Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Bentleigh, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(420)Google rating from 420 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Rotman & Morris provides legal services in Bentleigh, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Frankston, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(400)Google rating from 400 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Bayside Solicitors Mornington provides legal services in Frankston, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Family Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Wills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Parenting & Child Custody · Criminal Law · Drink & Drug DrivingFree first consult
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
St Kilda, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(242)Google rating from 242 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
R.E.T Conveyancing provides conveyancing services in St Kilda, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Licensed Conveyancing (non-lawyer) and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+6 moreLicensed Conveyancing (non-lawyer) · Family Law · Business & Commercial Law · Commercial Property & Leasing · Planning & Environment · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
South Melbourne, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(200)Google rating from 200 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Batten Sacks provides legal services in South Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Commercial Litigation · Immigration & Visas · Insolvency & Restructuring · Family Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Cranbourne West, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(170)Google rating from 170 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Sharma Solicitors and Conveyancers Cranbourne provides legal services in Cranbourne West, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+6 moreFamily Law · Wills & Estates · Divorce & Separation · Business & Commercial Law · Commercial Litigation · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Dandenong, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(150)Google rating from 150 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Pentana Stanton Lawyers provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Litigation & Dispute Resolution+7 moreFamily Law · Business & Commercial Law · Property & Conveyancing · Commercial Litigation · Family Property Settlement · Wills & Estates · Divorce & SeparationNo win, no fee
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Cheltenham, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(146)Google rating from 146 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Cogent Legal Lawyers and Solicitors provides legal services in Cheltenham, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Dingley Village, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(133)Google rating from 133 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Littlejohn Legal provides legal services in Dingley Village, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Notting Hill, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(93)Google rating from 93 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
JK Lawyers provides legal services in Notting Hill, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Dandenong, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.3(92)Google rating from 92 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Warna Legal provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Notary Public & JP Services, Business & Commercial Law and Immigration & Visas.
Notary Public & JP Services+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Immigration & Visas · Property & Conveyancing · Family Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Wills & Estates · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Frankston, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(89)Google rating from 89 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Willerby's Solicitors & Conveyancers provides legal services in Frankston, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Dandenong, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★3.4(73)Google rating from 73 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Victoria Legal Aid provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+7 moreDomestic Violence & AVOs · Parenting & Child Custody · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Property & Conveyancing · Health & Medical Practitioner Law · Mental Health & Guardianship Tribunal · Mediation & Dispute Resolution
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Carrum Downs, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(63)Google rating from 63 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Fountain Law provides legal services in Carrum Downs, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Wills & Estates · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Planning & Environment · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Family Law · Sports & Entertainment Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Rowville, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(49)Google rating from 49 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Mackinnon Jacobs Horton & Irving provides legal services in Rowville, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreFamily Law · Wills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · De Facto Relationships · Binding Financial Agreements · Commercial Litigation
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Dandenong, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(30)Google rating from 30 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
ACE LEGAL SERVICES (AUSTRALIA) provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Planning & Environment · Probate & Estate Administration · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Partner & Family Visas · Litigation & Dispute ResolutionFree first consult
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Frankston, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(26)Google rating from 26 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Cottier Stenning Lawyers Frankston provides legal services in Frankston, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Wills & Estates+7 moreFamily Law · Business & Commercial Law · Property & Conveyancing · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · General Practice (regional generalist) · Criminal Law · Domestic Violence & AVOsNo win, no feeThe firm mentions no win, no fee arrangements. Confirm terms in writing.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Dandenong, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★3.8(25)Google rating from 25 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Macpherson Kelley provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Intellectual Property & Trade Marks and Property & Conveyancing.
