KOFFELS - Solicitors & Barristers Areas of Practice
AREAS OF PRACTICE
BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION LAW
We offer a comprehensive service to the building industry; being experienced not only in the litigation
of building construction claims but also in the medication and arbitration process commonly employed
to reconcile disputes in this area. Common building disputes include allegations of defective work,
breach of contract, contract value disputes including disputes relating to alleged variations,
prolongation claims and other disputes between contractors.
We are also able to provide legal advice and drafting expertise in matters of consultant’s agreements,
construction project management, building contracts and contract administration.
COMMERCIAL
Our foundation is in commercial law and litigation and one of our senior solicitors is a Law Society
Accredited Specialist in the field. We can advise on all areas of interest to commercial clients including
business start-ups, joint ventures and partnerships, distributions and agency, merchandising and
franchising, advertising and marketing, terms and conditions of business, and commercial contract law.
We can also assist clients in company and business mergers, acquisitions and sales, restructures and
amalgamations, banking and debt financing.
Also see Corporate Law.
CORPORATIONS LAW
Our areas of expertise include corporate regulation and director’s duties as well as the
law relating to dealing in shares and other securities. We are also able to act in
winding up and corporate takeover proceedings.
We can also advise as to the various offences under the Corporations Law.
Also see Commercial Law.
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KOFFELS - Solicitors & Barristers Areas of Practice
CRIMINAL LAW
We have a steady turnover of clients who require advice or representation in criminal
law, in all jurisdictions from the Local to the Supreme Court. We retain counsel with
significant experience in appearing in a large variety of criminal matters, including
but not limited to “white collar” crime.
DEBT COLLECTION
We are able to pursue debtors quickly and efficiently to ensure a maximum return at a
minimum cost to the creditor. Where appropriate, we seek to recover debts through
insolvency proceedings, Deeds of Arrangement, Garnishee and similar orders and
mortgages to secure debts. We conduct large-scale recovery work for credit card
companies and Financial Institutions.
DEBT DEFENCE
We are able to protect our client’s assets from insubstantive creditor’s claims. We can
also assist our clients in the negotiations of settlement of claims as well as drafting
proposals for schemes of arrangements or contribution.
ENTERTAINMENT LAW
Ross Koffels considerable professional experience in this area puts him in an ideal
position to offer comprehensive and practical legal advice in relation to
entertainment/media law issues. Experience as a media proprietor dealing in the film
industry with advertising agencies Ross Koffel has a wealth of experience and
contacts.
EQUESTRIAN LAW
We offer a boutique service in all areas of equestrian law, from buying and selling to
leasing and exporting performance horses. We are able to prepare documentation of
all transactions including stallion agreements in the thoroughbred industry.
Koffels have had direct personal involvement in all the Olympic disciplines of
Equestrian sport and as a result offers unique experience in dealing with equestrian
related matters.
We also offer advice as to the organisation of equestrian activities including shows,
competitions and other events, and the insurance of these events.
We also also experienced litigators in equestrian disputes including disputes as to sale
and purchase insurance and veterinary negligence claims.
Also see Sports Law
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KOFFELS - Solicitors & Barristers Areas of Practice
FAMILY LAW
We are able to represent parties seeking residence, contract and other parentage
orders, including orders for parentage testing. We also represent persons in marriage
dissolution proceedings. In such cases, we can negotiate financial and property
settlements between married parties or persons who have been involved in a De facto
relationship.
We are able to conduct litigation of Family Court proceedings for either party and
also for trustees and other insolvency prosecutors acting as intervenes.
We can also act for persons who require Family Violence Orders to be obtained.
FINANCE AND CREDIT
We are involved in drafting credit applications and ensuring compliance with the
various legislation and regulatory bodies. We can also prepare advice for credit
providers and, where appropriate, assist in enforcement of credit arrangements.
INDUSTRIAL/EMPLOYMENT LAW
Koffels offer advice as to industrial awards and other laws relating to conditions of
employment and protection of employers and employees, including disciplinary
matters, maternity rights, discrimination, health and safety issues and redundancy. We
can also advise as to restrictive covenants and enterprise agreements.
We are able to negotiate and, if necessary, litigate cases involving injured employees,
unfair and wrongful dismissal and unfair employment contract disputes.
We also advise as to demarcation and other industrial disputes, for example,
employment issues arising on corporate transactions.
