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Scott Legal

Leanne Scott is a solicitor (LL.B, Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice) and is admitted to practice in all courts in Victoria and the federal court.
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Leanne also has a Masters of Law (Commercial Law) (LL.M). Leanne Scott is a solicitor (LL.B, Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice) and is admitted to practice in all courts in Victoria and the federal court jurisdiction. Leanne Scott is a member of the Law Institute of Victoria and is also a member of the International Women's Insolvency and Restructuring Confederation (IWIRC). Prior to Leanne’s adm

ission she was a Legal Executive (F.Inst.Legal.Exec., Adv Dip Business (Legal Practice)) with over 20 years’ experience in substantial legal firms. Leanne believes clients deserve the best service and understands clients’ broader needs, by keeping clients regularly informed and explaining processes and giving advice in plain language. During Leanne’s career she has worked on a broad range of matters in commercial and litigation areas of practice in very large scale litigation through to smaller matters, including:

Litigation experience includes proceedings in all Victorian jurisdictions, interstate and the Federal Court involving a range of commercial issues including interlocutory applications, enforcement, dispute resolution. The matters have involved very complex legal issues, high volume discovery

Insolvency experience includes winding up proceedings, applications to set aside, public examinations and proceedings initiated by liquidators

Debt recovery and management

Alternative dispute resolution

Commercial experience includes corporate and business structuring, and advice, drafting franchise suite documents, business acquisitions and sales, contract drafting, advice and negotiations, terms and conditions, heads of agreement, licence agreements as well as general advisory work in a range of sectors

Drafting and advising on commercial and retail leases

Acting for vendors and purchasers in sales and purchases of businesses

Preparation of ASIC documents

Employment law issues, drafting employment agreements

Drafting wills, applying for Probate and Letters of Administration, acting in disputes challenging wills

Applying for trademarks and copyright disputes

Directors’ disputes, including assisting clients throughout the process whilst preserving company

Claims for damages for wrongful termination of agreements

Injunctions

Australian Consumer Law actions for misleading and deceptive conduct and related issues

Franchisor and franchisee advice, including disputes

Small Business Commissioner mediations involving retail tenancy disputes and franchise disputes

Disciplinary action in VCAT

VCAT planning disputes and other general disputes

Consultancy/in-house role to large public company across 13 countries providing advice, drafting and negotiating contracts for services, supply and consultancy agreements, tender submissions, reseller agreements, memorandums of understanding, sub-contractor and teaming agreements and confidentiality agreements

Setting up practices and procedures for business

01/09/2026

A meaningful morning at the Geelong Chamber of Commerce August Connect event. 💙

Leanne had the privilege of attending and showing her support for River’s Gift and the important work they do to raise awareness and fund research into Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
Leanne is pictured with Justine Martin, author, illustrator and publisher of Finding Hope, and Karl Waddell, River’s dad. Karl and his family tragically lost River to SIDS almost 15 years ago, and from that heartbreak came a determination to make a difference for other families.

It was a privilege to hear more about the story behind River’s Gift and the impact that can come from a community coming together to support something that truly matters.

Thank you to the Geelong Chamber of Commerce for bringing the business community together for such an important conversation, and to Justine, Karl and everyone involved with River’s Gift for continuing to shine a light on SIDS awareness and research.

We’re proud to support organisations making a meaningful difference in our community. 💙
📸 Leanne Scott with Justine Martin and Karl Waddell

30/08/2026

🏡 Estate Administration Support

💙 Losing a loved one is difficult enough without navigating the legal process alone.

We can assist executors with:

📄 Probate applications
💼 Collecting estate assets
🏦 Dealing with banks and superannuation funds
🏠 Property transfers and sales
💰 Estate distributions
✅ Finalising the administration of the estate

🤝 If you've recently lost someone close to you, we're here to help guide you through the process.

27/08/2026

Estate Planning and Deceased Estates: Don’t Believe Everything You Read Online

There is plenty of information online about Wills, Powers of Attorney, Probate and deceased estates. Unfortunately, not all of it is accurate—and even correct information may not apply to your particular circumstances.

We regularly speak with people who have relied on something they read online, only to discover that the law operates differently in their situation.

Some common questions include:

• Do I really need a Will?
• What happens if someone dies without a Will?
• Can a family member challenge a Will?
• Do I need a family trust?
• Who can access a deceased person’s bank accounts?
• Is Probate always required?
• When can an estate be distributed?
• What happens to debts when someone dies?
• Can I update my Will myself?

Estate planning and deceased estates can have significant consequences. Advice tailored to your circumstances can help you avoid costly mistakes.

If you have read something online and are unsure whether it applies to you, contact Scott Legal. We are happy to help clarify your position and discuss the appropriate next steps.

