“CityNews” showcases some of the leading legal experts of the Canberra region that are ready to help, no matter how big or small the problem.

When things go wrong, seeking help may seem scary. 

But Canberra has a wide selection of industry professionals who have years of experience to provide the best legal advice and aid to anyone in crisis. 

Law firm upholds traditional values with client focus

Specialising in medical negligence, historical sexual abuse claims, public liability claims and workplace injuries and harassment claims, director of Commins Hendriks Solicitors Alison McNamara says good law must be rooted in traditional values. 

“We aren’t interested in flashy titles or documents, we offer old-fashioned values,” she says. 

“Service to our clients is always our top priority.

“We take a caring approach to everything we do.”

Operating in law for more than 20 years, Alison says she’s still living her dream by being able to help people. 

“I’ve never wanted to be anything else,” she says. 

“I do it to get results for our clients.

“When something catastrophic happens, I want to be there to hold their hand through the entire process, ensuring they feel supported, valued and cared for.

“We’re more than just lawyers, we care about your rights and we’ll fight passionately for them”.

Commins Hendreks Solicitors have been operating for more than 100 years and is one of the oldest law firms in Canberra with a total of seven offices serving the region. 

“We know what we’re doing,” says Alison. 

“We know what works and have experience in what we do.

“We’re lawyers for life. We are there to help our clients, they mean the most to us.

“It’s all about putting them first.” 

Commins Hendricks Solicitors, AMP building, Suite 4, Level 4/1 Hobart Place, Canberra. Call 6191 7000 or visit comminshendriks.com.au

Ken leads law firm with decades of experience

Ken Hubert, of Capon and Hubert, began his career as an articled clerk with Romano and Verducci, and spent some time as an associate assisting Justice Kelly, says finance director Rhonda Hubert.

“He has spent his working life in legal practices in Canberra,” she says. 

“He then worked with William G Pierce, eventually buying out the practice, which then merged with that of Geoff Capon, and became what is now known as Capon and Hubert.”

Ken and Geoff made a deliberate decision to keep their practice in the suburbs, firstly at Mawson and then in Phillip, says Rhonda, because Ken and Geoff always wanted to work with people handling the ordinary matters of life, and assist them with issues they face.

Rhonda says Ken’s legal career spans over 40 years, and that he has spent many years involved in family law work, and also conducts mediations to assist clients to resolve differences without needing to go to court.

Ken is now very involved in wills and estates work, she says, assisting clients to have wills created which reflect their wishes.

He also assists those who are faced with the completion and tidying up of estates in Probate work.

Daryn Griffiths joined Capon and Hubert more than six years ago, says Rhonda, and his area of expertise is with property law, handling residential and commercial work. 

She says he also reviews retirement village agreements, which vary from village to village.

Capon and Hubert Lawyers and Mediators, first floor, 32-38 Townshend Street, Phillip. Call 6152 9203 or visit chsol.com.au

Legal specialists in personal injury claims

Maliganis Edwards Johnson (MEJ) has been protecting the rights of injured Canberrans since 1985, says partner Craig Edwards.

“MEJ are the legal specialists in personal injury and understand the complexity of the laws that govern compensation in the ACT,” he says.

“Being injured can have a traumatic effect on your life and on your family and it is important that you act quickly after an injury has occurred.

“The experienced team knows that without the right legal advice and representation, you can miss out on fair compensation and incur unnecessary costs.”

Craig says MEJ’s philosophy is simple – if you’ve been injured through someone else’s fault then you deserve fair compensation.

“However, it’s important that you act quickly to achieve the best possible result,” he says.

“We offer a free initial consultation and work on a ‘no win-no fee’ basis.

Maliganis Edwards Johnson. Call 6257 2999, or visit mej.com.au

New address has lawyers ‘better equipped’ to help more people

Recently moving their operation from Gungahlin to Mitchell, principal solicitor at WMG Legal, Chris Malfone says they are now better equipped to continue expanding their organisation and are “better equipped to help more people”.

“We see clients all over Canberra and Australia,” he says. 