We are experienced in the alternative dispute resolution options frequently employed
in this area, including arbitration hearings and mediation.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
We are able to advise as to parties rights and obligations relating to all aspects of
intellectual property in Australia, including the law as it relates to copyright,
trademarks, designs and patents. We can also advise as to the intellectual property
rights associated with passing off and other misleading or deceptive conduct, and the
protection from misuse of confidential information including trade secrets.
We can obtain remedies for plaintiffs including the payment of damages by way of
compensation, as well as injunctions to prevent further breach of intellectual property
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KOFFELS - Solicitors & Barristers Areas of Practice
rights. For defendants, we can advise as to the various defenses available to defeat a
prosecution alleging breach of intellectual property rights.
As intellectual property issues frequently involve issues of international trade, we are
able to advise as to Australian Law as it relates to the information and exportation of
articles which may be subject to intellectual property rights.
INSOLVENCY LAW
We have considerable experience in acting for corporate and individual creditors,
debtors, trustees and liquidators in all contentious and non-contentious aspects of
insolvency law and practice. We are able to advise as to corporate receivership’s,
voluntary arrangement, and compulsory and voluntary liquidations, Part X
arrangements and bankruptcies.
We are able to negotiate administrations and schemes of arrangement at our client’s
request, or alternatively oppose such proposals if they do not accord with our client’s
best interests.
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS
We are a member of Lawyers Associated Worldwide, which provides a truly global
network of law firms who are able to provide expert advice and service in all
international business transactions, including:
Off shore sales, mergers, joint ventures and acquisitions
Negotiating international licensing arrangements
Solving import/export problems
Financial planning and international taxation, asset management and investment
International competition, insurance and trust laws
Shipping, maritime and aviation law
Off shore property investment and development of business transactions within the
European, Asia and American Communities.
LITIGATION AND DISPUTE RESOLUTIONS
Koffels staff appear in all jurisdictions handling litigation of contentious matters,
including court actions, arbitration, mediation and other forms of dispute resolution.
We are able to conduct proceedings in any of the areas of law. In addition, the firm
maintains a relationship with experience and competent barristers who are able to
conduct advocacy in any jurisdiction in the State if required.
We are well aware of our client’s need for their legal representation to be cost-
effective, and have regard to viable alternatives to litigation wherever possible.
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KOFFELS - Solicitors & Barristers Areas of Practice
MEDICAL NEGLIGENCE
Our firm includes a Law Society Accredited Specialist in personal injury law, who
has many years experience working with Plaintiffs seeking compensation for injury
suffered as a result of medical negligence. Many of our medical negligence matters
are carried out on a contingency basis, which means that our professional fees are
waived until the matter reaches a successful conclusion.
Also see Personal Injuries
MIGRATION
We offer a service to business migration applicants, both in relation to the applicants,
and the later audit requirements that arise under certain classifications. Applications
can be made both in Australia and at Australian Overseas Missions. We also act in
relation to student visa applications both within Australia and overseas. Ross Koffel’s
Migration Agents Registration Authority is 0006391.
PERSONAL INJURY
We are able to advise as to the possibility of compensation arising out of all forms of
personal injury, whether occasioned through accident, employment or as a result of
any act of negligence. Where necessary, we can represent plaintiffs in litigation
against the major insurance companies. We can also ensure that the rights of injured
persons are enforced during the period of their incapacity. Our Accredited Specialist
in Personal Injury Law has fifteen years expertise in obtaining maximum
compensation for the catastrophically injured.
Also see medical negligence
REAL PROPERTY AND CONVEYANCING
We act for business and corporate clients, as well as private individuals, in all types of
property and conveyancing transactions including acquisition and development,
leases, financing and joint ventures.
SPORTS LAW
In addition to our specialty of equestrian law, we are able to advise as to general
sports law issues including drafting sporting contracts (addressing, where relevant,
GST and insurance issues) and advising on existing contracts. We are experienced in
advising sports regulations and clubs including the drafting of the constitutions and
rules of these bodies.
We can also advise as to the rights of participants regarding injury and damages
claims. We are also able to advise on sponsorship and marketing issues.
See also equestrian law
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KOFFELS - Solicitors & Barristers Areas of Practice
SUCCESSION, WILLS AND PROBATE
We offer general estate planning advice and will drafting. We are able to act in all
estate matters including applications for probate and letters of administration. We can
negotiate claims against estates, including Family Provisions Act and property claims,
and if necessary prosecute or defend such claims.
TAXATION-GOODS AND SERVICES TAX
We provide overall tax advice for business including Goods & Services Tax (GST)
plus in some cases, in association with Chartered Accountants who we involved in
accounting aspects of the advice.
Koffels service includes tax litigation in all forms.
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