Property

Our conveyancers and property lawyers have been conducting property transactions and practising property law for over 60 years. 

We are able to assist with all of your property needs, however simple or complicated they might be.  Our team of property lawyers and conveyancers have significant experience in the following areas:-

  • Building & Construction Law

  • Building reports and inspections

  • Caveats

  • Commercial, Industrial & Retail Leasing

  • Compulsory Acquisition

  • Contract preparation, advice and negotiations

  • Conveyancing (NSW & QLD)

  • Development Applications

  • Easements

  • Environment & Planning

  • Joint venture agreements

  • Leasing

  • Litigation & Dispute Resolution

  • Options

  • Mortgage and security documents drafting and advice

  • Mortgagee sales

  • Property Valuations

  • Retirement Villages

  • Security of Payment – Building & Construction

  • Strata, company title and community title

  • Strata disputes

  • Surveys

  • Sub-divisions

  • Structuring property transactions

  • Trusts and asset protection

We provide legal advice in all aspects of buying, selling and leasing property. By combining years of experience, with modern innovative technology, our conveyancing solicitors strive to ensure that your transaction is smooth, quick and cost effective.

We provide the highest standard of advice and support to clients.

Our conveyancing solicitors provide personalised service to all our clients. We value your time and understand that sometimes a short conversation is the most efficient way to resolve a problem and that sometimes a quick update via text message is the cheapest and most efficient method of providing a status update in today's crazy, busy world.

After hours and weekend appointments available. We are contactable 7 days a week.

We understand that purchasers look at property on the weekend and may seek information or have questions about the property purchase process on the weekend. If you contact us by email or phone on the weekend and leave a message then we will do our best to call you back on the same day and usually within a couple of hours. This service may just be the edge that helps you secure your dream home especially when there is more than one prospective purchaser for a property.

Crime

We advise and appear in court on all types of criminal law defence matters.

The types of matters in which we typically appear include property, assault and drug related charges.

We will ensure that you understand any charges against you and make a fully informed decision when choosing how to plead to a charge.

We provide cost effective legal defence to criminal charges, including driving under the influence, traffic offences, violent crime and property offences.

We also offer advice and assistance with bail applications and sentencing submissions and matters relating to Bail applications, Drug Offences, Domestic Violence and Assault, Fraud and Theft.

Our team members are each strong trial advocates, comfortable and experienced appearing in Court on an urgent basis, where the stakes are high. 

We also operate in conjunction with a team of skilled and dedicated criminal barristers to ensure the best service possible. 

Hospitality

Our Liquor Licensing and Hospitality team has significant experience in making the following types of applications on behalf of our clients:-

Caterer’s Licence – required for premises where functions are held and liquor is served and also when a caterer serves liquor with food at a function.

Function Licence – a temporary or permanent licence obtained from the Licensing Court for liquor to be sold at special events.

Hotelier’s Licence – entitles the holder to sell liquor on premises with a retail shop and with the Court’s approval can trade up to 24 hours a day.

Nightclub Licence – before a nightclub licence is granted, the applicant will need to obtain approval from the local authority such as the local council for the premises to be used as a place for public entertainment. The licence also has certain conditions attached to it if meals are also served at the premises.

Retail (Off-Licence) – the public can purchase liquor for consumption away from the premises.

Wholesale (Off-Licence) – allows the holder to supply liquor to other outlets where liquor is sold or consumed.

Motel (On-Licence) – allows the guest of a motel (without a licensed restaurant) to purchase and consume liquor in their motel rooms.

Restaurant (On-Licence) – the licensee is allowed to sell liquor to the diners for consumption with the food served at the premises. If the restaurant has a reception area endorsed on the licence then liquor can be consumed in that area before or after the meal. For a restaurant to serve patrons who wish to drink liquor without a meal a dine-or-drink authority is required. A licence is not required for restaurants offering BYO.

We can also assist you to ensure you have the requisite experience, skills and qualifications required for your preferred licence type, by providing guidance and assistance in the following areas:-

Education – any applicant for a liquor licence must complete one of the courses approved by the Liquor Administration Board. The course provides an understanding of the trading requirements as well as the relevant liquor laws.

Harm Minimisation – the licensee or the applicant is required to have in place responsible service of alcohol practices so as to minimise the harm associated with the misuse and abuse of liquor, e.g., violence and other anti social behaviour.

Signage – the liquor laws require certain signage to be displayed at appropriate or prominent places on the premises where liquor is sold, supplied or consumed.

We proudly act for many of Newcastle and the Hunter's most recognisable and well established hospitality venues. Rob Faraday-Bensley, as owner of the rejuvenated and successful The Kiosk at Newcastle Beach is also actively involved, on a daily basis, in the Newcastle hospitality community.