General Enquiries:office@whlaw.com.au
Perth:+61 8 9481 2040
Geraldton:+61 8 9921 2344
Succession & Estate Planning, Trusts & Asset Protection
Areas of Expertise:
Jackie Ruby and Kim Berrigan join Williams +Hughes, and our new premises in Geraldton
Post by Damian Quail | Posted 3 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
Jackie joined our Geraldton office after operating her own practice for 27 years.
Although she has practised in a broad range of areas over the years, her particular interest lies in Deceased Estate administration, Succession and Estate Planning and contested Wills.
Jackie finds it extremely rewarding being able to assist her clients in finalising the administration of their loved one’s Estates and, where possible, to resolve contested Will proceedings.
Jackie was appointed the District Public Notary for the Midwest region by the Supreme Court of Western Australia in July 2015.
She is a member of the Public Notaries Society of Western Australia Inc. and the Law Society of Western Australia.
In her spare time, Jackie enjoys travelling and catching up with friends and family.
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 !
Greg Mohen joins Williams + Hughes
Post by Damian Quail | Posted 2 years ago on Friday, January 27th, 2023
Williams + Hughes are delighted to announce that Greg Mohen has joined our commercial law team.
Greg has over 40 years’ expertise in a range of commercial and private client matters.
In his commercial legal practice he has represented a variety of clients including Local Governments, property development, building, mining services, power infrastructure, accountancy, pharmacy, real estate, settlement, and financial advisory businesses.
Greg also has a strong association with the provision of community legal services. For 8 years between 1992 and 2001 he worked with the Law Society of Western Australia to manage the Law Society’s community legal services, including establishing the Law Access pro bono referral service and overseeing the management of other community projects such as the Litigation Assistance Fund, Law Week and the Francis Burt Law Education Centre.
Greg regularly provides probono legal assistance to individuals and organisations including Australian Red Cross, Cancer Council, the Salvation Army and the Francis Burt Law Education Centre.
Greg was formerly a Partner at Kott Gunning and Civic Legal.
Greg Mohen
Commercial CounselB.Juris (1980), LLB (1981)
EXPERTISE
EXPERIENCE
Greg has over 40 years’ expertise in a range of commercial and private client matters.
In his commercial legal practice he has represented a variety of clients including Local Governments, property development, building, mining services, power infrastructure, accountancy, pharmacy, real estate, settlement, and financial advisory businesses.
Greg’s legal practice includes:
- Drafting tenders and managing tendering and/or procurement processes, including Local Government preparation and documentation of tenders for services and construction of infrastructure.
- Private client property development including oversight of subdivision and settlements in land subdivisions, drafting and review of contract documents, restrictive covenants, easements and notifications.
- Negotiating, drafting and advising on contracts for sale or purchase of businesses, assets and equipment.
- Advising on commercial transactions including drafting and negotiating contacts, tenders, memorandums of understanding, development agreements, road construction agreements, power infrastructure contracts, mining services contracts, waste management, design and construct contracts and contracts of employment.
- Advising on and drafting contracts for sale of land, access agreements, easements, restrictive covenants and development deeds.
- Drafting and negotiating property related agreements, including leases, licences, easements and restrictive covenants.
- Advising on, drafting and negotiating contracts for sale and/or purchase of property for development purposes, including off the plan development contracts for both broad-acre subdivisions and strata apartments, drafting of standardised contracts of sale and oversight of the settlements.
- Advising on and drafting development and construction contracts for infrastructure, including waste processing and energy projects, from EOI, tender, negotiation of development agreements to Contract closure.
- Negotiating and drafting contracts for merger and acquisitions of SME companies.
- Drafting bespoke terms and conditions for supply of goods and services.
- Drafting and advising on general terms and conditions for supply of goods and services.
- Advising on estate planning and preparation of estate documents including Wills, Probate applications for deceased estates and trusts.
Greg also has a strong association with the provision of community legal services. For 8 years between 1992 and 2001 he worked with the Law Society of Western Australia to manage the Law Society’s community legal services, including establishing the Law Access pro bono referral service and overseeing the management of other community projects such as the Litigation Assistance Fund, Law Week and the Francis Burt Law Education Centre.
Greg regularly provides probono legal assistance to individuals and organisations including Australian Red Cross, Cancer Council, the Salvation Army and the Francis Burt Law Education Centre.
Greg was formerly a Partner at Kott Gunning and Civic Legal. Greg is based in our West Perth office.
Chris Osborn
Commercial CounselQualified as a lawyer in Western Australia; Victoria; England; Hong Kong and California
EXPERTISE
EXPERIENCE
Chris qualified as a lawyer in 1979 and joined the firm in 2003. He has practiced law and is qualified as a lawyer in Western Australia, Hong Kong and England and is also qualified as a lawyer in the USA.
Chris has worked extensively on resources, corporate and electricity transactions in Australia and Asia. Chris has particular experience in large cross border mergers and acquisitions and capital raising transactions for both listed and unlisted companies. Prior to joining the firm Chris was Head of Legal in the international investment and development division of one of Asia's largest power companies.>
Chris has extensive experience in advising on Project Finance, Group Finance and Debt Finance matters and is Williams + Hughes’ inhouse expert on complex financings and related securities. Chris has advised several of our largest clients, covering industries as diverse as chemicals and agri-business on syndicated financing facilities and debt restructurings, including negotiating with banks to remove selected assets from group wide securities. In his former role as in house counsel Chris represented the borrower in the $1 billion refinancing of the Yallourn Power Station. Chris has in his previous career acted for Australian and foreign banks in project finance and realisation of assets.
Chris understands the business needs of clients and is able to look over the horizon at the next stage of development of a client's business. He is able to function in a cross culture environment. He has studied in China and Hong Kong and speaks conversational Cantonese and Mandarin.
Chris also works in estate planning, trusts and the charitable and not for profit sector. He is passionate in delivering advice on practical solutions for charities and not for profits. Chris has experience as a Board member of charities.
He is a member of the Association of Australian Mining and Petroleum Lawyers Association and the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP), where he is recognised as a Trust and Estates Practitioner.
Outside of work Chris enjoys following rugby union and rugby league; playing lawn bowls and golf and listening to jazz. He is a board member of the Dogs’ Refuge Home (WA) Inc, one of Perth’s oldest animal charities.
Chris is based in our West Perth office.
David Williams
Commercial CounselB.Juris, LLB
EXPERTISE
EXPERIENCE
David established Williams & Hughes in 1986. He practices as a commercial lawyer in the corporate, business and resources fields and has acted on numerous commercial transactions including major acquisitions and sales.
David combines his considerable legal experience with an incisive and pragmatic approach to commercial transactions which is highly valued by his clients. Those skills have also been sought after and applied in resolving issues for high net worth families in their estate planning and business structuring.
David is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is a member of the Australian Mining and Petroleum Lawyers Association, the Law Society of Western Australia and the Business Law Division of the Australian Law Council. He is also a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP).
Recent matters David has managed include:
- acting over a period of years and in an ongoing role in negotiating, drafting and settling comprehensive relationship documents with third parties for a multimillion dollar private group's technology venture
- advising a high net worth family on succession planning for its predominately trust structures and resetting its relationship documents both internally and with third parties
- advising and assisting on the expansion and restructuring of a significant wine making group of companies
- acting for both private and public listed companies on acquisition and disposal of resource projects, including negotiating and drafting documents for joint ventures, royalties and project related transactions.
- He has been active in various service and professional bodies, including serving for eight years' as a State Councillor of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and has held directorships in both private and public companies.
David is based in our West Perth office.
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
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