General Enquiries:office@whlaw.com.au
Perth:+61 8 9481 2040
Geraldton:+61 8 9921 2344
Residential Property & Settlements
Areas of Expertise:
Jackie Ruby and Kim Berrigan join Williams +Hughes, and our new premises in Geraldton
Post by Damian Quail | Posted 4 weeks ago on Tuesday, April 1st, 2025
Williams + Hughes are delighted to announce that Jacqueline Ruby and Kim Berrigan at Ruby & Associates, a long standing Geraldton law firm, have joined the Geraldton office of Williams + Hughes Commercial Lawyers.
We are very excited to welcome Jackie and Kim to our Geraldton team. Their wealth of experience and deep connections in Geraldton will take our regional office to the next level. We will now have two lawyers, Anthea Shaw and Jackie Ruby, permanently in our office, along with June Burton, our paralegal and Geraldton Office Manager. Kim Berrigan, Leanne Scott and Jodi Heinrich round out our Admin/Office team in Geraldton.
Jackie Ruby has almost 30 years’ expertise in a range of commercial and private client matters. She established her own law firm in 1998 and operated Ruby & Associates until joining Williams + Hughes. She has assisted clients from all walks of life in respect of a range of issues including Criminal and Traffic matters, Personal Injuries actions, Restraining Orders, Property matters, Wills, Deceased Estates and Estate Disputes. More recently her focus has been on assisting clients in administering Deceased Estates and in relation to contested Wills proceedings. Jackie is also a District Public Notary for the Midwest Region.
Kim Berrigan joined Ruby & Associates in April 1998 and worked as Practice and Accounts Manager of the firm for over 22 years. She brings a wealth of knowledge to Williams + Hughes, and is looking forward to the new challenges her role will bring.
Along with the expansion of our office team, we have also expanded our Geraldton premises- by moving to 146 Fitzgerald Street, Geraldton, where Ruby & Associates were based. Williams + Hughes opened our Geraldton branch office on 17 December 2007, and after 18 years at Foreshore Drive we are very excited to move to larger and nicer premises on Fitzgerald Street. We have more offices, more meeting rooms, more natural light and a private carpark with a discrete entry to our office.
The Directors and staff of Williams + Hughes welcome Jackie and Kim to W+H. Our Geraldton office is well placed for the future.
EXPERIENCE
Felix is a solicitor in the corporate and commercial team at Williams + Hughes, with a particular interest in corporate advisory, corporate governance and M&A work.
He graduated with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) from the University of Tasmania in 2023. His Honours thesis explored the impact of employer discretion on Australian workers’ private lives and their out-of-hours conduct in relation to termination of employment. Felix then completed his Practical Legal Training with the College of Law and was admitted as a lawyer in the Supreme Court of Western Australia in September 2024.
Prior to joining Williams + Hughes, Felix served as an Associate to the Honourable Justice Glancy at the Supreme Court of Western Australia and the Western Australian State Administrative Tribunal.
Having studied in Singapore, England and Australia, Felix can converse in Mandarin and Bahasa Melayu.
Outside of work, he enjoys cooking, e-sports and travelling.
Felix is based in our West Perth office.
EXPERIENCE
Rebecca commenced as a Law Graduate in our West Perth office in 2024, after completing a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Laws at the University of Notre Dame. She completed her Practical Legal Training and was admitted as a Lawyer to the Supreme Court of Western Australia in March 2025.
Rebecca first joined Williams + Hughes as a Law Clerk in 2022. Throughout her time at the firm she has experienced various aspects of both commercial and litigation practice. She now works in our Commercial Law practice focussing on general commercial legal advice and conveyancing matters.
Rebecca’s Commerce studies provided her with a broad understanding of the financial realities of business. Rebecca applies this background to ensure that our clients receive commercially realistic legal advice and guidance.
Outside of work, Rebecca likes to stay active and enjoys spending time outdoors.
Rebecca is based in our West Perth office.
Anthea Shaw
SolicitorLLB, Grad. Dip. Family Dispute Resolution, Grad. Dip. Legal Practice
EXPERTISE
EXPERIENCE
Anthea works predominantly in our Geraldton office, while spending regular time each month in our West Perth office. Moving between both offices provides opportunities for Anthea to assist clients both in Perth and throughout the Midwest region.
Anthea practices in general commercial law, with a particular focus on business sales, preparation of Wills, Will disputes, Estate planning, probate, trusts, commercial sales and leasing and residential conveyancing.
Following admission as a legal practitioner in WA and NSW, Anthea practiced as a Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner for several years. Her mediation skills are particularly helpful when managing estate matters involving family members in conflict.
When not at work, Anthea enjoys water sports, running, cycling and travelling.
Anthea Shaw joins Williams + Hughes
Post by Damian Quail | Posted 3 years ago on Wednesday, September 15th, 2021
Williams + Hughes are delighted to announce that Anthea Shaw has joined our commercial team in our Geraldton office.
Anthea has worked in and around legal offices for over 20 years, and is admitted as a legal practitioner in WA and NSW.
Anthea will be heading up the legal team in our Geraldton office.
