Davityan Lawyers

24/11/2021

The Australian government has announced easing of the Australian border restrictions starting from 1 December 2021. From 1 December 2021, fully vaccinated travellers to Australia may enter Australia without needing to apply for a Travel Exemption. In order to be eligible, you must hold an eligible v...

09/07/2021

We have rebranded to Verde Lawyers!

York Immigration Services Australia and Davityan Lawyers are excited to announce that we have merged our expertise to establish the new firm Verde Lawyers.

Our Principal Solicitor Shahen Davityan and our team at Verde Lawyers are committed to providing you with the same standard of high-quality advice and work. We are located in the same office and we will continue to prioritise the needs of our clients to obtain the best possible outcome.

Verde Lawyers is excited to grow and continue to provide excellence in all our areas of practice. Our team would like to thank you for your continued support over the years.

If you have any questions about any legal or migration matters, please email our friendly team at [email protected] and we'll get back to you as soon as we can. You can find more information about Verde Lawyers at www.verdelawyers.com.

Thank You,
Verde Lawyers

16/06/2021

AUSTRALIA'S COVID-19 RECOVERY DOES NOT TRANSLATE INTO MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Australia’s sustained and continued recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic has continued into the March 2021 quarter. Factors such as the continued easement of restrictions (despite the recent Victorian lockdown) and strong exportation of iron ore and liquid natural gas has been behind Australia’s 1.8% increase in Gross Domestic Product in the last financial quarter.

The success of Australia’s recovery from COVID-19 has not however translated to more affordable housing prices across Australia. Australia’s housing market is currently estimated to be valued at $8 trillion dollars. A combination of factors including, record low interest rates (currently at 0.1%), government incentives such as first home buyer grants, increased demand for housing and rising housing prices have set up the perfect condition to continue Australia’s housing price boom.

In the last financial quarter, Australia’s House-Price-index has risen by 8.0%, following a rise of 3.9% in the December 2020 quarter, with New South Wales becoming the first State or Territory to recorded an increase in mean price of residential dwellings of over $1 million. The benefits of increased house princes include an increase in consumer spending and an overall increase wealth of householders.

However, a report published by UNSW, titled Housing: Taming the Elephant in the Economy, calls upon the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) and a Royal Commission to act as the price of housing is rippling through the nation following the worst recession of the last 100 years. The problems with housing price inflations are that they have reduced the standard of living for many young couples or families who are finding it increasingly difficult to purchase their first home. Consequently, this has had the snowball effect of driving the price of rent, causing the cost of living to further increase. The report also calls upon the RBA to expand it forms accountability to include the maintenance of a more stable and function housing market so that house prices do not continue to rise so as to ensure that younger generations are not burdened with the rising costs of housing.

In a move to overhaul the property tax system and improve ownership of property for people under 40, the NSW government will offer $25,000 for first home buyers in the stamp duty overhaul. The NSW government estimates that this proposed reform will increase home ownership by 6%. However, the onset effects of such a reform are yet to be determined as there are fears that the reform may lead to further inflation of house prices.

At Davityan Lawyers, we are committed to working with our clients to achieve the most optimal result in their property and commercial law ventures. Our team is experienced ins providing efficient and detail-oriented assistance on matters not limited to :

- Purchase or sale of commercial and residential property;

- Drafting and advising on commercial lease agreements;

- Disputes over lease agreements and strata titles;

- Transfers of title; and

- Property development (such as acquisitions and options)

Please contact our friendly team on 02 9283 5290 or email us at [email protected] for help and assistance.

Australia’s sustained and continued recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic has continued into the March 2021 quarter. Factors such as the continued easement of restrictions (despite the recent Victorian lockdown) and strong exportation of iron ore and liquid natural gas has been behind Australia’s ...

07/06/2021

WILLS AND WHY YOU NEED ONE

Why should you make a will?
Many Australians do not have a will, often believing they do not need to make one or that they do not have any significant assets to pass on. Regardless of your circumstances, making a will has significant benefits for your loved ones after you pass.

Some of the reasons for making a will include:

· It provides your loved ones with guidance about how you would like your assets to be distributed and thus alleviates additional stress. If you have made a will, they can easily identify your assets and begin the process of contacting various asset holders to begin the process of paying off debts and other expenses.
· It allows you to control how your assets are managed when you pass (this is especially important if you have loved ones that are financially dependent on you);
· Certain assets, such as superannuation, are governed by special rules that require prior planning if you would like them to be included in your estate;
· Passing away without a will means your assets may be distributed in a manner you do not wish them to.

When should you update your will?
Have you just gotten married? Have you started up a new business? It might be time to update your current will.

New life events can affect your will significantly with some nullifying gifts made in the will and some revoking the will altogether. Therefore, it is important to update your will when these happen to ensure your will continues to reflect your wishes.

