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Category: Areas of Law

Pattern Book 10-Day CDC Pathway (3)
NSW Housing Pattern Book: The 10-Day CDC Pathway for Low-Rise Housing
The NSW Housing Pattern Book has introduced a new pathway for eligible low-rise residential development, allowing certain projects using approved Pattern Book designs to obtain a Complying Development Certificate (CDC)...
Property After Separation (1)
Family Law Orders Aren’t Optional: What Happens When Someone Does Not Comply?
A court order is not a suggestion. But when a former partner misses a payment, refuses to transfer property or does not follow parenting arrangements, the correct next step is...
Retirement Village (1)
NSW Retirement Village Law and Commonwealth Aged Care Law: How the Regimes Differ and Operate Together
By Gorkem Oksuz and Brad Marland 1. Scope and trigger of each regime NSW retirement-village law. The Retirement Villages Act 1999 (NSW), together with the Retirement Villages Regulation 2025, creates...
Property After Separation
Financial & Property Settlements After Separation: What You Need to Know
When a marriage or de facto relationship ends, one of the most important issues to resolve is how to divide property, debts, and financial responsibilities. This process, known as a...
Retail Tenancy (1)
One Rulebook for Retail Leasing? Treasury Consults on Harmonising Australia’s Retail Tenancy Laws
Australia’s retail leasing framework may be heading towards its most significant structural reform in decades. A new Australian Government, consultation is examining whether the eight state and territory retail tenancy...
NSW Rental Laws (7)
When a Sister’s Promise Becomes a Legal Contract: Mills v Dodds
Sometimes the most heartfelt promises, especially from loved ones facing their final days, can echo beyond the grave. In a rare but powerful testament to the enforceability of heartfelt commitments,...
Inherited Property & CGT (1)
Inherited Property and Capital Gains Tax (CGT): What You Need to Know
When you inherit a property, one of the most important questions is: Will I need to pay capital gains tax (CGT) when I sell it?  In some cases, inherited property...
Inherited Property & CGT
Ageing in Place: How Better Design and Care Can Help Older Australians Stay Independent
By Gorkem Oksuz and Brad Marland Ageing in place is becoming central to how Australians think about housing, retirement living and aged care. But what does it actually involve and...
NSW Rental Laws (5)
No Contact for 34 Years: Can an Estranged Adult Child Still Challenge a Will?
Thirty-four years without contact. Nothing left under the will. Case closed? Not quite. In a recent NSW Supreme Court decision, an adult daughter who had not seen her father for...
NSW Rental Laws
NSW Rental Law Changes: What Landlords and Tenants Need to Know
By Gorkem Oksuz and Brad Marland Residential tenancy laws in New South Wales have undergone significant reform, affecting how tenancies can be ended, how often rent may be increased, the...
NSW Property & Stock Agent
NSW Property and Stock Agent Laws Are Changing: What You Need to Know
By Gorkem Oksuz and Brad Marland NSW has introduced significant reforms to the laws regulating real estate agents, with a strong focus on underquoting, price transparency and agent conduct. The...
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NSW Building Bill 2026: Certifier Conflict of Interest Changes
Introduction The NSW Government is rewriting the law applying to the certification of building work.  The government introduced the Building (Approvals and Practitioners) Bill 2026 (“The Bill”) into NSW Parliament...
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The Building (Approvals and Practitioners) Bill 2026
Increased Liability for Certifiers in NSW The NSW building certification industry is facing one of its most significant regulatory changes in recent history. The Building (Approvals and Practitioners) Bill 2026...
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AML/CTF Reforms Are Coming: Why Businesses Should Treat Compliance as a Commercial Advantage
From 1 July 2026, Australia’s Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing regime will expand to cover a broader range of professional services and business activities.   For many clients, this may...
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Supporting Clients Through Uncertainty Following the Closure of Gold Migration Lawyers
The recent news that Melbourne-based migration firm Gold Migration Lawyers has entered liquidation has left many visa applicants facing uncertainty at what is often already a stressful time in their...
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NSW Planning Reforms Aim to Fast Track Low-Rise Housing Approvals
The NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure has announced the next tranche of new planning reforms originally passed by Parliament in November 2025.  This component of the reforms will...
