Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Your Trusted Legal Partner in Melbourne
Madgwicks Lawyers, established in 1975, has built a reputation as a trusted commercial law firm with over 100 staff. Our client-centric approach prioritizes long-term relationships, delivering commercially practical legal advice across 12+ practice areas. As part of the global Meritas network, we combine local expertise with international reach, offering tailored solutions for complex legal matters. Our team of experienced lawyers focuses on clear communication, ensuring clients understand viable options and outcomes.With a history of community engagement and industry recognition, we emphasize innovation, timeliness, and practicality in all legal services. Our multidisciplinary approach integrates expertise from taxation, finance, property, and workplace relations to address diverse client needs. We maintain strong regulatory relationships with ASX, ASIC, APRA, and ATO, while fostering a culture of accessibility and outcome-focused service delivery.
Services
Corporate Law
Taxation
Dispute Resolution
Property Services
Banking & Finance
Workplace Relations
Intellectual Property
Insolvency
Franchising
Wills & Estates
Details
- Year established: 1975
Highlights and features
- We offer 40+ years of legal expertise since 1975 with multidisciplinary specialists
- Our client-first approach prioritizes long-term relationships over transactional interactions
- Access global legal resources through our membership in the Meritas network
- We provide practical, commercially viable solutions rather than theoretical advice
- Our team includes recognized experts in taxation, corporate law, and dispute resolution
Services
Corporate Law
Our corporate law team advises on mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and corporate governance. We help businesses navigate complex transactions with strategic guidance on risk management, compliance, and regulatory requirements. Our lawyers work closely with ASX-listed companies, private enterprises, and multinational corporations to structure deals that maximize value while minimizing legal exposure.
Taxation
We provide comprehensive tax planning and dispute resolution services for businesses and individuals. Our experts handle complex tax structuring, audits, and litigation matters involving ATO and SRO. With decades of experience in domestic and international taxation, we deliver practical solutions for property developments, superannuation funds, and cross-border transactions while maintaining compliance with evolving tax regulations.
Dispute Resolution
Our litigation team represents clients in commercial disputes across all Australian courts and alternative dispute resolution forums. We specialize in construction disputes, shareholder conflicts, and insolvency matters while emphasizing cost-effective strategies. With experience in high-profile corporate collapses and complex commercial litigation, we focus on achieving favorable outcomes through negotiation or courtroom advocacy as appropriate.
Property Services
We advise on property development, financing, and leasing matters for commercial and residential projects. Our services include structuring property transactions, negotiating development agreements, and resolving construction disputes. The team works with developers, investors, and financial institutions to address zoning regulations, planning approvals, and financing arrangements while ensuring compliance with relevant state and federal property laws.
Banking & Finance
Our banking practice covers loan structuring, debt recovery, and financial regulatory compliance. We assist lenders and borrowers with syndicated facilities, security documentation, and insolvency recapitalization. With expertise in both domestic and cross-border transactions, we help financial institutions navigate complex regulatory environments while protecting client interests in secured lending and debt restructuring scenarios.
People
Marina Papas
Head of Corporate & Commercial
Marina leads our Corporate team with strategic expertise in commercial law, delivering successful outcomes for clients through practical, forward-thinking legal advice.
Catherine Ballantyne
Principal
Catherine specializes in complex commercial litigation, guiding businesses through disputes with a deep understanding of both legal processes and commercial realities.
John Caridakis
Principal
John represents clients in business disputes and insolvency matters, leveraging extensive experience across property, contract, and shareholder conflict resolution.
Philip Diviny
Principal
Philip provides expert tax advisory services, combining broad experience in tax controversy and international tax practices to deliver strategic solutions.
Laurance Davis
Principal
Laurance leads our Property team with specialist knowledge in property finance and development, driving successful deal outcomes for major clients.
Questions
What areas of law does Madgwicks Lawyers specialize in?
We specialize in corporate law, taxation, dispute resolution, property services, banking & finance, workplace relations, and intellectual property.
How long has Madgwicks Lawyers Lawyers been in operation?
Madgwicks Lawyers Lawyers has been providing legal services since 1975, with over 45 years of experience in commercial law.
Do you offer international legal services?
As part of the Meritas global network, we provide coordinated legal services across 92 countries through trusted partner law firms.
What makes Madgwicks Lawyers different from other law firms?
Our client-focused approach combines 40+ years of experience with multidisciplinary expertise and global network support for practical solutions.