Some of these life events include:
· Marriage
· Divorce
· Significant changes in your financial position
· Acquiring/starting a business
· Death of a beneficiary

Davityan Lawyers can provide you with assistance and advice regarding your will and estates planning. Contact us on 02 9283 5290 or email us at [email protected] for help and assistance.

Why should you make a will? Many Australians do not have a will, often believing they do not need to make one or that they do not have any significant assets to pass on. Regardless of your circumstances, making a will has significant benefits for your loved ones after you pass. Some of the reasons f...

30/03/2021

DAVITYAN LAWERS IS HIRING
Davityan Lawyers is looking for a motivated and reliable solicitor with at least one year experience to joint our friendly team. The position would suit a passionate and talented Solicitor with the ability to work independently with minimal supervision, whilst being supported by an experienced team. You will be involved in a range of interesting and exciting work, and you must have a willingness to learn and contribute to our team.

If this is the perfect role for you or someone you know, please apply by emailing your CV, cover letter, academic transcript and current practicing certificate to [email protected].

https://www.seek.com.au/job/51895225

08/12/2020

WELL DESERVED JUSTICE FOR A PARENT
At Davityan Lawyers, we're proud to be able to help our clients and provide them with professional and meticulous work to ensure a successful outcome. We recently had a successful landmark Family Court of Australia matter and the judgement has recently been published.

We were first engaged by our client, Mr Brar*, the father of Child X, who had no rights in relation to making decisions about his child's wellbeing and no access to his child following the death of Child X's mother. Child X was living with their maternal grandmother, Ms Kambo* and maternal uncle, Mr Shah*, who refused to allow Mr Brar to visit or speak to his child. Mr Brar contacted the relevant authorities who were unable to assist him. Mr Brar, through no fault of his own was in a position where he was not allowed to see his child.

Davityan Lawyers worked on the matter diligently, making several successful applications to the Court and guiding Mr Brar through the entire process. Mr Brar now has full parental responsibility for Child X, who lives with him and has developed into a happy, playful child with a close relationship with their father.

*All names and references to any personal identifiers have been changed to maintain the privacy of our clients

Davityan Lawyers is committed to our clients. We treat our clients with respect and compassion, and we provide experienced and efficient work to ensure the best possible outcome. If you have a Family Law matter you require assistance with, or would simply like to learn about your options, contact us now at [email protected] or call our office on 02 9283 5290.

"The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." -Nelson Mandela At Davityan Lawyers, we're proud to be able to help our clients and provide them with professional and meticulous work to ensure a successful outcome. We recently had a successful landmark Fam...

20/10/2020

SEPARATION AND DIVORCE: HOW TO OBTAIN A DIVORCE
Divorces as a formal and final end to a marriage. To obtain a divorce, you must have been separated for at least 12 months. You and your ex-spouse may have lived in the same home for a part of or all of the 12 month separation period, but extra documentation or information may be required if this was the case.

Although you cannot file for divorce before the 12 month separation period has ended, you may begin negotiations for assets, property and arrangements for the care of children before then. Individuals often resolve matters regarding child custody and division of assets and property before the final divorce is obtained. Obtaining a divorce will end the marriage legally, but it will not resolve issues regarding children or assets and property.

Davityan Lawyers can provide you with assistance and advice regarding your separation or divorce. Contact us on 02 9283 5290 or email us at [email protected] for help and assistance.

Divorces as a formal and final end to a marriage. To obtain a divorce, you must have been separated for at least 12 months. You and your ex-spouse may have lived in the same home for a part of or all of the 12 month separation period, but extra documentation or information may be required if this wa...

15/09/2020

FACEBOOK PRIVACY SCANDAL
Facebook has failed to convince the Australian Federal Court that it does not carry out business in Australia. In March 2020, the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) commenced legal proceedings against Facebook for allegedly breaching the privacy of over 300,000 Australians by using Facebook data to influence voters.

OAIC assert that there was a serious data breach by Facebook passing on personal information to Cambridge Analytica, a data analytics firm, for political profiling between March 2014 and May 2015. The data included people's names, dates of birth, emails, city locations, friends lists, page likes and in some cases, messages, to influence voters. Cambridge Analytica provided assistance to the Donald Trump political campaign in 2016 and worked with the Leave campaign in the UK Brexit referendum.

OAIC has submitted that Facebook has breached privacy laws, exposing the data of 311,127 Australians and using their data for political profiling and purposes outside user expectations. On Monday, the Court found against Facebook, over their argument that they did not carry out any business in Australia at the time of the Cambridge Analytica scandal. The case is still ongoing and will proceed to trial in the near future.

If you have a legal issue, contact our team at [email protected] to see how we can help you.

Facebook has failed to convince the Australian Federal Court that it does not carry out business in Australia. In March 2020, the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) commenced legal proceedings against Facebook for allegedly breaching the privacy of over 300,000 Australians by u...