Litigation & Dispute Resolution+7 moreIntellectual Property & Trade Marks · Property & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Planning & Environment · Insolvency & Restructuring · Franchising2 languages
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Dandenong, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(21)Google rating from 21 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Fleming & Rhoden Lawyers provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Property & Conveyancing+5 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Debt Recovery · Family Law · Wills & Estates
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Dingley Village, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(20)Google rating from 20 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Balfe & Webb provides legal services in Dingley Village, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Business & Commercial Law+6 moreWills & Estates · Property & Conveyancing · Family Law · Commercial Property & Leasing · Building & Construction · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Dandenong, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★3.6(18)Google rating from 18 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
James Dowsley & Associates provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Bail Applications and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Criminal Law+6 moreBail Applications · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Drink & Drug Driving · Assault & Violent Offences · Fraud & White Collar Crime · Coronial InquestsFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Clyde North, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(16)Google rating from 16 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Clyde Lawyers provides legal services in Clyde North, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Immigration & Visas and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+6 moreImmigration & Visas · Business & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Family Law · Employment Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Oakleigh, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(15)Google rating from 15 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Russo Pellicano Carlei Lawyers provides legal services in Oakleigh, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Dandenong, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(14)Google rating from 14 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Rez & Ros lawyers provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Debt Recovery, Citizenship and Public Liability.
Debt Recovery+6 moreCitizenship · Public Liability · Business & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Workers Compensation · Personal InjuryNo win, no feeThe firm mentions no win, no fee arrangements. Confirm terms in writing.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Bentleigh, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(13)Google rating from 13 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Malewska & Associates Lawyers provides legal services in Bentleigh, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Immigration & Visas and Powers of Attorney & Guardianship.
Wills & Estates+5 moreImmigration & Visas · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Defamation · Family Law · Probate & Estate Administration
Most disputes settle before trial. A litigation lawyer's first job is to tell you honestly how strong your case is and what it will cost to pursue, then find the fastest route to a good outcome, whether that's a letter, a mediation or proceedings. Smaller claims are often handled in local courts or state tribunals where costs are lower. For larger matters, ask about the likely cost of each stage and the risk of paying the other side's costs if you lose.
Why disputes matters
Unresolved disputes drain time, money and relationships. A clear strategy controls cost and risk.
The Australian context
Civil disputes are heard in state and federal courts and tribunals, with a strong emphasis on mediation and early resolution.
Understand the next step
A practical guide to disputes & litigation in South East Melbourne
Choosing the right kind of assistance
A demand, unpaid account, insurance decision or disagreement over professional work can require different strategies. Identify the outcome sought and supporting evidence. The amount involved, other party’s position and cost of pursuing the matter all affect a proportionate approach.
Working with a firm in South East Melbourne
Dandenong, Frankston, Cranbourne and Moorabbin span a broad search area. A firm’s suburb, meeting options and experience with your matter are more informative than the South East Melbourne label alone.
For disputes & litigation, ask which parts of the work the firm handles itself and whether it has relevant VIC experience. Let the lawyer know if a property, employer, other party or existing proceeding is outside South East Melbourne. Your home address alone does not determine the applicable process.
How the engagement may progress
01
Prepare a chronology, agreement or policy, important communications and a calculation of any claimed amount. Distinguish firsthand facts from assumptions.
02
Discuss negotiation, a complaint scheme, mediation, a tribunal or court. Ask which options are available for this particular matter.
03
Agree on a first step and a point to reassess progress and cost. Before settling, understand what claims would be released and how obligations would be recorded.
Fees and the scope of work
Request stages for advice, correspondence, negotiations and proceedings. Discuss filing, expert and barrister costs and any potential liability for another party’s costs.
Ask for a written scope identifying the work you are authorising, the person responsible and when costs will be reviewed. If you only want advice on one step, say so before the firm begins wider work.
Dates to raise at first contact
Provide every demand, decision and court document with its date. Do not assume informal negotiations suspend a response or filing deadline.
Questions to ask a disputes & litigation adviser
What evidence would change the assessment?
Is a complaint or dispute-resolution scheme available?
What are the practical costs and risks if agreement is not reached?
Directory guidance updated 19 September 2026. General information to help you prepare for a conversation with a professional; not advice about your individual matter. Check current requirements with the relevant authority.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
How much does going to court cost?
It depends on the court, the complexity and how far the matter goes. Ask for a written estimate for each stage, and remember that the losing party often pays part of the winner's costs.
Can I sue for defamation?
Possibly, if a publication identified you and caused or is likely to cause serious harm to your reputation. There are defences and strict time limits, usually one year from publication.
My insurer rejected my claim. What now?
Ask for the reasons in writing and use the insurer's internal complaints process. You can then take the dispute to the Australian Financial Complaints Authority, which is free, or get legal advice on court action.
