The epitaph reads: “Within this vault which he had himself caused to be erected as the resting place of his family are interred the remains of James Dowling Knight Chief Justice of New South Wales who departed this life on the eve of embarkation for Europe on 27 September 1844 in the 57th year of his age having been appointed to the bench in 1827 and Chief Justice in 1836 he held this office of a judge for the long period of 17 years during the whole of which he discharged his duties with the most unwearied zeal and assiduity with an independence and impartiality and integrity of mind and purpose a pure and ardent love of justice and an earnest desire to do right rarely equalled and which cannot be surpassed.”

Our Philosophy
The old probate lawyers’ joke goes: “Why waste a good Estate on the family?”
We prefer to say: “Why waste a good Estate on the lawyers.”
Our role is simple: preserve your Estate, protect your wishes, and keep the process efficient.

We help you establish a clear, tailored succession plan, including drafting a Will designed to minimise disputes and avoid scorched‑earth litigation wherever possible. Whether your Will is Australian, UK, or both, we ensure your Estate is structured to pass smoothly to the next generation without unnecessary conflict, cost, or delay.

Where recalcitrant or estranged children or former partners are involved, we can engage with them early to reduce the risk of future claims and promote a stable transition.

We help you preserve control over your affairs long after you are gone. 

Objectives of a Good Succession Plan

1. A good succession plan begins with preserving and passing on the wealth you worked so hard to build. It ensures that the assets accumulated over your lifetime are protected from unnecessary erosion and transmitted in a way that strengthens the next generation. Effective planning maintains hard fought gains and ensures beneficiaries receive meaningful support, stability, and opportunity. You are giving the next generation a leg up.
2. Protecting the next generation from exploitation is essential. This includes shielding vulnerable beneficiaries from unscrupulous people, predatory influencers, or manipulative relationships. Where appropriate, this protection may involve the use of carefully structured trusts to control access to funds, safeguard assets, and ensure long‑term stewardship. Trusts can be essential for minors, vulnerable adults, spendthrifts, or beneficiaries at risk of exploitation. To some extent you can still rule from the grave.
3. Minimising the risk of Estate disputes is critical. Clear drafting, transparent reasoning, and the elimination of pressure points in Wills helps to create a plan that is difficult to challenge. This approach reduces ambiguity and helps avoid the type of “scorched‑earth litigation” that can consume Estates and fracture families forever.
4. Ensuring your wishes are carried out efficiently requires providing Executors with clear instructions, practical tools, and a streamlined pathway for administering your Estate. Where appropriate, we can advise your Executor throughout the administration process, helping them navigate procedural requirements, complex instructions, manage risks, and ensure your Estate is handled correctly, efficiently, and in accordance with your testamentary wishes.
5. Estrangement should be addressed proactively. Clear upfront discussions with estranged or recalcitrant children can reduce misunderstandings and prevent future conflict. These conversations are not about reconciliation; they are about moving forward, transparency, expectation‑management, and litigation If preferred, you may instruct us to conduct the discussions on your behalf, ensuring the message is delivered professionally and in a way that reduces the risk of future challenges. This may help keep things calm.
6. Cross‑border realities must be accommodated. Many families today hold assets, pensions, or property in both Australia and the United Kingdom. Harmonised Australian and UK Wills ensure that each document operates correctly in its jurisdiction, avoids accidental revocation, and provides clarity for Executors administering assets in multiple countries.
7. Where the family cannot provide a suitable Executor, appointing a capable, conflict‑free professional Executor may be the safest option. In situations involving estrangement, vulnerability, family conflict, or complex cross‑border Estates, we can act as Executor. This will seek to ensure that the Estate is administered impartially, efficiently, and in accordance with your wishes.  This helps in preventing exploitation and avoiding mismanagement. We don’t want bungled Estates!
8. Preserving family harmony and reducing long‑term conflict is a vital outcome of good succession planning. A well‑structured plan does more than distribute assets; it reduces the emotional and relational fallout that often accompanies Estates. Clear planning, transparent communication, and well‑structured documentation helps maintain family stability and prevent disputes that can fracture relationships for decades. We hope to avoid any coffin kicking at the funeral.

Our cross‑border capability: UK–Australia Wills
Many families today hold assets, pensions, or property in both Australia and the United Kingdom. We prepare harmonised Australian and UK Wills to ensure that each Will operates correctly in its jurisdiction, that there is no accidental revocation, that Executors understand their roles, and that Estate administration proceeds efficiently and without conflict. This cross‑border capability is a core part of our boutique practice.

How we work with you
We take a structured approach to succession planning. This includes clear upfront discussions and instructions, identification of pressure points including recalcitrant kids, spouse, former spouse, dependent grandchildren or household members,  drafting a Succession Plan, drafting a Will that is clear and challenge resistant  as much as possible, providing practical guidance for Executors, cross‑border coordination where required, and ongoing support during administration. Our goal is simple: your Estate goes to your family, not to legal fees.