Contact an expert lawyer

Patrick Esplin

Position: CEO
Contact Number: 1800 867 113

Patrick leads Avant Law as its CEO and is based in Sydney.

‍Patrick has more than 20 years’ experience as a corporate and commercial lawyer advising clients of all sizes on a wide range of legal issues. Patrick has been with Avant for over 9 years and before being appointed as CEO of Avant Law, he was the Avant Group’s General Counsel & Chief of Staff.

Prior to joining Avant, Patrick specialised in Mergers & Acquisitions in the Corporate and Commercial teams at global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright in their Sydney and London offices. He looked after a broad range of clients, helping them to buy and sell businesses and with corporate structuring, joint ventures, partnerships and shareholder agreements.

Justin Fung

Position: Partner - Head of Commercial & Corporate | General Manager
Email: justin.fung@avantlaw.com.au
Contact Number: 0409 938 374

Justin leads the corporate and commercial law practice at Avant Law, based in Sydney.

‍Justin has over 15 years’ experience advising in commercial, corporate, risk, compliance, governance, regulatory enforcement and dispute resolution and advises clients in the private and public sectors.

‍Before joining Avant Law, Justin was the General Counsel of a national allied health group of companies. He has held Group and Divisional Head of Legal roles in a major ASX-listed health company, whose operations covered medical and dental centres, allied health, pathology, diagnostic imaging, assisted reproductive technologies, day surgeries and hospitals. Prior to these in-house legal roles, Justin was an Executive Counsel with the global law firm Herbert Smith Freehills where he practiced for over 10 years.

Anthony Ha

Position: Senior Associate
Email: anthony.ha@avantlaw.com.au
Contact Number: 0458 430 963

Anthony Ha is a Senior Associate in Avant Law’s Commercial and Corporate law practice, based in Sydney. Anthony has over seven years’ experience advising clients in both the private and public sectors on all aspects of commercial and corporate law. His practice includes privacy, regulatory enforcement, governance, and risk and compliance matters. Before joining Avant Law, Anthony held the role of senior legal counsel in a major ASX-listed health company, whose operations covered medical and dental centres, allied health, pathology, diagnostic imaging, assisted reproductive technologies, day surgeries and hospitals. He has also worked as a senior lawyer within one of New South Wales’s largest primary and secondary education providers. 

Ben Ryan

Position: Senior Associate
Email: ben.ryan@avantlaw.com.au
Contact Number: 0407 678 126

Ben is a Senior Associate in the commercial and corporate law practice at Avant Law, based in Brisbane. Ben has been working with health practitioners and medical practices since 2013.  Working primarily on commercial structuring, dispute resolution and intellectual property matters to help clients achieve strategic and commercially sensible results. He pursued a career in law to provide reliable and honest support to those in need of legal assistance and enjoys working with clients to develop solutions-oriented legal strategy and advice. Ben is a trusted adviser to the industry and regularly presents on commercial issues faced in private practice. 

Marko Novakov

Position: Senior Associate
Email: marko.novakov@avantlaw.com.au
Contact Number: 0475 374 890

Marko is a Senior Associate in the commercial and corporate law practice at Avant Law, based in Melbourne. Marko has broad based experience practising in law firms and in-house legal roles in the areas of commercial law, corporate and regulatory governance, and litigation and alternative dispute resolution. Since 2023, Marko has focused on working with health practitioners and medical practices, primarily on commercial acquisitions and sales, governance, dispute resolution and intellectual property matters in order to help clients achieve both their strategic and commercial objectives. In working with his clients, Marko has developed a reputation of being a trusted advisor who can bridge the gap between legal expertise and effective communication. 

Prior to becoming a lawyer, Marko completed his Bachelor of Science Degree at the University of Toronto with a focus on Behavioural Neuroscience and with multiple publications in a peer-reviewed scientific journal for behavioural neuroendocrinology. Marko also attends and delivers presentations at conferences for doctors on commercial matters related to private practice. 

Joshua Leslie

Position: Senior Associate
Email: joshua.leslie@avantlaw.com.au
Contact Number: 0434 295 312

Joshua is a Senior Associate in the commercial and corporate law practice at Avant Law, based in Perth. He has an extensive and versatile skill set across a range of legal practice areas. Joshua is approachable and dedicated to delivering high-quality personalised solutions tailored to his clients’ needs and objectives. He understands the key commercial drivers for doctors and medical practices, enabling him to provide pragmatic, candid, and reliable advice. Joshua is adept and experienced at providing comprehensive legal support at each stage of a client’s commercial journey. 

Jade Dickson

Position: Associate
Email: jade.dickson@avantlaw.com.au
Contact Number: 0474 121 855

Jade Dickson is an Associate in the Commercial and Corporate law practice at Avant Law, based in Brisbane.     

Jade works closely with health practitioners and medical practices on a variety of matters which include corporate structuring, intellectual property matters and commercial disputes. Jade pursued a career in the law as he has a strong interest in dispute resolution, supporting those in need and resolving legal complications in the most efficient and cost-effective manner possible.      

Before joining Avant Law, Jade worked in a variety of roles in both private and public sectors, exposing him to a variety of industries in which time he developed a strong business acumen and comprehensive expertise to in turn deliver tailored and effective legal solutions for his clients.