Project Acacia
Project Acacia Was Never Really About Crypto
Australia’s latest tokenisation pilot signals something much larger: the convergence of legal, financial and programmable infrastructure. For years, discussions around blockchain and tokenisation have often been framed through the lens...
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Family Law and Migration Issues Continue to Converge as Federal Courts Face Growing Pressure
Pressure on Australia’s family law and migration systems continues to intensify, with recent commentary from the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (FCFCOA) highlighting the increasing complexity of matters...
Australian passport surrounded by multiple passports with headline “5000+ Lives in Limbo – Australia’s Immigration ‘Last Resort’ Visa Framework Reset” by Madison Marcus Global Mobility & Immigration.
5000+ Lives in Limbo: Australia’s Immigration ‘Last Resort’ Visa Framework Reset
More than 5,000 Ministerial Intervention requests have been closed, finalised or deemed ineligible following the September 2025 reset of the Ministerial Intervention Australia framework. Those figures, obtained through Freedom of...
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The Risks of Using Artificial Intelligence to Solve Your Legal Problems in Australia - Elementor
THE RISKS OF USING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO SOLVE YOUR LEGAL PROBLEMS IN AUSTRALIA The rapid rise of AI tools, particularly large language models and products such as ChatGPT, has changed...
An employee sits at a desk looking thoughtful and fatigued, conveying workplace mental health challenges and the importance of employer care obligations.
Workplace Mental Health: Legal Responsibilities Explained
Australian courts have delivered landmark decisions regarding employer responsibilities for employee mental health, particularly in relation to psychosocial hazards in the workplace. These rulings represent an important shift in employment...
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Biodiversity and Development NSW: What Developers Need to Know
Madison Marcus recently partnered with the Property Council of Australia Member Briefing and MMJ Wollongong to deliver a presentation on one of the most complex and evolving areas of New...
A man works remotely from his living room using a laptop, reflecting flexible work arrangements and post-COVID employment practices.
Flexible Work Arrangements Post COVID-19 Pandemic
As the year unfolds, we continue to reflect on the pivotal moment that first put flexibility at the forefront of people’s thinking, the COVID‑19 pandemic. COVID-19 fundamentally altered how we...
Accreditation_Paul Vergotis-2026 - LI
Madison Marcus Recognises Appointment of Paul Vergotis to Specialist Accreditation Board
Madison Marcus recognises the appointment of Paul Vergotis to the Specialist Accreditation Board of the Law Society of New South Wales for the 2026–2029 term. This appointment reflects Paul’s continued...
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Employee Termination FAQ: What Employers Must Know
EMPLOYER TERMINATION FAQ: WHAT EMPLOYERS MUST KNOW Terminating an employee is one of the highest-risk decisions an employer can make. Even where there is a genuine reason to end employment,...
Two professionals sit across a table in a formal meeting, suggesting a termination or post-dismissal discussion in a workplace setting.
Unfair Dismissal Claims and Post-Termination Facts
Unfair dismissal claims often turn on what an employer knew at the time of termination. However, information discovered after dismissal can still play a decisive role. Our firm successfully acted...
Employees work together in a small retail business environment, reflecting employer responsibilities when staff are required to attend jury duty.
Jury Duty Employer Obligations: What You Must Know
Employers often ask what they must do when an employee needs time off to perform jury duty (“the duty”). A recent prosecution of a Sydney bookshop owner highlights why employers...
A professional woman sits at her desk looking distressed while two colleagues converse in the background, illustrating workplace harassment and the impact of inappropriate conduct on employees.
Workplace Harassment: Lessons For Employers
Madison Marcus acted for an employee of a regional business chain in a complex workplace harassment dispute. The matter demonstrates how early, strategic legal involvement can resolve high-risk employment disputes...
disability discrimination
Is Dismissing an Employee Due to Disability Unfair?
From the outset, it is important to note that the Full Bench overturned Justice Kerr’s decision in Roohizadegan v TechnologyOne Limited (No 2) [2020] FCA 1407¹ and sent the case...
