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Sinisgalli Foster Melbourne Law Firm

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Sinisgalli Foster Legal is a Melbourne based commercial law firm. John Sinisgalli and Alan Foster lead a team of highly talented Solicitors, Associates and Consultants.

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Commercial Litigation

A core practice area of the firm is Commercial Dispute Resolution and Insolvency matters. John and Alan are long standing Accredited Commercial Litigation Specialists.

Our approach is to ensure achieving an efficient and commercial outcome for our clients.

Matters in which we can help you with:


  • Contractual claims and disputes

  • Insolvency matters

  • Franchising disputes

  • Consumer law disputes

See Commercial Litigation Articles

Insurance Litigation

We have here and at our predecessor firms acted in a wide variety of Insurance Litigation matters. Our team is headed by our Principals, John and Alan and we are ably assisted in this field by our team of lawyers and selected barristers, delivering successful results to our clients.

Our expertise includes:


  • Product and Public liability

  • Professional indemnity

  • Personal injury liability

  • Employers’ liability

  • Insurance Policy interpretation

See Insurance Litigation Articles

Commercial

We act for diverse commercial clients ranging from listed companies to privately owned businesses.

The team is led is by Principal, John who is supported by William with considerable expertise in:


  • Commercial agreements and leases

  • Trademarks, copyright and other intellectual property

  • Sales, mergers, franchising and acquisitions

  • Employment and consumer law

  • Dispute resolution

See Commercial Articles

Property

The property team, headed by Richard and ably assisted by Ashley and Natalya, delivering successful results to our clients advise on all aspects of:


  • The sale and acquisition of commercial and residential property

  • Leases, licences, building and construction agreements

  • Property and Planning disputes

  • Property development and Subdivisions

  • Reviewing and Negotiating Agreements / Contracts

See Property Articles

Wills, Estates and Estate Planning

The firm’s Wills, Estates and Estate Planning practice is led by Associate, Denise in collaboration with John and Consultant, Peter.

Denise and John act in complex probate litigation matters and can assist you with:


  • Estate Planning including the preparation of Wills, Enduring Powers of Attorney and Appointments of Medical Decision Maker/s

  • Applications for Probate or Letters of Administration and Estate Administration

  • Estate Disputes

See Wills, Estates and Estate Planning Articles

Private Client Advisory

We advise listed companies and privately owned businesses in a wide range of industries.

To help you with the daily issues that challenge your business we offer:


  • Compliance requirements

  • Assessment and support consulting

  • Business planning and succession

  • Asset protection

See Private Client Advisory Articles

News & Insights

Our Team

John Sinisgalli Principal
Alan Foster Principal
William Kiernan Principal
Richard Leggo Consultant
Peter Kempson Consultant
Nick Lucas Consultant
Denise Cremona-Edwards Senior Associate
Ashley Cogan Senior Associate
Michelle Ang Senior Associate
Scott Draper Associate
Austin Dou Associate
John Sinisgalli Principal Commercial and Insurance Litigation John is a Principal of Sinisgalli Foster Legal and an Accredited Commercial Litigation Specialist since 1993. John established Sinisgalli Foster in April of 2018 with fellow Principal Alan Foster.

John practises in Commercial Litigation, Insurance Litigation, Insolvency, Commercial Transactions, Trust and Estate Litigation.

John was Chairperson of the Law Institute of Victoria Specialisation Committee from 2014 to 2017 and has been a Committee member for 11 years.

John is a Director of the Marsh Foundation, and a Committee Member of the DOXA Community Club.


P /   (03) 9133 3001
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Alan Foster Principal Commercial and Insurance Litigation Alan is a Principal of Sinisgalli Foster Legal. Alan established Sinisgalli Foster in April of 2018 with fellow Principal John Sinisgalli.

Alan graduated from Monash University with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of Economics and was admitted to practice in 1981. He has been a Law Institute of Victoria Accredited Commercial Litigation Specialist since 1994.

Alan practices in Commercial, Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution, primarily in the Supreme, Federal and appellate Courts.

Alan has acted for public and private companies, Directors and Officers and liability insurers, as well as high-net-worth individuals in a variety of matters, including misleading and deceptive conduct, shareholder actions, class actions and contract and trust disputes.
P /   (03) 9133 3033
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William Kiernan Principal Commercial & Property William is a Principal in the firm’s Commercial and Property group. He graduated from Monash University with a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts in 2016 and was admitted to practice in 2017. In 2023 he completed his Masters of Commercial Law.

William practises primarily in commercial transactions, including the preparation and negotiation of documents relating to the sale and acquisition of businesses, shares, assets and services. He also advises on various aspects of commercial and retail leasing, as well as property, building and leasing disputes.

Alongside this, William has a particular interest in technical commercial structures and advises on matters relating to trust arrangements, partnerships, and intellectual property.
P /   (03) 9133 3014
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Richard Leggo Consultant Property, Estates, Commercial & Employment Law Richard was a Principal of Leggo Law until he joined Sinisgalli Foster Legal, in October 2019.

Richard is a skilled advisor and negotiator over a broad range of transactions from straight forward to complex. With 35 years’ experience in commercial law and property law, Richard is able to advise clients across a wide range of commercial matters.

Richard also has extensive experience in estate planning and providing advice on industrial relations and employment issues.
P /   (03) 9133 3053
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Peter Kempson Consultant Wills, Estates & Property Peter was a Principal of Kempsons Lawyers until 2014. He joined Sinisgalli Foster Legal, upon its commencement in April 2018.

Peter leads the Wills, Estates and Property practice and has significant knowledge and experience in these areas.

