Australian Law Update Newsletter GWM Lawyers Port Macquarie NSW Australia

Welcome to the December edition of this Law Update Newsletter, informing friends and clients of GWM Lawyers and Conveyancers of changes in the law that might impact on their personal or business lives.

2002 Christmas Roundup

We at GWM have enjoyed a very productive year, albeit one that has been peppered by a certain degree of upheaval and change.

Our changes have been both good and bad, happy and sad. As you are probably aware Andrew Walmsley chose to leave us to explore other avenues and interests in February/March of this year. He has, and indeed will, remain closely associated with the firm both formally as a consultant, but more importantly as a friend and confidant to all who are GWM. Unfortunately Andrew seems to be enjoying his new found freedom. This causes pangs of jealously to the staff that remain with the firm, although we genuinely wish him well with his new endeavours.

In April our own 'Enchanting Princess' was admitted as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of New South Wales. In the time since, she has rapidly developed a reputation as a litigator and a conveyancer. She represents a significant asset to the firm and over time she will develop into one of the higher profiled lawyers of the Hastings Valley area.

In October we opened the Wauchope office staffed by the beautiful and talented Tracy Wilson and Karen Crowley. Sending these two whirl-wind like characters to Wauchope has been like taking much of the wind out of the sails of Port Macquarie. They are both human dynamos. They have fantastic personalities and they have the wonderful capacity to make people comfortable in their presence. The Wauchope office has, in the short period of time since it was opened, experienced fantastic growth. It is clear from my perspective that the work being generated by the Wauchope office is generated predominantly because of the professional skills and attitudes of both Karen and Tracy and particularly their obsessive focus on client service and satisfaction.

I am sure that GWM's appearance at Wauchope has caused the existing providers of legal services great embarrassment and angst. People are coming to Karen and Tracy's door at the Wauchope office, voting with their feet and abandoning the legal service providers of the past.

At Port Macquarie we have seen a number of staff acquisitions and unfortunately a number of staff leave for a variety of reasons.

Ian Paul has recently joined our commercial legal team. Ian is a fully qualified Certified Practising Accountant and Lawyer. He will strengthen our already significant commercial team. Ian comes from Sydney but he was both born and bred in the bush. Port Macquarie is a town that I think Ian will adapt to quickly and comfortably. Ian and his family are welcomed by all staff at GWM. Ian's background particularly in tax auditing, estate litigation, forensic accounting and general litigation will ensure that there are plenty of things for him to do both now and well into the future. Ian's wealth of experience will undoubtedly provide a valuable skills acquisition to our firm particularly during this period of solid growth that we are currently experiencing.

Additionally, we have acquired the services of Lisa Knudsen. Lisa has joined our conveyancing division and will work from the Port Macquarie office. Lisa has significant conveyancing experience and now becomes an integral member of the Port Macquarie conveyancing division of GWM working closely in conjunction with our solicitor, the "enchanting princess" herself, Shannon Ward. Lisa is undertaking formal studies that will lead to her qualifying as a licensed conveyancer. Those studies are progressing well and indeed her exam results for the half year concluding December were extraordinary. Lisa proposes to continue her studies. At the conclusion of this present degree Lisa has indicated that she wants to train so that she can become a fully qualified solicitor specialising in property transactions. Lisa has become, like Tracy before her, very important to the firms development as she is now very much a role model for other staff who have considered the prospect of further training to acquire skills and qualifications. Already a number of staff members have indicated that they want to follow trail blazers Tracy Wilson and now Lisa in aspiring to obtain qualifications as a licensed conveyancer.

By the way, if Karen and Tracy are whirl-wind like, people are now appreciating that the Shannon/Lisa team is taking on the physical characteristics of a force-10 gale.

It would be remiss of me not to formally acknowledge the achievement of our other masochist. Michael Tierney has now completed the academic requirements for the awarding of the Batchelor of Law degree through the University of New England. Michael now holds dual qualifications in town planning and law. Michael Tierney's commitment to his course has been most impressive. The onerous demands of study coupled to the responsibilities of fatherhood and the demands of this office effectively result in a mathematical equation that is very tough. In this circumstance only the best and the toughest survive and clearly Michael has excelled. Michael's performance is most impressive. His trial by ordeal will ensure that even under the most intense pressures in the future, in a professional context, Michael will have the reserves of energy and the focused determination to ensure that the job is done and, more importantly, done very well.

Congratulations to all the staff that have made this year the success that it has been for GWM.

Thank you to all our customers, suppliers and friends that have provided all of us here at GWM with inspiration and enthusiasm.

Disclaimer
The contents of this email newsletter are designed to provide basic information on changes in the law only. The information provided is an overview of the changes mentioned and, as such, is intended as an alert rather than as advice to take any specific action. Nothing contained in this email, therefore, should be taken as legal advice and no specific action is advised in relation to any particular circumstance. Detailed questions are welcome either by email (info@gwmlaw.com.au), by letter (PO Box 753 Port Macquarie 2444) or personal appointment (phone 6583 5266).

For further information regarding any of the changes to the law mentioned in this email contact GWM Lawyers and Conveyancers at info@gwmlaw.com.au by email, write to us at PO Box 753 Port Macquarie 2444 or phone for a personal appointment on 0011 61(0) 2 6583 5266. You may also go to our website www.gwmlaw.com.au, click on "Areas of Law" and follow the email links to one of our expert staff.


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