“We are even beginning to see clients all over the world due to cutting-edge technology.

“We are streamlining our services to make them more accessible and efficient for our clients.”

Working under solicitor Wayne Warton, Chris was the first solicitor to join Wayne after he opened his practice in 2010. 

The company has rapidly expanded with a diverse team of 12 professionals catering to a broad audience. 

“Wayne is incredibly generous with people,” says Chris. 

“He’s a great compass on what the right thing to do is; he has great experience and can always offer great insight to me.”

Now located in Mitchell, Wayne says their location change has helped them continue to broaden their reach. 

“This new location is a win-win for us. Centrally located and just four kilometres from our previous office, it opens up an incredible opportunity for us to grow,” says Wayne. 

“We’re committed to being efficient and offering value for money for our clients,” says Chris. 

“We’re now able to work over video conferences worldwide.

“It’s all part of our commitment to continue growing our abilities to help our community.” 

WMG Legal, 4/6 Pelle Street, Mitchell. Call 6253 9766 or visit wmglegal.com.au

Team focused on work-compensation rights

Anyone who has suffered an injury at work needs to know what they’re entitled to, says partner and personal injury lawyer Chris Sheppard.

“Compensation specialists can help you get what you’re entitled to,” he says. 

“However, it’s not always easy to get what you deserve.”

RMB Gil-Jones Barker Lawyers has a team of 10 lawyers that specialise in compensation. 

“The legal system can be scary and confusing when it comes to compensation claims,” says Chris. 

“The RMB Gil-Jones Barker Lawyers team has accredited specialist compensation lawyers who can make sure you receive the compensation you’re eligible for.” 

According to Chris, compensation claims cover weekly benefits, reasonably necessary treatment and medical expenses and impairment compensation.

“Even for accepted claims, disputes can arise as to whether or not a specific type of treatment is ‘reasonably necessary’,” he says. 

“That’s why we are here to ensure you’re not left in the lurch after an injury.

“If you have a problem with a workers’ compensation claim or would like advice on your rights, I urge you to contact RMB Gil-Jones Barker Lawyers in Canberra for a free consultation.”

RMB Gil-Jones Barker Lawyers, Unit 6, Level 2/97 Northborne Avenue, Turner. Call 6180 5111 or visit rmblawyers.com.au

Firm matches fresh energy with proven expertise

Practising law is about problem solving, says Signus Legal director, Brendan Goodger.

“It’s about empowering people through problem solving,” he says. 

Although relatively new to the Woden community, Brendan has been assisting clients in Woden for more than a decade. 

“Signus Legal offers fresh energy alongside proven expertise,” says Brendan. 

With a focus on business and commercial law, property transactions, estate planning and notarial services, Brendan says their holistic approach ensures they look after clients’ businesses and family needs from start to finish. 

“We pride ourselves on building genuine, long-term relationships with our clients,” he says. 

“As a boutique law firm, we are dedicated to supporting small business owners and families with practical, tailored legal solutions.

“I love the variety and the chance to make a tangible difference in people’s lives. 

“Whether it’s solving a complex issue or helping a family secure their future, every day is meaningful.”

Brendan says having a client-focused mindset is important in law.

“Our focus is entirely on our clients,” he says. 

“We take the time to understand their unique needs and goals, offering a personalised, accessible approach that’s all about delivering results, not just advice.

Signus Legal, Gadal Chambers, Ground Floor, 48 Corinna Street, Phillip. Call 5133 5664 or visit signus.legal

Know your rights, says criminal law team

Been charged? One of the most important things to do is to seek legal advice to find out your rights, says partner at CODA Criminal Law, Peter Woodhouse.

“When in doubt, get the advice to allow you to make informed decisions,” he says. 

“We’re experienced across all areas of criminal law and will match you with the lawyer that best suits your needs.

“Our team will ease your stress and tackle your case without judgement, which is what you need during one of the toughest, most uncertain periods of your life.”

With decades of experience amongst CODA’s four lawyers and two paralegals, Peter says each member has worked exclusively in criminal law. 

