The Williams + Hughes Team

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Helen Burnside

Senior Associate

LLB (Hons), BA (Hons)

CONTACT
EXPERTISE
  • Disputes under the Planning and Development Act 2005
  • Real Estate Matters
  • Succession Disputes
  • Corporate & Business Litigation
  • Civil Litigation & Trusts Disputes
  • Agribusiness, Aquaculture & Farming Litigation
  • Contested Wills & Estate Litigation
  • Property & Leasing Disputes
  • Trade Practices & Australian Consumer Law
  • Regulatory Investigations
  • Franchising Disputes

EXPERIENCE

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Helen practises in commercial litigation and has considerable experience in high-level actions that have either been the subject of court hearings or alternate dispute resolution. She has dealt with matters in Western Australia’s major courts, including the Supreme Court, Federal Court, District Court and the State Administrative Tribunal and regularly appears as counsel or junior counsel.

Her areas of specialisation include property law, business litigation, trusts disputes, succession disputes, franchise disputes, consumer litigation and competition law. 

Helen also provides clients with practical and effective commercial advice, often with respect to complex issues, designed to protect the client’s interests and minimise litigation risk. 

Helen has presented a number of seminars and training programs to corporations and institutes.

Helen is based in our West Perth office.

Helen’s recent experience includes:

  • Acting for a client in a complex succession dispute litigated in the Supreme Court, including appearing as counsel in interlocutory proceedings, and assisting in the negotiation of an advantageous settlement for the client.
  • Representing a master franchisee in a complex international franchise dispute, including appearing as junior counsel in injunction applications, preparing for an expedited trial and negotiating a beneficial settlement for the client.
  • Successfully defending Supreme Court litigation involving an estate dispute, including obtaining an order that the client be awarded their costs on an indemnity basis, before also successfully defending an appeal of that action to the Supreme Court of Western Australia.
  • Appearing as junior counsel in a District Court trial involving a Planning and Development Act dispute, in which the client was wholly successful.
  • Acting for clients in regulatory proceedings brought in the State Administrative Tribunal.
  • Providing advice and representation to clients in multiple Supreme Court actions brought in relation to a deceased estate, including applications under the Trustees Act, Administration Act and Family Provision Act.