27/08/2020

FOREIGN INVESTMENT IN AUSTRALIA TIGHTENED
The Federal Government has been conducting extensive reviews of the policies around Foreign Investment in Australia. From 29 March 2020, to protect international raids on struggling companies during the current pandemic, the threshold for determining whether particular foreign investments made are subject to approval from the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) was temporarily reduced to Nil, thereby requiring all foreign investment to be reviewed regardless of the value. The timings of the reviews may now take up to 6 months.

In addition, on 31 July 2020, the Federal Government released the exposure draft of the Foreign Investment Reform (Protecting Australia’s National Security) Bill 2020 for public consultation which takes into account the reforms to Australia’s foreign investment framework announced on 5 June 2020. Submissions are due by 31 August 2020 and it will be interesting as to what the outcomes will be. We will keep you updated as more information becomes available.

If you have a matter concerning foreign investment, Davityan Lawyers can assist you with your matter or with a Foreign Investment Review Board application. Contact our friendly team at [email protected] for more information.

The Federal Government has been conducting extensive reviews of the policies around Foreign Investment in Australia. From 29 March 2020, to protect international raids on struggling companies during the current pandemic, the threshold for determining whether particular foreign investments made are s...

19/08/2020

It may be easier than you might think to get into legal trouble over defamatory social media posts and comments. People, now more than ever, are taking social media posts seriously, and a 2018 study found that more than half of all defamation proceedings between 2013 and 2017 involved digital publications online. The rise of social media has meant that individuals are being taken to Court, rather than the media outlets themselves.

So what constitutes a defamatory post? A defamatory post or comment is a statement that have the potential to damage a person's reputation and cause them reputation or economic harm. This can include comments, posts, photographs and even Google reviews.

You could get into trouble simply for sharing someone's post, even if you didn't write it. Individuals will be treated as a publisher when sharing a defamatory post, and may be liable for any defamation that flows from the publication. The same rule applies for liking a post on Facebook or commenting on the post, as this means that the post will shown on people's newsfeeds and thus cause more harm to the person being defamed. Only one person, other than the person being defamed, needs to read the post for it to constitute defamation.

Defamation is not something to be taken lightly, and could have serious legal consequences.

If you have a defamation issue or other legal issue, please contact our friendly team at: [email protected]

It may be easier than you might think to get into legal trouble over defamatory social media posts and comments. People, now more than ever, are taking social media posts seriously, and a 2018 study found that more than half of all defamation proceedings between 2013 and 2017 involved digital public...

28/07/2020

ACCC SUES GOOGLE FOR COLLECTING AUSTRALIA USERS' DATA WITHOUT INFORMED CONSENT
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has launched legal action against Google for the collection of Australian user data without people's informed consent.

The ACCC alleges that Google has collected "potentially very sensitive and private information" using technology that tracks a user's internet browsing history on non-Google sites, and combined it with the personal information in users' Google accounts. This has allowed Google to make a profit by delivering more targeted advertising, without properly informing users.

The ACCC has stated that "millions of Australians have been affected", and that any website or mobile application that used Google ad technology has been affected, which includes "the vast majority of websites".

The ACCC alleges that Google mislead consumers in 2016 when it changed its privacy policy and its data collection technology. Users were prompted to click an 'I Accept' button to consent to the changes without explaining the significance of the changes. ACCC also claims that Google changed its privacy policy without obtaining consent from users, meaning that the privacy policy was misleading.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has launched legal action against Google for the collection of Australian user data without people's informed consent. The ACCC alleges that Google has collected "potentially very sensitive and private information" using technology that track...

24/07/2020

FAMILY COURT BOMBER FOUND GUILTY OF 3 BOMBINGS
The Supreme Court of New South Wales has found Leonard Warwick guilty of three murders and multiple bombings in the 1980s following a feud with his ex-wife.

Warwick, a 73 year old former firefighter, was arrested in 2015 and pleaded not guilty to more than 20 charges. He would found guilty of all offences except the alleged shooting murder of his brother-in-law in 1980.

Warwick was found guilty of the shooting of Justice David Opas in his Woollahra front yard in 1980, after hearing Warwick's Court matter.

Justice Richard Gee then heard Warwick's Court matter, before he was injured and his home in Belrose was destroyed by a bomb in 1984. The Family Court Registry building in Parramatta, where Warwick's matter was heard, was also bombed in 1984.

Justice Ray Watson's home was bombed in 1984 as well, and Justice Watson's wife, Pearl, was killed when the explosive blew up as she entered her home.

Minister Graham Wykes was killed during an explosion at a Jehovah's Witness church hall in 1985, that also injured several people inside.

Warwick will return to Court for sentencing in August this year.

The Supreme Court of New South Wales has found Leonard Warwick guilty of three murders and multiple bombings in the 1980s following a feud with his ex-wife. Warwick, a 73 year old former firefighter, was arrested in 2015 and pleaded not guilty to more than 20 charges. He would found guilty of all of...