Welcome Anthea !
Williams + Hughes Earns Recertification in Meritas, the Leading Global Alliance of Independent Business Law Firms
Post by Damian Quail | Posted 3 years ago on Wednesday, May 12th, 2021
Williams + Hughes is pleased to announce that it has been awarded recertification in Meritas, a global alliance of independent business law firms. Williams + Hughes joined Meritas in 2014 and, as a condition of its membership, is required to successfully complete recertification every three years.
Meritas is the only law firm alliance with an established and comprehensive means of monitoring the quality of its member firms, a process that saves clients’ time validating law firm credentials and experience. Meritas membership is selective and by invitation only. Firms are regularly assessed and recertified for the breadth of their practice expertise, client satisfaction and high standards of cybersecurity to keep legal information safe. Meritas’ extensive due diligence process ensures that only firms meeting the tenets of Meritas’ unique Quality Assurance Program are allowed to maintain membership. The measurement of the firm’s performance, based on input from clients, is reflected in a Satisfaction Index score, which is available online on the Meritas website.
“Our values of quality service and client satisfaction align with the Meritas mission to provide a safe and responsive global offering to clients,” said Damian Quail, Director. “We’ve successfully collaborated with colleagues in many jurisdictions around the world to solve client issues and help them seize opportunities outside of this market. We look forward to keeping those vital connections through membership in Meritas.”
The recertification process Williams + Hughes completed to maintain its membership status included exacting self-assessment, peer review by other law firms and client feedback.
“Businesses trust the Meritas alliance of law firms for top-tier quality, convenience, consistency and value,” said Sona Pancholy, president of Meritas. “Williams + Hughes has demonstrated its commitment to world-class legal standards, and therefore has successfully earned its recertification in Meritas.”
For more information about our our membership in Meritas, please see here
About Meritas
Meritas’ global alliance of independent, market-leading law firms provides borderless legal services to companies looking to effectively capture opportunities and solve issues anywhere in the world. Companies benefit from local knowledge, collective strength and new efficiencies when they work with Meritas law firms. The personal attention and care they experience is part of Meritas’ industry-first commitment to the utmost in quality of service and putting client priorities above all else. Founded in 1990, Meritas has member firms in 259 markets worldwide with more than 7,500 dedicated, collaborative lawyers. To locate a Meritas resource for a specific need or in a certain market, visit Meritas.org or call +1-612-339-8680
Our property and conveyancing lawyers and paralegals, are well experienced in all legal aspects of buying or selling residential property in Western Australia. We act for both buyers and sellers in hundreds of transactions per year.
We offer a competitively priced property settlement service. Our fees are competitive with settlement agents but we give our clients the peace of mind of having qualified lawyers handle their property transaction.
We are members of PEXA, an e-conveyancing platform, and can settle your sale or purchase quickly and securely online. With PEXA we can provide our clients with greater certainty, fast access to funds, on-time settlement and no more cheques, saving time and money.
Our clients include buyers, sellers and real estate agents. We have extensive experience in the Perth and Geraldton property markets, and our conveyancing lawyers have strong relationships with real estate agents in both markets.
We act as town agents in Western Australia for various interstate law firms.
Our conveyancing lawyers have expertise in this area including:
- Advising on sale and purchase of residential property
- Advising in relation to “off the plan” sales
- Reviewing property management agreements
- Advising in relation to structuring of property investments, including establishment and administration of property trusts
- Advising in relation to strata issues.Advising in relation to vendor finance
- Advising in relation to property seizure orders
- Preparing “granny flat” agreements
If you have any questions are need assistance, please contact us to discuss your needs with an expert conveyancing lawyer in Western Australia.
Meritas Welcomes DMAW Lawyers, Adelaide, to the Membership
Post by Damian Quail | Posted 4 years ago on Friday, July 17th, 2020
Leading Adelaide commercial Firm, DMAW Lawyers has been selected to be South Australia’s representative firm for Meritas, the premier global alliance of independent law firms.
DMAW Lawyers will become an integral part of the Australia & New Zealand network of firms as well as the worldwide network of 191 law firms located across 96 countries.
This alliance will enhance DMAW Lawyers’ ability to support South Australian business interests both nationally and internationally.
DMAW’s Lawyer’s Managing Director, Mr Leo Walsh said “One of most attractive benefits of belonging to this network was the opportunity for our lawyers to participate in national and global conversations on business and legal issues. Not only does this expand our thinking, and add to our technical skills, but it help our lawyers build trusted, reliable relationships with lawyers in the regions that matter to our clients. Already we’ve participated in meetings with Insolvency experts across the country and with Senior Partners in Shanghai and Tokyo.”
Mr Mike Worsnop, Partner with Martelli McKegg in New Zealand and Co-Chair of Meritas ANZ: “We are delighted to have DMAW Lawyers join our group. Not only was their quality apparent but they’ve been very easy and responsive to deal with during our discussions. They clearly demonstrated the type of service clients look for when using a firm in a different market.”
“DMAW Lawyers had to meet the rigorous requirements to become members of Meritas, the only law firm alliance with a Quality Assurance Program that ensures clients receive the same high-quality legal work and service from every Meritas firm.”
