is valid?

There is still plenty of confusion around the use of technology for signing documents and witnessing signatures. The Law Society of NSW has recently put

Changes to off-the-plan contracts and E-Conveyancing

On 13 November 2018, Parliament passed the Conveyancing (Legislation) Amendment Act 2018, heralding a suite of extra protections for purchasers of off the plan contracts

Video Wills: Will they ever be an accepted method in Probate practice?

As technology advances, so must the law and the way it is applied. Recent cases have highlighted that in exceptional circumstances, some Australian Courts are

Blockchain: challenges and opportunities for the law

Our Principal Lawyer, Craig Doyle, recently attended a progressive legal conference in Singapore where he learned about blockchain. Blockchain is a self-maintaining database that

Unapproved Building Works

Recently, the Supreme Court had to decide whether a vendor who had made unapproved works to his unit could force a purchaser to proceed with

Reform to the Bankruptcy Act

On 27 September 2018, the Senate passed the Bankruptcy Amendment (Debt Agreement Reform) Bill 2018 to reform the Bankruptcy Act 1966 insofar as it relates

Evils in Probate Practice

Lawyers come across numerous difficulties when helping clients administer estates. Three common difficulties involve: Homemade Wills; Intestacies (when there is no Will at all);

New powers for NSW Fair Trading to deal with consumer disputes

From 1 January 2019, disputes lodged with NSW Fair Trading about alleged breaches of consumer guarantees under the Australian Consumer Law may be subject to

Flammable cladding ban now in force

Following the disaster at London’s Grenfell Tower that claimed the life of 72 people in June 2017, the NSW Government has introduced reforms that retrospectively