Flexible Work Arrangements
Flexible Working Arrangements: Legal Insights for Employers
Questions about workforce flexibility are among the most common raised by our clients. Flexible work has become a significant and evolving area within Australian employment law. In this article, we...
A professional works remotely from home using a laptop and notepad, symbolising cross-border employment, offshore labour arrangements and compliance risks in Australia.
Cross-Border Employment in Australia: A Wake-Up Call for Businesses Using Offshore Labour
Globalisation and technology have revolutionised the way Australian businesses operate. From customer support to back-end legal services, sourcing labour from countries like the Philippines and India has become commonplace. The...
Construction Debt
Recovering Debts in the Construction Industry: A Guide to the Contractors Debts Act 1997 (NSW)
Non-payment is an enduring problem in the construction industry. Subcontractors, suppliers and workers frequently find themselves out of pocket when a contractor fails to pay for work done or materials...
An employee works remotely from home using a laptop while seated on a bed, representing hybrid work arrangements and employer obligations for workers compensation outside the traditional office.
Workers Compensation Obligations in Hybrid Work Environments
Hybrid and remote work remain prevalent, requiring employers to manage National Employment Standards¹(NES) obligations with state-based workers’ compensation risks. A South Australian home injury case raises critical questions for NSW...
2026 Tranche 2 AML and CTF compliance graphic highlighting what businesses must do now in Australia
2026 Is the Year of Tranche 2 AML Compliance
As we enter 2026, Australia’s expanded AML/CTF regime is no longer theoretical. It is operational reality in the making. With the July 2026 commencement deadline approaching fast, businesses captured under...
Permanent Protection visa (subclass 866) grant issued by the Australian Department of Home Affairs following long-running immigration review and legal advocacy by Madison Marcus.
Permanent Protection Visa Granted After Long-Running Tribunal Review
A permanent Protection visa granted after a long-running tribunal review highlights the importance of strategic advocacy in complex Australian immigration law matters. This outcome followed years of sustained legal representation,...
Madison Marcus lawyer Daniel Ivers recognised as a Lawyers Weekly 30 Under 30 Awards 2026 finalist in dispute resolution and litigation.
Commercial Litigator Daniel Ivers Ranked Among Australia’s Top Young Lawyers
Madison Marcus is proud to announce that Associate Daniel Ivers has been named a Finalist in the Dispute Resolution and Litigation (Large) category at the Lawyers Weekly 30 Under 30...
Wide-angle image of the Burj Khalifa with water fountains in Dubai, accompanied by event text promoting the Dubai Chambers, DIFC and Madison Marcus Roundtable on cross-border advisory and corporate governance.
Dubai Chambers, DIFC and Madison Marcus Roundtable: Building Strategic Pathways for Cross-Border Growth
The recent roundtable with Dubai Chambers Australia, the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and Madison Marcus brought senior decision makers together to discuss trends in financial services, regulatory compliance and...
Heart-shaped cake with the words “I am divorcing you” written in icing, used in a Madison Marcus Family Law campaign about navigating divorce in Australia.
From ‘I Do’ to ‘I’m Done’: Navigating Divorce the Right Way
Divorce is the legal process that formally ends a marriage. In Australia, we have a ‘no fault’ divorce system, which means the Court does not consider who caused the breakdown of the...
AAC Regional Conference 2025 at Taronga Western Plains Zoo featuring planning and environment law presentation by Michael Mantei
AAC Regional Conference 2025: What to Do When Work Isn’t Listed in an Application
On 4 September 2025, industry professionals from across Australia gathered in Dubbo for the AAC Regional Conference: Certifiers on Safari, held at Taronga Western Plains Zoo. The conference was hosted...
NSW Housing Pattern Book illustrating low and mid-rise housing under the new planning and environment law CDC pathway
NSW Housing Pattern Book: What does this mean for Homeowners, Developers & Council?
The NSW Housing Pattern Book (Pattern Book) commenced on 30 July 2025 following amendments to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2021 (EPA Reg) and State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt...
Close-up of a hand gently holding a white daisy flower, with soft lighting creating shadows, alongside a black banner featuring the text “Wills Gone Wild – Claiming Your Fair Share of the Estate” and the Madison Marcus logo.
