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Disputes

The litigation and dispute resolution team at Meyer Vandenberg is one of the largest in Canberra private legal practice, and our senior practitioners are regularly recognised as leading litigation lawyers by their clients and peers.

Among other things, we were the first firm in Australia to get court approval to notify defendants via Facebook of our client’s claim against them.

Partner Alisa Taylor specialises in construction and property-related litigation and accompanying advice, as well as overseeing Meyer Vandenberg’s employment, industrial relations and safety team.

Partner Bernice Ellis specialises in commercial litigation and accompanying advice. Special Counsel Greg Brackenreg works with Bernice in the commercial litigation team and is an accredited mediator.

Alisa and Bernice work closely together, as well as collaborate with Meyer Vandenberg’s other practice-area Partners to implement the best strategies to protect a client’s interests and resolve the client’s dispute as quickly and commercially as possible.

What we do

BUILDING DISPUTES

Resolving commercial and residential building disputes for developers, builders, owners, subcontractors, owners’ corporations, project managers and architects through litigation, court-ordered or voluntary mediation, expert determinations or voluntary settlement conferences
Making and responding to “security of payment” claims for builders and subcontractors, and enforcing or appealing adjudication decisions
Resolving leasing disputes for lessors, lessees and guarantors through litigation, court-ordered or voluntary mediation, court-ordered conciliation conferences or voluntary settlement conferences. This includes assisting lessors to take possession of premises occupied by defaulting lessees and assisting lessees to resist unlawful forfeiture of their lease by lessors
Resolving planning disputes for developers through litigation, court-ordered or voluntary mediation, court-ordered conciliation conference or voluntary settlement conference

COMMERCIAL DISPUTES

Initiating, defending and resolving all aspects of debt recovery, including letters of demand, creditor statutory demands under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), and enforcement of court judgments
Acting for or against insolvency practitioners voluntarily or involuntarily appointed to a company or the estate or an individual. This includes initiating, defending and resolving claims concerning directors of insolvent companies, debtors and creditors of insolvent companies, or debtors and creditors of bankrupt estates
Resolving commercial contract disputes by litigation, court-ordered or voluntary mediation or voluntary settlement conference
Issuing and responding to subpoenas and other compulsory notices to produce information or documents, either during or outside of litigation

Initiating, defending and resolving court applications for winding up orders (against a company) and sequestration orders (against an individual)
Initiating, defending and resolving all aspects of Federal tax disputes, from notices of objection to Federal Court or Administrative Appeals Tribunal proceedings
Initiating, defending and resolving all aspects of Territory tax disputes, from applications for internal review (including payroll tax degrouping applications) to ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal or Supreme Court proceedings

Our awards and accolades

2018, 2017, 2016 Best Lawyers Australia — Alternative Dispute Resolution — Greg Brackenreg
2018, 2017, 2016 Doyles Guide — Leading Commercial Litigation & Dispute Resolution Firm Canberra — Meyer Vandenberg
2018, 2017 Doyles Guide — Leading Commercial Litigation & Disputes Resolution Lawyer Canberra — Bernice Ellis
2018 Doyles Guide — Leading Commercial Litigation & Dispute Resolution Lawyer Canberra — Alisa Taylor
2017, 2016 Doyles Guide — Recommended Commercial Litigation & Dispute Resolution Lawyer Canberra — Greg Brackenreg
2017 Master Builders Association ACT — Professional of the Year — Alisa Taylor
2016 Society of Construction Law Australia — Brooking Prize — Alisa Taylor
2015 Society of Construction Law Australia Award — Construction Law — Alisa Taylor

The MV difference

Take the time to properly understand the facts, evidence and surrounding circumstances of your situation.
Consider your legal position based on the current state of relevant law, and determine the best strategy to protect your interests.
Deliver advice in plain-English about your legal position, options for the next steps and our recommendations tailored to your situation and based on our expertise.
Negotiate at any time with the other parties to resolve as quickly as possible the issues between them, whether the negotiation be formally by mediation or informally by communications between the parties (and their lawyers).
Experts in and passionate about our areas of law, including the courts and tribunals where the law is tested.

Committed to protecting your interests having regard to both legal and non-legal interests.
Focused on practical and plain-English advice, with commercial recommendations to resolve issues.
Committed to collaborating with other parties, including third-party experts and advisers, to determine and implement the best strategy to protect your interests, ensure all rights are recognised and resolve any dispute.
Give frank and fearless advice to you about the strength of your legal position, and the likely outcome of any dispute.
Give full and frank disclosure of all legal costs to ensure a properly informed decision about the next steps is made and there are no unhappy legal costs surprises along the way.