Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Dandenong, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★3.7(9)Google rating from 9 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Robert Halliday & Associates provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Family Law+2 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Litigation & Dispute ResolutionFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Moorabbin, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★3.9(8)Google rating from 8 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Gigliotti Lawyers Moorabbin provides legal services in Moorabbin, VIC. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Insolvency & Restructuring and Wills & Estates.
Litigation & Dispute Resolution+7 moreInsolvency & Restructuring · Wills & Estates · Debt Recovery · Criminal Law · Family Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Property & Conveyancing
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Hampton Park, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(7)Google rating from 7 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
RK Legal Advisors Pty. Ltd. provides legal services in Hampton Park, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Property & Conveyancing+4 moreWills & Estates · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Partner & Family Visas · Criminal LawFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Moorabbin, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★3.0(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Foster Johnson Family and Collaborative Lawyers provides legal services in Moorabbin, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Partner & Family Visas and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+4 morePartner & Family Visas · Parenting & Child Custody · Skilled & Business Visas · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Dandenong, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Mendis & Gibson Lawyers provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include NDIS & Disability Law, Business & Commercial Law and Property & Conveyancing.
NDIS & Disability Law+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Property & Conveyancing · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Wills & Estates · Family Law · Partner & Family Visas · Insolvency & RestructuringFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Frankston, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(3)Google rating from 3 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Guymer Lawyers provides legal services in Frankston, VIC. Listed practice areas include Building & Construction, Business & Commercial Law and Commercial Litigation.
Building & Construction+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Commercial Litigation · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Property & Conveyancing · Debt Recovery · Defamation
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Bentleigh, VIC · South East Melbourne
New on GoogleOnly 2 Google reviews so far, not enough for a reliable rating
ADAM KERNAHAN provides legal services in Bentleigh, 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
Cranbourne West, VIC · South East Melbourne
New on GoogleOnly 2 Google reviews so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Kohinoor Legal provides legal services in Cranbourne West, VIC. Listed practice areas include Immigration & Visas, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Immigration & Visas+6 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Criminal Law · Visa Refusals & Tribunal Appeals
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Hughesdale, VIC · South East Melbourne
Asher Freeman Lawyers provides legal services in Hughesdale, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Employment Law · Wills & Estates · Family Law · Criminal Law · NDIS & Disability Law3 languagesLanguages mentioned on the firm’s website: mandarin, cantonese
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Thomastown, VIC · South East Melbourne
Warna Legal provides legal services in Thomastown, 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
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(137)Google rating from 137 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Anuja Baker Legal Services provides legal services in Bentleigh, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(131)Google rating from 131 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Pugh Legal provides legal services in Bentleigh, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Notary Public & JP Services.
Wills & Estates+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Notary Public & JP Services · Commercial Litigation · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Probate & Estate Administration · Business & Commercial Law · Criminal Law
★★★★★★★★★★4.1(91)Google rating from 91 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Shine Lawyers provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Personal Injury, Class Actions and Motor Vehicle Accidents / CTP.
Personal Injury+7 moreClass Actions · Motor Vehicle Accidents / CTP · Product Liability · TPD & Superannuation Claims · Public Liability · Insurance Law & Disputes · Medical NegligenceNo win, no fee
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(89)Google rating from 89 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Just Family Law - Family Lawyers Dandenong provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+7 moreParenting & Child Custody · Divorce & Separation · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Property & Conveyancing · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Property Settlement · De Facto RelationshipsFree first consult
★★★★★★★★★★3.6(68)Google rating from 68 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Victoria Legal Aid provides legal services in Frankston, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+7 moreDomestic Violence & AVOs · Parenting & Child Custody · Property & Conveyancing · Health & Medical Practitioner Law · Traffic Offences · Mental Health & Guardianship Tribunal · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(62)Google rating from 62 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Gale Family Law provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Divorce & Separation.
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(54)Google rating from 54 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
SB Solicitors + Notary provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Notary Public & JP Services, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Notary Public & JP Services+5 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Wills & Estates · Commercial Property & Leasing
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(49)Google rating from 49 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Peter Murphy & Associates provides legal services in Albert Park, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Notary Public & JP Services.
Wills & Estates+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Notary Public & JP Services · Business & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Elder Law & Aged Care
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(48)Google rating from 48 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
James Dowsley & Associates provides legal services in Frankston, VIC. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Drink & Drug Driving and Bail Applications.
Criminal Law+7 moreDrink & Drug Driving · Bail Applications · Assault & Violent Offences · Fraud & White Collar Crime · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Traffic Offences · Coronial InquestsFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(47)Google rating from 47 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Nowicki Carbone provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Medical Negligence, Public Liability and Family Law.
Medical Negligence+7 morePublic Liability · Family Law · Product Liability · Wills & Estates · Class Actions · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Personal InjuryNo win, no feeThe firm mentions no win, no fee arrangements. Confirm terms in writing.
★★★★★★★★★★4.3(34)Google rating from 34 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Portelli & Co provides legal services in Clayton, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Notary Public & JP Services · Probate & Estate Administration · Commercial Property & Leasing
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(23)Google rating from 23 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Simon English Lawyers provides legal services in St Kilda, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Defamation.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Defamation · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Intellectual Property & Trade Marks · Employment Law · Technology, Privacy & DataFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
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.
