Meet our team
Mary Bova
Director
Mary is a senior family law lawyer with over 20 years extensive experience as a family law solicitor and specialises in:
- Divorce Settlements
- Child Custody Matters/Access to Children (Parenting Orders)
- Child Support
- Relocation applications with Children
- Urgent applications in the Family Court and Federal Circuit Court
- Apprehended Violence orders Family Law Mediation
Mary understands the complexities involved with separation and divorce and will help you navigate through the legal process. Mary is an excellent mediation lawyer and has successfully assisted many clients with family mediation, child custody, child access and child support.
Mary takes the time to listen to her clients and has great ability to consult on all matters relating to family law. She is driven by the need to protect her clients, ensure they understand their legal rights and the options available to them.
In 2011 Mary was recognised for her service to her clients and to the community at Rotary’s Pride of Workmanship awards. Select to view the Manly Daily article about Mary’s award. She was President of the Northern Beaches chapter of the Law Society for 5 years. Mary speaks Italian fluently and can assist clients who would prefer to speak in that language.
Born and bred on the Northern Beaches and with her family continuing to live, work and raise their children in this wonderful area and community Mary is passionate about contributing to and looking after our community whether in her capacity of giving free legal advice through her presentations with local community groups, including Rotary, Lifeline , Probus, Dementia Society , Various Senior Citizens group and is the Honorary Solicitor for the Peninsula Seniors Citizens Toy Repair Group.
Mary likes to keep fit and takes every opportunity she can to enjoy the outdoors the Northern Beaches has to offer. Outgoing and friendly, Mary enjoys meeting people from all walks of life and sharing and drawing from their experiences.
To contact Mary, please phone our friendly reception on 9977 1133.
Colin McCann
Director
After graduating from the University of Sydney Colin embarked on a career in Banking and Finance working for Westpac, Commonwealth Bank and Citibank.
Between 2005 and 2010 Colin was Head of Global Consumer Group Legal at Citibank and was a company secretary of Citigroup and Diners Club in Australia before seeing the light and returning home to the Northern Beaches to work with us.
Colin practises in:
- Commercial Law and Contracts
- Share Sale Agreements
- Shareholder Agreements
- Australian Consumer Law
- Lending and Mortgages
- Wills and Estates Law, including Estates Litigation.
Colin enjoys listening to his clients and advising on matters relating to commercial law including commercial contracts, share sale agreements and shareholder agreements. Colin likes the detail, helping his clients navigate through the technical jargon, making sure his clients understand their obligations and that their interests are protected.
Colin holds a Bachelor of Laws and Masters of Arts degrees from the University of Sydney, a Master of Laws degree from the University of Technology Sydney, and a Masters of Applied Law majoring in Wills and Estates from the College of Law. He is also a Fellow of the College of Law.
In addition to his formal qualifications, Colin has a keen interest in technology and how different platforms are shaping the way lawyers engage with their clients. He has spearheaded our Online Will Service.
Colin has lived all his life on the Northern Beaches and enjoys spending time with family and friends, taking part in outdoor activities, history and travel.
To contact Colin, please phone our friendly reception on 9982 9499.
Margot Hazard
Senior Associate
With over 25 years of experience, Margot provides clear and strategic advice on all aspects of family law including property and financial matters, parenting issues, child support, spousal maintenance and de facto relationships, as well as drafting and advice on financial agreements. Margot has recently been appointed an Independent Children’s Lawyer which required specialised training in resolving complex parenting matters. ICL’s are appointed by the court in complex parenting cases to represent the best interests of the children and to assist the court.
Margot specialises in:
- Property settlements
- Divorce
- Child Custody matters / Access to children (Parenting Orders)
- Child support
- Relocation applications involving children
- Applications in the Family Court and Federal Circuit Court
- Recovery applications involving children
Prior to specialising in Family Law, Margot worked in commercial litigation at a leading commercial firm with a focus on Insolvency and Bankruptcy matters.While a talented and respected litigator, Margot has a strong interest in alternative dispute resolution and encourages a negotiated resolution where possible. She is committed to helping her clients resolve their disputes constructively and with minimal expense and delay.
To contact Margot, please phone our friendly reception on 9977 1133.
John Friedman
Solicitor
John is a seasoned solicitor, specialising in:
- Drafting of Wills
- Powers of Attorney
- Enduring Guardianships
- Deceased Estates.
John works as a solicitor because he wants to make a difference to his clients’ lives.
"Too often I hear stories of hardship, unfairness and misunderstanding of the law that I know can be resolved with good legal advice and appropriate representation. I value the importance of good communication with clients so that they understand all the options available to them."
In addition to his formal qualifications in law, John has qualifications in medical science, education and information technology. He presents to groups of lawyers in areas of law. He is a member of Law Society NSW , City of Sydney Law Society, Northern Beaches Law Society, NSW Society of Computers & The Law, and provides assistance at legal advice bureaus. Expect John to engage with you and fully explain all the options available to you regarding your individual circumstances.
In his spare time, John provides voluntary assistance to community organisations, both legal and non-legal. He enjoys spending time in the Australian outdoors. His other interests include pathology, consumer law, elder law and technology, especially laws relating to new technologies and start-ups.
To contact John, please phone our friendly reception on 9977 1133.
James Dive
Senior Solicitor
James has been practising law in Dee Why for 42 years with extensive experience in:
- Conveyancing
- Elder Law
- Wills and Estates
James has many established clients who come to see him from far and wide because he has assisted them over the years as their needs have changed. He understands all aspects of Estate Planning and can assist clients with complex needs. He understands his clients can be busy and does home visits and after-hours conferences when necessary.
Expect James to carefully listen to your individual requirements and provide you specialist advice. James also has quite a number of clients in the UK, Europe, Canada, Saudi Arabia and the USA. He has a strong following from the members of Lifesource Christian Church at Chatswood.
James likes to travel to unusual and faraway places. He is involved in Rotary, Probus and volunteers one day per week at Food Care.
To contact James, please phone our friendly reception on 9982 9499.
Glenn Coyne
Special Counsel
Glenn is a highly experienced solicitor. His preferred areas of expertise are in company and business law and he has vast experience in property law and all areas of litigation. Glenn has vast experience as a litigator representing clients in the Local, District and Supreme Court.
Glenn is also a trained Mediator and advocates alternate dispute resolution. Glenn believes, and invariably advises clients, that litigation should be the last resort. If any dispute can be resolved without going to Court then he will apply his strong negotiating skills to achieve a result that is acceptable to his client without the costs and anxiety associated with Court hearings.
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