Hillside Legal

03/10/2026

On Friday, Hillside Legal closed its doors after 14 years and 8 months.

I started this firm when I was 5 months pregnant, and young enough to possess that naive courage that convinces you that building a law practice with a newborn on the way is a perfectly sensible thing to do.

I am so glad that I made the decision to venture out on my own. It was, perhaps, a decision born out of a desire, a strong desire on the back of a miscarriage, to ensure that I could truly be present for the children I hoped to hold. But it was a decision that threw me into the deep end, and forced me to rethink motherhood, the practice of law, and how two such demanding worlds could possibly coexist.

The greatest gift of this entire adventure is that my children grew up inside it. They were there for every milestone. They took naps in the office. They sat by my desk as they, and the firm, grew, watching me figure out, (sometimes imperfectly) how to be both their mother and a sole practitioner.

I still vividly remember my very first client. He called at exactly 9am, and I remember the sheer joy beaming across my face. He is still my client.

Over the years, I have had the extraordinary fortune of welcoming people who came to me simply because someone they trusted had trusted me first. More than 80% of my practice was built on those recommendations. Some of those clients have stayed for over a decade. Many have become dear friends.

I think back, too, to the nervous students who once sat in my office for work experience, wondering if they had what it took to survive the law. Watching them flourish today in large firms fills me with a deeply maternal pride. And I think of the moment Hillside Legal was named a finalist for Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year at the Women in Law Awards. To be recognised for serving those who had nothing to give in return made every sleepless night and every long, exhausting day feel entirely worth it.

I am so grateful to every client who put their confidence in me, every person who referred work, every colleague and professional who supported me, and every client who came through the door as a stranger and left as a friend.

On Friday, I turned off the office lights for the last time. There is sadness in that, but there is also peace in knowing that it is time. True to form, I won't be resting for long. My next chapter begins on Tuesday, and my heart is entirely open and so excited for what lies ahead.

❤️

29/06/2026

From 1 July, new anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CTF) obligations apply to lawyers providing designated services.

So, if your lawyer suddenly seems to be asking you a lot more questions, don't take it personally! No, we're not being nosy, and yes, we really do need to ask.

To our clients – thank you in advance for your patience as the profession adapts to these new obligations. The extra questions are all part of helping protect Australia's financial system from money laundering, terrorism financing and other serious crime.

21/12/2023

A quick heads up as we round off the year – our office will be calling it a day at 12 pm on 22 December 2023. It has been a year filled with challenges and victories, and we're super grateful for the trust and collaboration we've shared. Our team's taking a breather to recharge and soak up some quality time with loved ones.

We want to take a moment to remind everyone to stay vigilant during the holiday season - unfortunately, the holidays are prime time for cybercriminals. Remember, before you hit send on any fund transfers, make sure you contact the recipient to verbally confirm their account details. This extra step can help safeguard you against potential online money fraud.

It's also important to remember that domestic violence does not take holidays.

If you or someone you know is impacted by domestic violence, reach out to local support services, friends, or family members, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au. In an emergency, call 000. You are not alone, and assistance is available.

We look forward to working with you in the coming year, and we can't wait to see what 2024 has in store for us.

15/08/2023

⚠️⚠️⚠️ If you are selling property, or if you are a real estate agent retained to sell property on behalf of your client, it is important you carry out adequate risk assessments and warn potential purchasers (for example, by way of a “Slippery When Wet” sign) attending open homes or inspections of any foreseeable risks.

***

Recently, Associate Justice Harrison handed down a decision in the matter of Furner v Jackson [2023] NSWSC 914, ordering that the defendants pay the Plaintiff damages in the sum of $1,509,512 and costs.

On 18 Jan 2020, Kellie Furner (the Plaintiff) and her husband attended an open home in Garden Suburb, NSW, for the purpose of inspecting a property for purchase.

A week or so before the open home, the owners of the property (the first and second defendants) had painted their sloping driveway. As the Plaintiff and her husband walked across the driveway, the Plaintiff slipped and fell, sustaining a number of injuries.

The Plaintiff sought personal injury damages, alleging negligence by the first, second and fourth defendants (or either one of them).

The fourth defendant, CK1 Realty Pty Ltd, had been engaged by the first and second defendants to sell the property. On the day of the incident, Ms Johnson, an employee of the fourth defendant, was conducting the open home. Ms Johnson was not called to give evidence at the hearing, and, as such, a Jones v Dunkel inference was drawn.

In finding that the Plaintiff had satisfied the requirements of ss 5B and 5C of the Civil Liability Act (a summary of the principles in these sections appears at [125]-[129]), her Honour noted that the first, second and fourth defendants owed duties of care to the Plaintiff - the risk of a person slipping on the driveway was foreseeable and not insignificant – and could have taken reasonable steps to warn those attending open homes that the driveway was slippery. Her Honour also noted that the fourth defendant was an occupier of the property at the time of the accident, and was under a duty to exercise reasonable care to take reasonable measures to avoid foreseeable risks of injury. At the very least, the fourth defendant was obliged to warn prospective buyers that the driveway was slippery.

Her Honour also summarised, at [167]-[171], the principles of causation in s 5D of the CLA -

♦ to establish causation - the plaintiff must prove on the balance of probabilities that if the defendant had taken identified steps, the injury to the plaintiff would either have not occurred, or been avoided. Causation requires a determination that “the negligence was a necessary condition of the harm”.

♦ to succeed - the plaintiff must show that it is more probable than not that, but for the defendant’s breach, the particular harm which materialised would not have been suffered. This involves two elements – “factual causation” (a statutory restatement of the “but for” test of causation) and “scope of liability”. The determination of both involves a value judgment.

26/06/2023

First home buyers who are wanting to opt in to pay property tax (instead of upfront stamp duty), have less than 5 days to exchange contracts.

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09/12/2022

Congratulations to our principal solicitor Alexia Yazdani, who has been recognised in the Australasian Lawyer's Elite Women 2022 list.

The list recognises female legal professionals who have broken boundaries to support and succeed.

Alexia's unwavering passion for the law, and her constant drive to uphold diversity and gender equality in the profession are an inspiration.

In Australia, women lawyers comprise 53% of all solicitors, and since 2011, their numbers have risen by 67% compared to their male cohort’s increase of 26%. We have certainly come a long way, but there is still much left to be done to achieve gender equality and diversity in the workplace.

02/11/2022

If you’re building or renovating, make sure you consider a magazine bar for your bathroom.

Convenient access to all your reading material AND an ashtray!

😆

23/10/2022

Happy Diwali to all our clients and colleagues celebrating today.

To victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance.

18/10/2022

Everyone in our office is craving pizza 🍕

How lucky are we to have some of the most amazing restaurants, right here in The Hills.

COME EAT & EXPLORE SYDNEY WITH ME 🇦🇺🦘 shared a post on Instagram: "Eat Sydney with me at 😍 This place serves some of the best pizza The Hills has to offer! From the arancini balls to the pizzas, you can just tell every dish is made with love and care. Good food, a g...

16/10/2022

Good luck to all finalists in the Sydney Hills Local Business Awards.

We are so excited to have been named as a finalist for the fourth year, and thank all our clients for their continued support.