Peter has practiced extensively in wills and estates, estate planning and property and business law since 1969. He has a 50 year Service Certificate from the Law Institute of Victoria.

Peter is often appointed by the Supreme Court of Victoria to act as an Independent Estate Administrator. He is dedicated to client service and to providing both excellent and cost effective legal services.
P /   03 9133 3052
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Nick Lucas Consultant Commercial, Litigation, Property and Estate Law Nick was previously a Partner of Saines Lucas Solicitors in Horsham and Ballarat. Prior to that firm he was the Principal of Lucas and Marshman Lawyers.

Nick graduated from Monash University with a Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor of Laws.

Nick has extensive experience in Commercial Law, Litigation, Will disputes, Property Law, Trusts, Estate Planning, Family Law, Property disputes, DeFacto Property disputes, Sale and Acquisition of Businesses, Farming / Rural Disputes, Wills and Powers of Attorney, Compensation Claims and Dispute Resolution Practices.

Nick is able to assist and advise clients over a wide range of legal matters.
P /   (03) 9133 3000
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Denise Cremona-Edwards Senior Associate Wills, Estates & Property Denise works in our Wills, Estates and Property practice.

Denise graduated from Victoria University with Bachelor of Laws (Honours) in 2014 and was admitted to practice in 2016.

She was appointed as an Associate in 2018.

Denise has extensive experience in Wills, Estates and Estate Litigation.
P /   (03) 9133 3012
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Ashley Cogan Senior Associate Commercial & Property Ashley is an Associate in the Commercial and Property team.
Ashley graduated from Deakin University with a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and Bachelor of Commerce in 2009 and was admitted to practice in 2011.

Ashley has considerable experience in a broad spectrum of commercial transactions across a variety of industries including the sale and acquisition of small and medium sized businesses, loan agreements and share and unit sale agreements.

Additionally, Ashley has considerable experience in the buying, selling and leasing of retail, commercial and industrial properties.
P /   03 9133 3011
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Michelle Ang Senior Associate Commercial Litigation & Insurance Litigation Michelle Is A Senior Associate In The Commercial Litigation And Insurance Litigation Practices.

She Graduated From the University Of Tasmania With A Bachelor Of Business and Bachelor of Law In 2014, During Which Time She Was Awarded An Overseas Travel Scholarship For Academic Excellence And Asia Bound Grant. Michelle Also Obtained A Diploma Of Languages And Was Admitted Into Practice In March 2015.

Michelle Practices In Insolvency Primarily In The Supreme And Federal Courts, Commercial Litigation, Insurance Civil Liability, Commercial Transactions, Alternative Dispute Resolution And Debt Recovery, Utilising Her Vast Experience And Skills Assisting The Firms Client’s In Our Commercial And Dispute Resolution Practices.

Michelle Is A Member Of The Australian College Of Strata Lawyers.
P /   (03) 9133 3013
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Scott Draper Associate Commercial & Commercial Litigation Scott is a Solicitor in the Commercial and Commercial Litigation practices.

He graduated from Melbourne University in 2015 with a Bachelor of Arts and a Diploma in Languages [German], and completed the postgraduate Juris Doctor at Melbourne Law School in 2019, during which he won the Frank Pinkerton Scholarship for his essay on Intellectual Property rights, and was admitted to practice in May 2020.

Scott has been working with Sinisgalli Foster Legal since 2019, with his primary focus on Commercial Litigation and Commercial Transactions team, primarily dealing with matters in the Supreme and Federal Courts.

Outside the firms Commercial team, Scott utilises his diverse legal knowledge, assisting the firms client’s in our Wills, Estates and Property practice.
P /   03 9133 3056
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Austin Dou Associate Commercial & Commercial Litigation Austin is a Solicitor in the Commercial and Insurance Litigation practices.

Austin holds a Master’s Degree in Law (First Class Scholarship & Guanghua Scholarship) from Fudan University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Telecommunications Engineering from Xidian University, both of which are preeminent universities in China. Austin also obtained a Diploma in Law (Thomson Reuters Prize) from the NSW Legal Profession Admission Board and studied at Columbia University in New York City. Austin is admitted in both Australia (2022) and China (2013).

Austin has a wide range of experience in commercial litigation, gained from working overseas for a top-tier US law firm in their cross-border litigation team and boutique litigation firms in Melbourne, with a primary focus on complex commercial and insurance litigation and insolvency matters. Austin makes frequent appearances in the Supreme, County and Magistrates’ Courts of Victoria and VCAT, and is also well versed in conducting litigation matters in all other states of Australia.

Austin has gained commercial experience working as a business consultant for the Dubai Government and contract administrator for a multinational mining company in Western Australia.

Outside the firm’s Commercial Litigation team, Austin utilises his ongoing knowledge assisting the firm’s clients in alternative dispute resolution, debt recovery, and insurance civil recovery matters.
P /   (03) 9133 3055
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Safe Custody

In addition to documents held on behalf of our clients, Sinisgalli Foster also holds safe custody documents for the following Solicitor’s Practices:

• Kempsons Lawyers
• Raboy & Associates
• Raboy & Feingold
• Mason Black Lawyers
• Mischel Hogan & Bone
• Leon Sholl & Associates
• Sholl Nicholson
• Sholl Nicholson Lasky

Sinisgalli Foster hold all documentation securely in our office free of charge. Should you require a copy of your documents or for the original documents to be released to you please contact our office or email info@sinisgallifoster.com.au.

P / (03) 9133 3000 Map marker iconLevel 7, 224 Queen Street, Melbourne VIC 3000 Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation
© Sinisgalli Foster 2019