“Choosing a specialist in criminal law means they have a network of contacts they can utilise to argue your case and build a strong defence strategy,” he says. 

“We are one of Canberra’s newest law firms, and have committed ourselves to providing accessible and easily understandable help.

“We provide services that are easy for our clients to understand the process from start to finish.” 

According to Peter, there’s no such thing as a case too big or small for the CODA team to handle. 

“We treat all cases seriously,” he says.

CODA’s office number has an after-hours function that allows clients to contact a lawyer at any time. 

CODA Criminal Law, Level 7/1 Hobart Place, Canberra. Call 6279 4288, or visit codalaw.com.au

Family law specialists dedicated to solving problems

After bonding over a shared love of law and noting a like-minded approach to work and high standards of morals and ethics, lawyers Lucy Stramandinoli and Anna Neilan became co-directors of Neilan Stramandinoli Family Law.

“We’ve had the privilege of meeting some incredible people throughout our careers, both clients and professionals,” says Lucy. 

“We take the trust that our clients place on us very seriously and we strive for the best outcomes for our clients.” 

Operating since 2017, Anna and Lucy bring with them a wealth of knowledge acquired from working in Canberra firms. 

“We specialise in family law, which covers complex parenting matters, domestic violence matters, property cases, documenting agreements, asset protection and much much more,” says Lucy. 

Initially intending to work as an accountant, Lucy fell in love with practising law after graduating from year 12. 

“I was in awe with the lawyers who were working so hard to help their clients, many of whom were disadvantaged economically but were at an advantage because of the legal representation they were receiving,” she says. 

Now working at her own firm, Lucy says she still loves working in law.

“As Anna and I have been working in the local legal community for so long, we’ve established relationships with other experts in many different fields,” she says. 

“We love to problem solve, which sometimes means we don’t switch off during our personal time as we’re always thinking about how we can resolve issues or what the next move will be in our cases.”

Neilan Stramandinoli Family Law, Suite 1, Ground Floor/5 Farrell Place, Canberra. Call 6152 0493 or visit nsfamilylaw.com.au

Working through a difficult time with dignity

Operating since September 2023, Anna Wynne and Associates provides family law legal services and family law mediation services. 

“We focus on helping families work through a difficult time or relationship breakdown with dignity and respect,” says owner Anna Wynne. 

“Our focus is on helping families work through difficult times – such as relationship breakdowns – with dignity.

“We encourage our clients to focus on the future and what is the best outcome for children and families involved.”

Specialising in family law and family mediation services, Anna says she chose to study law as she’s always been passionate about helping people who may be going through a difficult time. 

“Our organisation is focused on helping families move forward in their lives by keeping legal fees low,” she says. 

“Our primary focus is ensuring our services are accessible and affordable to the community to ensure our clients get the best outcomes possible.

“It’s all about the best interests of any children involved.”

Anna says it’s a privilege to be trusted by people to support them when they’re trying to work through what is a huge crisis and tipping point in their life. 

“I love working with my clients to help and support them by figuring out the best way forward for themselves and their children,” she says. 

Anna Wynne and Associates, 7 Neptune Street, Phillip. Call 6190 6159, or visit awynnelegal.com.au

Working peacefully to resolve family law matters

BALANCE Family Law was established in 2019 with a focus on non-adversarial family law, to keep families out of court, says director Perpetua Kish.

“I have previously seen the harm courts can do to families and children, so I work peacefully with clients to resolve matters outside the court system.

“We lead the Kind Lawyers movement, which is all about changing the conversation in law from one of combat to kindness.”

In 2020 the firm expanded to include wills and estate planning, led by Balance’s co-founder Johnathon Naef.

“Jono was named a finalist as a New Lawyer of the Year 2023 in his fifth year of practice,” says Perpetua.

“And, the New Year is the perfect opportunity to update and refresh your will.

“We have grown from a team of two right up to a team of eight now, with diverse backgrounds and languages spoken amongst us.

“We are passionate about helping couples and families separate the smart way, with kindness, with respect, without court.”  

Balance Family Law. Call 6189 1748, or visit balancefamilylaw.com.au