Equilaw Solicitors: Local Solicitors in the Hunter Valley
Helping You Enjoy Peace & Clarity
Equilaw Solicitors is a trusted and respected law firm, known for providing informed and friendly legal services to clients for over 30 years.
From our office in Muswellbrook, Equilaw offers meticulous legal services to clients situated both locally and across Australia. Equilaw’s team provide friendly, personalised assistance with high quality advice to resolve your case in a practical and efficient way.
Through continuing legal education and investing in the latest technology available, the Equilaw team offers modern and trustworthy legal advice. We have an experienced legal team that can assist you with a practical and effective approach. We pride ourselves on our effective negotiation, mediation and litigation skills.
Our conveyancers assist property buyers and sellers, helping them navigate the complexities of the process and facilitate settlements. We can also help organise building inspection reports.
If you want to make a will or make amendments to an existing one, we can provide legal assistance. We also assist with power of attorney, grants of probate, intestate estates and much more.
Our criminal law representation services extend to cases of assault, fraud, domestic violence, sexual assault and theft. We can also assist with bail applications and AVOs.
Our solicitors can assist with matters concerning drunk driving, speeding, driving under a suspended licence and other traffic offences. We will strive to help you retain your licence and secure the best outcome.
We understand that family legal proceedings can be extremely distressing. Our legal team can assist with mediations, parental arrangements, defacto agreements and much more to help you proceed with confidence.
Our solicitors can provide legal support and advice for employees and employers. We advise on employment contracts, WHS, unlawful dismissals, as well as tax and superannuation.
Are you buying or selling a company? About to embark on a joint venture or a consumer rights law suit? Our friendly, compassionate staff can help you navigate the complexities and challenges of commercial litigation.
Who We Are
Hands-On Personalised Service
“Be with those who bring out the best in you, not the stress in you.” At Equilaw Solicitors, our aim is to provide a level of service designed to reduce the stress that our clients often encounter when dealing with the unfamiliar territory of the law. We spend time getting to know our clients. We value the relationships we build and we have many long standing clients that we have assisted in various legal matters throughout their lifetime. Our legal team is always accessible, by phone, email or in person.
The Equilaw Philosophy – Providing Informed Legal Advice
Through continuing legal education and investing in the latest technology available, the Equilaw team offers a modern, dynamic approach and trustworthy, robust legal advice.
Team building is vital to building a positive, approachable workplace. This has proven to assist in maintaining a happy, healthy workplace while sustaining focus and office harmony. This assists us in helping our clients cope with unfamiliar and stressful situations.
The Expertise To Handle Complex Legal Matters Quickly And Efficiently
Equilaw has an experienced legal team that can assist you with a practical, effective and cost efficient approach. We pride ourselves on our effective negotiation, mediation and litigation skills. Equilaw has a well-developed understanding of local issues. We have experience in dealing with:
- Conveyancing
- Wills and Probate
- Criminal Law
- Traffic Offences
- Family Law
- Commercial Litigation
- Employment Law
- Mediation
If you’d like to find out more, or request a service, don’t hesitate to contact us. You can reach us on
(02) 6542 5566.
Our Team
Michael O’Brien
Since his admission to practice in 1987, Michael O’Brien has developed into a powerful advocate for his clients in all of their legal needs, whether it be a criminal matter in the courtroom or as simple as buying a property.
In nearly 35 years as a solicitor, Michael O’Brien’s most notable cases in the criminal court include the representation of serial child killer Kathleen Folbigg following her charges for the murder of her four children and representing Tracy Jones in advocating the first home detention sentence in the Upper Hunter following her guilty finding for defrauding Merriwa Shire Council of $1.8 million.
In the civil court, Michael represented the plaintiff in Rosemount Estates Pty Ltd and Iain Gavin Nairn Gidley-Baird v the Minister for Urban Affairs and Planning and Bengalla Mining Company Pty Ltd to successfully argue the original approval for the Bengalla Mine was invalid.
Michael arrived in the Hunter Valley from Sydney as a fresh-faced, newly admitted solicitor in 1987 and has made an impact to the community and the local legal profession. Michael is also a keen sportsman and horse racing enthusiast. He has contributed greatly to rugby union in the Hunter Valley serving as secretary and president of the Hunter Valley Zone. He has extended his interests to giving his time to other sports such as hockey, netball and soccer.
Michael's Area Of Expertise:
- Conveyancing, specialising in rural property
- Intergenerational transfers
- Estate planning
- Wills
- Powers of Attorney
- Appointment of Enduring Guardianship
- Estate administration
- Family provision claims
- Probate
- Family law including divorce and property settlement
Renee Allen
Renee has over twelve years experience in conveyancing in the Upper Hunter region and joined the Equilaw team In 2009. She has been a licensed conveyancer since 2010.
Renee’s graduation from Macquarie University in 2010 as a Licensed Conveyancer was only a formality to six years of conveyancing experience learned working in local legal firms. This included supporting a partner at Scone Legal before joining Equilaw in 2009 to assist Michael O’Brien in Conveyancing matters.
With Renee’s extensive experience, she understands that buying and selling property can be a very stressful and confusing time for you and your family.
Renee will assist you in overcoming any challenges and guide your transaction to a timely and effective property settlement. Renee can support you through all the facets of conveyancing from reviewing the contract to final settlement whether you are buying or selling a residential or rural property.
Renee’s Area Of Expertise:
- Buying residential property
- Selling residential property
- Sale and purchase of rural properties
- Sale and purchase of water access licences
- Contract reviews
- Refinancing and deposit bonds
- First home owner stamp duty exemption applications
- Arranging pre-purchase inspections
Joshua Whale
Joshua Whale grew up in the small farming community of Merriwa. Upon completion of his studies in Sydney and his admission as a lawyer in 2018, Joshua returned to the area and commenced work with Equilaw Solicitors.
Joshua has cemented himself as a fierce advocate for his clients. He works primarily in the areas of criminal law, family law, commercial litigation and general court advocacy. Joshua is well versed in the Federal, Local and District Courts and works with our experienced team of barristers in complex matters.
Joshua enjoys all sport and in particular rugby and golf.
Joshua’s Area Of Expertise:
- Court litigation
- Traffic offences
- Licence appeals
- Drink driving charges
- AVOs
- Firearm offences
- Drug offences
- Assaults
- Family law including divorce, child custody and property settlement
Administration Team
John Arthur
Accounts
Libby Bartholomew
Legal Secretary
Minna Cannon
Legal Secretary
Kirsty Palmer
Legal Secretary
Hannah Guilfoyle
Legal Secretary
