Grace Lawyers’ Commercial Litigation practice complements our Strata and Community Title as well as our Property Law practice areas in New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria. When negotiations fail to achieve resolution, our skilled commercial litigation lawyers step in to achieve cost-effective results, including Court, Tribunal and appeal proceedings.
Our experienced litigation Partners and lawyers adeptly manage cases ranging from minor commercial disputes to substantial litigation. We understand the nuances of legal processes and advocate for our clients’ best interests. Additionally, our Partners and senior associates actively contribute to industry knowledge by leading seminars and training sessions for industry peers, clients, and their staff.
Our expertise includes:
- Court of Appeal (in all jurisdictions)
- District County Court (in all jurisdictions)
- High Court
- Local Magistrates Court (in all jurisdictions)
- NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT)
- QLD Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT)
- VIC Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT)
- Specialist Land and Planning & Environment Courts (in all jurisdictions)
- Supreme Court (in all jurisdictions)
Our results:
- Debt recovery settlement: Grace represented a prestigious body corporate on the Gold Coast in contentious debt recovery proceedings. We successfully negotiated a settlement before the case went to trial, ensuring prompt payment of outstanding levies and recovery costs for the body corporate manager with the recovery costs subject to an assessment process.
- Dismissal of appeal in Court of Appeal: We represented a body corporate (without engaging a barrister) in persuading the President of the Court of Appeal to reject a lot owner’s application for leave to appeal regarding prior QCAT decisions. We successfully obtained an order for the body corporate’s costs to be paid on an indemnity basis: Thompson v Body Corporate for Arila Lodge [2019] QCA 267; Thompson v Body Corporate for Arila Lodge [2019] QCA 296.
- Vexatious claim: Grace, acting for an insurer and owners corporation, successfully defended against a speculative personal injury claim alleging damages (likely around $30,000) due to disputes over common property use. Grace promptly identified the claim’s speculative nature, recommending immediate action to strike it out. Peter advocated at the interlocutory hearing, resulting in a striking out order and indemnity costs awarded against the vexatious third-party claimant.