Meritas membership is extended by invitation only, and firms are regularly assessed for the breadth of their practice expertise and client satisfaction.
Ms Sona Pancholy, Meritas CEO: “In today’s environment having a commitment to a reliable network is more important than ever. Independent law firms, Corporate Counsel, Business Owners and their Commercial Advisors, all choose their portfolio of trusted legal relationships to match the issues and the markets they want to navigate. For 30 years, Meritas has cultivated a group of the best firms for this purpose.”
About DMAW Lawyers
DMAW Lawyers was established in Adelaide in 2002. The firm has ten Principals and a team of 50 staff. DMAW Lawyers focus on three areas of specialization being Corporate, Transactions, and Disputes for Business Clients.
Website: DMAW Lawyers
About Meritas
Founded in 1990, Meritas is the premier global alliance of independent law firms. As an invitation-only alliance, Meritas firms must adhere to uncompromising service standards to retain membership status. With 192 top-ranking law firms spanning 96 countries, Meritas delivers exceptional legal knowledge, personal attention and proven value to clients worldwide.
Website: Meritas
In Australia and New Zealand, Meritas is represented by leading independent commercial law firms in each of these six major capital cities:
In Australia
Adelaide DMAW Lawyers
Brisbane Bennett & Philp
Melbourne Madgwicks Lawyers
Perth Williams+Hughes
Sydney Swaab
In New Zealand
Auckland Martelli McKegg
Covid-19 relief for commercial tenants in Western Australia
Post by Amy Knight | Posted 5 years ago on Thursday, April 23rd, 2020
The State and Commonwealth Governments are in the process of enacting legislation to provide relief to commercial tenants affected by Covid-19.
The West Australian State Government has recently passed legislation that limits the ability of a landlord to take certain action against tenants under a "small commercial lease" during the "emergency period" (the Commercial Tenancies (COVID-19 Responses) Act 2020).
The emergency period roughly aligns with the Commonwealth Government's Jobkeeper payment period, being 30 March – 29 September 2020, unless another end date is specified. This new State legislation is not yet in force, but it should be very soon.
The relief provided by the new Act operates in favour of tenants under "small commercial leases". A small commercial lease means:
- a retail shop lease as defined in the Commercial Tenancy (Retail Shops) Agreements Act 1985
- a lease where the tenant is a small business as defined in the Small Business Development Corporation Act 1983
- a lease where the tenant is an incorporated association as defined in the Associations Incorporation Act 2015
- another type of lease as prescribed in Regulations to the new Act (yet to be determined).
During the emergency period protections in the new Act include:
- A six-month moratorium on evictions due to non-payment of rent
- A freeze on rent increases
- A restriction on penalties for tenants who do not trade or reduce their trading hours
- A prohibition on landlords making a claim on any form of security (e.g. a bank guarantee or security deposit) for the performance of the tenant’s obligations under the lease
- A prohibition on landlords progressing action against a tenant for a breach that occurred after 30 March 2020, but before commencement of the new Act
- A resolution mechanism for disputes arising out of, or in relation to, the operation of the legislation or a proposed new Code of Conduct (see below), including a mechanism to protect landlords where tenants are refusing to pay rent despite the capacity to do so.
The West Australian Government will soon pass Regulations to operate in conjunction with the new Act. These Regulations will deal with specific points not set out in the Act. For example, the Regulations might exclude certain small businesses from the protection that is given by the Act.
The Regulations will also set out a new Code of Conduct equivalent to the National Cabinet Mandatory Code of Conduct – Small to Medium (SME) Commercial Leasing Principles during COVID. This is the Code of Conduct developed by the Commonwealth Government and released on 7 April 2020 to regulate how a landlord must negotiate with tenants who have suffered Covid-19 related downturns.
Of note, the Code of Conduct requires that landlords must offer tenants proportionate reductions in rent payable in the form of waivers (i.e. a reduction in rent that will not be recovered by the landlord) and deferrals (i.e. a delay in payment of part of the rent which will be recovered) of up to 100% of the amount ordinarily payable, on a case-by-case basis, based on the reduction in the tenant’s trade during the Covid-19 pandemic period and a subsequent reasonable recovery period.
So, if a tenant's turnover is affected by Covid-19, it may be able to rely on the new Act and the Code of Conduct to negotiate a rent reduction and waiver with their landlord.
The Regulations may impact on the matters outlined above. Specific advice is needed on a case by case basis. However, many small businesses should take some comfort that if they suffer a Covid-19 related decline in turnover, protection from adverse action by their landlord may be available.
Other legislation is also currently before the West Australian Parliament which, if passed, is expected to allow tenants to request a termination of their lease if their business will not recover from a Covid-19 related decline in turnover. If passed, this legislation may limit a tenant's liability if they have to terminate their lease early for that reason.
Please contact Amy Knight for further advice.
This article is general information only, at the date it is posted. It is not, and should not be relied upon as, legal advice. This article might not be updated over time and therefore may not reflect changes to the law. Please feel free to contact us for legal advice that is specific to your situation.