WILLS GONE WILD: Claiming Your Fair Share of the Estate
When Inheritance Disputes Arise When a family member passes away, leaving behind a valid Will, you would expect everything to be smooth sailing. The Estate is divided, everyone gets their...
Business professionals reviewing invoices and documents at a desk, illustrating how to draft an effective letter of demand for Australian businesses – Madison Marcus Commercial Litigation & Disputes Law.
How to Draft a Letter of Demand That Gets Results: A Guide for Australian Businesses
A letter of demand is one of the most essential tools available to businesses and individuals seeking prompt resolution of unpaid debts or contractual disputes. In the Australian commercial legal...
Heavy rainwater overflowing from a building’s gutter during a storm, symbolising strata property water ingress issues and disputes.
Rain, Rain Go Away – Water Ingress & Strata Disputes
Periods of heavy or prolonged rain can quickly become a nightmare for strata managers. Managing multiple buildings with water ingress problems often means juggling urgent repairs, frustrated owners and, in...
Hand holding smartphone showing OAIC 2025-26 regulatory priorities webpage with Madison Marcus gold M branding tile and Be Empowered tagline.
OAIC 2025-26 Regulatory Priorities: What Australian Businesses Need to Know
The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) has released its regulatory action priorities for 2025-26, setting the compliance agenda for businesses, government, and service providers across Australia. The OAIC...
Event banner for Madison Marcus and ALTIOS roundtable, “Unlocking Global Growth Opportunities in Southeast Asia, China, and the UAE/Middle East,” held on 11 September 2025 in Sydney. Features speakers Lily Jaffres (ALTIOS ANZ), Younes Agharbi (ALTIOS Middle East), Geoffrey Bonnel (ALTIOS China), Irfan Khairrul (ALTIOS Southeast Asia), and Eric Boone (Madison Marcus Australia).
Madison Marcus x ALTIOS: Unlocking Global Growth Opportunities in Southeast Asia, China, and the UAE/Middle East
Join Madison Marcus & ALTIOS on 11 Sept 2025 in Sydney to explore growth opportunities in Southeast Asia, China & the Middle East.
Rear view of a woman in a green sweater opening a door, representing changes to strata property laws, with headline text “Strata Headache? Massive Change to Damages Claims in Strata” by Madison Marcus
Strata Headache? Massive Change to Damages Claims in Strata
Strata owners across NSW now have six (6) years to claim damages when their owners corporation fails to repair and maintain common property. This massive legislative change to section 106(6)...
Black and white photo of commuters waiting at Martin Place train station platform, accompanying Madison Marcus Employment Law article titled “Transport of NSW Job Cuts – Streamlining or Sidestepping Fair Work?”
Transport NSW Redundancies: Lawful Restructure or Legal Risk?
TfNSW Job Cuts: Streamlining or Sidestepping Fair Work? Transport for NSW (TFNSW) has recently announced plans to cut more than 1,200 roles. These include around 950 corporate, administrative, and award-covered...
Modern apartment buildings with balconies, featured in a promotional graphic for key strata law changes in NSW commencing 1 July 2025 by Madison Marcus.
1 July 2025: Key Strata Law Changes Now in Effect Across NSW
Strata Law Reforms Commence in NSW – 1 July 2025 Significant legislative reforms to the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 (NSW) are now in effect as of 1 July 2025....
Colourful dual-occupancy homes in Bondi Beach, New South Wales, one pink and one turquoise, with bold architectural contrast, promoting a legal guide on navigating DA and CDC pathways by Madison Marcus.
Dual Occupancy Controls under NSW Planning Framework
This article explores the regulatory framework governing Dual Occupancy Controls, with particular reference to the following planning legislation: State Environmental Planning Policy (Housing) 2021 (NSW); State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt...
A Qantas aircraft in flight against a clear blue sky, used as the feature image for a Madison Marcus legal publication titled 'When the Alarm Sounds: Legal Readiness in the Age of Data Breaches,' focused on privacy, compliance and cybersecurity law
When the Alarm Sounds: Legal Readiness in the Age of Data Breaches
Data breaches are no longer rare or exceptional. They are becoming routine, and the legal consequences are growing just as fast as the risks. ASIC has previously informed businesses that...