Shonelle is a specialist commercial litigator with more than 15 years’ experience. She commenced her career as an associate in the Supreme Court of Western Australia, initially practised in criminal law for Legal Aid, and then worked in a boutique Perth litigation firm for a number of years. After a short period with a leading Canadian insurance law firm, Shonelle commenced employment at MDS Legal (now Williams + Hughes).
Shonelle practises primarily in professional negligence, acting on instructions from Law Mutual (WA), the insurance arm of the Law Society of Western Australia.
As well as having a professional association with the Law Society through her role at Williams + Hughes, Shonelle is an active member of the Society and serves on its Courts Committee.
Shonelle also has a keen interest in corporate governance and was a director of Hockey WA from early 2017 to early 2021. In May 2020, Shonelle was also appointed as a member of the Governance Panel of FIH, the International Hockey Federation.
Shonelle’s experience includes:
Acting for a client in Supreme Court proceedings against an accountant firm that provided allegedly negligent tax advice
Acting for a solicitor in the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal in relation to the solicitor’s alleged negligent conduct of the defence of criminal proceedings
Acting for a firm of solicitors in the Family Court in relation to the alleged negligent drafting of a binding financial agreement
Acting for a solicitor and the solicitor’s firm in the Supreme Court in relation to alleged fraudulent representations, misleading and deceptive conduct, negligence, undue influence and breach of fiduciary duty claims respecting the sale of a client’s business and steps taken in advance of the client’s proposed bankruptcy
Acting for the Law Society of Western Australia drafting amendments to its Constitution
Acting for a firm of solicitors in the District Court in relation to the firm’s alleged failure to file an election to seek common law damages arising from a workers’ compensation claim
Acting for a firm of solicitors in relation to a claim by a disappointed beneficiary that the firm allegedly failed to draft a testator’s will in accordance with the testator’s instructions
Acting for clients in the Federal Court of Australia defending proceedings brought against them for breach of contract, breach of confidence and breach of fiduciary duties respecting their establishment of business competing with their former employer
Acting for the Legal Practice Board of Western Australia in vocational regulation matters before the State Administrative Tribunal