Romy Sirtes

Position: Associate
Email: romy.sirtes@avantlaw.com.au
Contact Number: 0459 596 686

Romy is an Associate in Avant Law’s Commercial and Corporate Law practice, based in Sydney. Romy has experience advising clients in both the private and public sectors on a wide range of commercial, corporate, litigious and regulatory law. Romy has particular experience working with health practitioners and medical practices, assisting primarily with privacy, governance, risk, compliance and commercial matters. Romy enjoys working with clients to achieve practical and commercially strategic outcomes and is known for her professional and reliable approach.   

Stephen Schoninger

Position: Partner - Head of Employment & Workplace
Email: stephen.schoninger@avantlaw.com.au
Contact Number: 0407 947 998

Stephen leads the employment and workplace law practice at Avant Law, based in Sydney.

‍Stephen has over 20 years’ experience practising exclusively in employment, industrial relations and discrimination laws. Stephen is called on for his ability to plainly advise on and pragmatically apply legal principles to manage and resolve complex issues arising in the workplace.

‍Stephen advises employers and employees in the private and public sectors on all areas of workplace law and is an experienced litigator of work-related claims. Stephen also conducts workplace investigations and delivers workplace compliance training. He regularly presents seminars on topical employment and workplace law issues.

Natasha Prasad

Position: Associate
Email: natasha.prasad@avantlaw.com.au
Contact Number: 0492 317 536

Natasha Prasad is an Associate in the employment and workplace law practice at Avant Law, based in Sydney. Natasha has experience advising employers and employees on all aspects of employment law areas including workplace discrimination, bullying and sexual harassment, contracts of employment, termination of employment and compliance with employment regulations across various industries. Natasha is dedicated to having an empathetic approach when helping clients navigate complex workplace issues. Natasha provides clear, actionable advice tailored to her client's specific needs. 

Savanna Russo

Position: Associate
Email: savanna.russo @avantlaw.com.au
Contact Number: 0487 7499 122

Savanna Russo is an Associate in the employment and workplace law practice at Avant Law, based in Sydney. Savanna has experience advising both employer and employee clients on all areas of employment law. She has particular experience advising businesses in a wide range of industries including medical and allied health, banking and finance, professional services and construction. Savanna provides practical, solutions-focused advice and is known for her professional and empathetic approach. 

Lindsay McGregor

Position: Partner - Head of Property
Email: lindsay.mcgregor@avantlaw.com.au
Contact Number: 0447 054 611

Lindsay leads the property law practice at Avant Law, based in Sydney.

‍Lindsay has over 20 years’ advising in acquisitions and disposals including all aspects commercial, residential and off the plan conveyancing, acquisition due diligence and general property advice across Australia. His general property experience includes ownership and development structuring, land titling, subdivision and finance. He has vast experience in all types of leasing and has previously represented some of the country’s biggest landlords with their retail and commercial leasing.  Lindsay has also acted for major national tenants across the country.

‍As former Partner at Holding Redlich Lawyers for five years, Lindsay advised a broad range of clients, including medical centres.

‍Lindsay is an also an adjunct lecturer for the College of Law and teaches Commercial Leasing, Contracts and Transactions as a subject in their Master of Laws program.

Victor Zhang

Position: Associate
Email: victor.zhang@avantlaw.com.au
Contact Number: 0428 767 071

Victor is an associate in the property law practice at Avant Law, based in Sydney.
‍
Victor has experience advising in acquisitions and disposals including conveyancing, acquisition due diligence and general property advice.  He has extensive experience in property transactions, commercial and retail leasing and has previously assisted clients with cross border transactions, property matters and general property disputes.  He has working experience in Shanghai assisting the overseas client with sale and purchase of property.  He has been also qualified to practice law in China and is fluent in Mandarin.

Given his background Victor is also highly experienced in FIRB and other non-resident property law matters.  

Jennifer Jackson

Position: Partner - Head of Estate Planning & Probate
Email: jennifer.jackson@avantlaw.com.au
Contact Number: 0414 956 025

Jennifer leads the estate planning law practice at Avant Law, based in Melbourne. 

‍Jennifer has 15 years of experience providing estate planning and structuring advice to clients and their financial advisors and accountants. 

‍Jennifer takes the time to work through the issues with her clients to identify what matters most to them in that often-difficult conversation about planning for their own death. She brings a wealth of life experience and a calm, practical and considered approach to handling legal matters, which her clients value. 

‍In addition to working directly with clients, Jennifer presents to both professional and community groups on topics relating to her area of practice.

Michael Mobberley

Position: Senior Associate
Email: michael.mobberley@avantlaw.com.au
Contact Number: 0407 051 724

Michael is a Senior Associate in Avant Law's Estate Planning & Probate team, based in Sydney. He is an Accredited Specialist in Wills & Estates and holds a Masters in Commercial, Corporate and Taxation Law.   

He regularly advises on succession law matters, helping both individuals and businesses safeguard their future through the use of Wills, Powers of Attorney and shareholder/unitholder agreements.  

Michael has a breadth of experience in assisting individuals in deceased estate matters including applying for probate, contesting and defending Wills and handling complex assets such as SMSFs, trusts and business interests.  

Rachael Lagana

Position: Law Clerk
Email: rachael.lagana@avantlaw.com.au
Contact Number: 0433 487 065

Rachael is a Law Clerk in Avant Law's Estate Planning & Probate team, based in Melbourne.  Rachael has over 20 years’ experience in this area, assisting to implement tailored estate planning strategies for a variety of clients with differing requirements.  

Whether you simply require wills with standard provisions or more complex wills that incorporate testamentary, protective or disability trusts and powers of attorney or need to also consider your superannuation or the succession of companies and trusts, Rachael can assist with creating your plan and drafting your estate planning documents. 

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