People

Nicholas Dan

Nicholas DanNicholas Dan is the firm’s managing partner, heads the wills, estate planning and property teams and has countless years of experience as a practising lawyer.

Nicholas was admitted as a solicitor in 1978 and has over 30 years experience as a lawyer. Nicholas is a member of the Commercial Law Association of Australia and Property Council of Australia.

Nicholas has previously lectured at Newcastle University in the area of wills and estates, in which he specialises.

Examples of Nicholas’s most recent experience include:

  • Drafting wills and testamentary trusts;
  • Acting for owners in relation to matters involving the Land Acquisition (Just Terms) Act, involving the RTA, local council and other government agencies such as Country Energy;
  • Acting for land councils with respect to their covenant issues and with respect to the sale and transfer of land owned by them;
  • Acting for local aboriginal groups to obtain “consents to destroy” to enable projects to proceed;
  • Providing traditional conveyancing services including:

    • Preparation of easements;
    • Caveats and covenants;
    • Leases;
    • Mortgages;
    • Various deeds (e.g. deeds of release, deeds of indemnity);
    • Transfer/dedication of assets to other government agencies, councils or statutory bodies;
    • General legal advice on conveyancing issues;
  • Acting in relation to commercial matters, including:

    • Complex commercial property acquisitions and sales;
    • Development agreements;
    • Financial agreements;
    • Advice/preparations on tenders and expressions of interest for commercial property sales and capital works projects;
    • Legal advice on matters arising from the various Acts which the RTA is either subject to or involved with (e.g. Transport Administration Act, Roads Act 1993, Roads Transport (General) Acts 2005).

Andrew Harrison

Andrew HarrisonAndrew Harrison has specialised in litigation, particularly in the fields of OH & S, employment law, environmental law, planning law and commercial litigation generally for the past fifteen years.

Andrew was admitted as a solicitor in 1993 and has been a partner at Bilbie Dan for 10 years.

Andrew has successfully represented large corporate clients, government authorities and business clients across a range of relevant matters including:

  • comprehensive experience in relation to the investigation of OH & S incidents, including interviewing witnesses, commissioning investigative reports, obtaining statements, obtaining expert technical reports, appearing at and briefing Counsel in relation to OH & S prosecutions and coronial inquest matters;
  • commercial litigation involving contract, Trade Practices Act matters and transactional disputes;
  • appearing in both the Industrial Relations Commission (now Industrial Court), Federal Industrial Tribunals and Industrial Magistrates Court;
  • appearing and advising in relation to ICAC matters;
  • appearing by way of teleconference and briefing Counsel in the ADT and advising in relation to anti-discrimination matters;
  • advising on a full range of matters relating to employment of employees and contractors to medium to large scale business including carrying out negotiations with unions in relation to Enterprise Agreements, advising in relation to employee entitlements, superannuation requirements and workers compensation;
  • is experienced in relation to personal injury claims including Civil Liability Act matters, workers compensation, motor accident act matters and Compensation to Relatives Act matters, which work has variously touched on advising in relation to the potential liability of government agencies and local government authorities;
  • any or all of the above matters involve at different times advice on liability, quantum and evidence as a matter progresses;
  • comprehensive experience in relation to Inquests and major enquiries which through recommendations have the ability to affect government agencies, such as for example the Gretley Inquiry in which Bilbie Dan appeared, and in other areas such as matters referred to Australian Standards committees etc;
  • drafting contracts of employment, including executive agreements;
  • drafting employee handbooks and implementation of policies and procedures;
  • advice in relation to employee relations, termination and redundancy;
  • safety audits and injury prevention and management services;
  • experience in Land and Environment Court matters

Rob Faraday-Bensley

Robert Faraday-BansleyRobert Faraday-Bensley has had extensive experience in corporate and commercial law. Robert commenced his legal career at Bilbie Dan before moving to the respected national firm Sparke Helmore, where he worked for over five years. Robert has also worked in London for the boutique commercial law firm Kerman and Co, and in Adelaide for the national firm Thompson Playford.

Rob is a recognised responsible officer of the National Stock Exchange of Australia and was responsible for the firm being appointed as a nominate advisor to the National Stock exchange of Australia.

Rob has had his legal commentary featured in the Financial Review, the Sun Herald, Newcastle Herald and the Sydney Morning Herald and is a member of the Hunter Business Chamber’s small business committee. Rob regularly presents seminars for his clients, including as lecturer on the topic of commercial law to Newcastle University’s MBA students.

Kristy Wade

Kristy WadeKristy began working as a paralegal in 2002 and was admitted to the Supreme Court as a solicitor in May 2005. Kristy specialises in criminal law and has extensive experience, such as:

  • Regularly appearing before the Local Courts in matters such as drink driving, assault, AVOs, and drug matters;
  • Assisting clients that have mental health issues through the court system;
  • Acting as the Road and Traffic Authority’s lawyer in relation to licence appeals;
  • Representing clients in appeals to the District Court;
  • Appearing for clients in the District Court for drug matters, sexual assault, armed robberies and larceny cases;
  • Appearing for clients charged with murder and manslaughter in the Supreme Court;
  • Making bail applications in the Local and Supreme Courts;
  • Appearing for clients in appeals to the Court of Criminal Appeal.

Kristy is a member of the NSW Young Lawyers Criminal Law Committee and is on the roster of volunteers who attend the weekend bail courts in Newcastle. She also has experience in family law matters.

John Bowe

John BoweA partner in Maitland legal firm Hills Solicitors since 1974, John joined Bilbie Dan in 2007 and is one of the most experienced property lawyers in our team.

From acting in relation to the 1991 NSW Royal Commission in the Building Industry through to undertaking years of residential and commercial conveyancing, John has a wealth of property experience, including assisting developers through to mum and dad purchasers and vendors.