24/08/2026

Our team was truly touched when our lovely client, Sylvia, surprised us with beautiful flowers and choccies for every member of our staff. 💐
It means so much to know that the support and care we provide make a lasting difference. Thank you, Sylvia, for your thoughtful kindness and generous gesture. It brightened our day and reminded us why we love what we do.
We're grateful to have wonderful clients like you. ❤️

20/08/2026

Welcome to Jess Mackenzie, our new Receptionist! 👋

We're delighted to have Jess join our team as the friendly face and first point of contact for our clients. Her warm approach and commitment to providing excellent service make her a wonderful addition to our firm.

Welcome to the team, Jess! We're excited to have you with us and look forward to working together.

17/08/2026

🏠 Important Update for Owner-Builders Selling Property

If you are an owner-builder looking to sell your property, there are important changes you need to be aware of. From 1 July 2026, Victoria’s owner-builder insurance requirements have changed, impacting how owner-builder works must be disclosed when preparing a Section 32 Vendor Statement.

🔹 What has changed?

Previously, owner-builders were required to obtain domestic building insurance before selling a property where the owner-builder warranty period applied. This insurance operated as a “last resort” scheme, generally only responding where the owner-builder had died, disappeared or become insolvent.

Under the new regime, eligible owner-builder works may instead fall under the new Statutory Insurance Scheme (SIS), which provides first-resort protection for purchasers.

🔹 What does this mean for vendors?

Owner-builders selling residential property may need to:

Confirm whether the statutory insurance requirements apply to the building works undertaken;
Arrange the required insurance before sale (where applicable);
Ensure the relevant insurance details are correctly disclosed in the Section 32 Vendor Statement.
🔹 Why is this important?

Incorrect disclosure or failing to address owner-builder obligations before marketing a property can cause delays, expose vendors to penalties, and may impact the enforceability of the sale process.

If you have completed renovations, extensions or building works as an owner-builder and are considering selling, we recommend obtaining legal advice early — ideally before the property is placed on the market.

📩 Contact our team if you need assistance preparing your Section 32 Vendor Statement or reviewing owner-builder obligations before sale.

06/08/2026

AI is changing workplace litigation—but not always for the better.

A recent article in the Australian Financial Review reports that self-represented employees bringing dismissal and workplace disputes in the Federal Court increased by 125% in the past year. General protections claims in the Federal Circuit Court also increased by almost 50%.

AI tools can help organise information and better understand legal concepts. However, they can also produce inaccurate legal arguments, invented authorities or evidence, unnecessarily lengthy documents and unrealistic expectations about the likely outcome of a claim.

For employers, even a poorly founded claim can require significant time and expense to address. For employees, relying on incorrect AI-generated material can damage an otherwise legitimate case and potentially expose them to adverse consequences.

AI can be a useful starting point, but it is not a substitute for advice based on the actual facts, evidence and applicable law.

If you are dealing with a dismissal, general protections claim or other workplace dispute, obtaining legal advice at an early stage can help identify the real issues and avoid unnecessary cost.

03/08/2026

🏡 SMSF residential property borrowing rules change on 10 August 2026 📅

⚠️ A significant change to the rules governing self-managed superannuation funds will take effect on 10 August 2026.

From that date, an SMSF will generally no longer be permitted to enter into a new limited recourse borrowing arrangement, commonly known as an LRBA, to acquire residential investment property. 🏠 New LRBAs involving real property will generally be limited to property that qualifies as “business real property”. 🏢

🔹 What happens to existing arrangements?

Existing residential property LRBAs entered into before the new rules commence are not automatically affected or required to be terminated. ✅

The transitional provisions may also protect an acquisition where the SMSF enters into the relevant binding property contract before 10 August 2026, even where:
• 📑 settlement takes place on or after 10 August 2026; or
• 📝 the associated LRBA is finalised after that date.

📌 The important date is therefore generally when the binding acquisition contract is entered into, rather than the settlement date.

⚠️ Anyone relying on the transitional provisions should take care to ensure that the contract is entered into by the correct purchasing entity and that the proposed SMSF and borrowing structure has been properly established. Merely obtaining finance pre-approval, establishing an SMSF or paying a holding deposit may not be sufficient.

✅ What will still be permitted?

The new rules do not prevent an SMSF from:
• 🏠 retaining residential property already acquired under an existing compliant LRBA;
• 💰 purchasing residential property outright using available SMSF funds, without borrowing;
• 🔄 refinancing certain existing protected borrowing arrangements, subject to the applicable requirements; or
• 🏢 using an LRBA to acquire property that satisfies the definition of business real property.

📌 This is not a blanket ban on SMSFs owning residential property. It is principally a restriction on entering into new borrowing arrangements to acquire residential property.

🤔 Considering a purchase before the deadline?

⏳ The approaching deadline should not be treated as a reason to rush into a property transaction. SMSF purchases and LRBAs involve strict legal, superannuation, taxation, lending and documentation requirements. Errors in the structure or contracting process may have serious consequences.

🤝 Trustees considering a transaction should promptly obtain coordinated legal, financial, taxation and lending advice specific to their circumstances.

⚖️ Scott Legal can assist with the property contract, conveyancing and legal documentation associated with an SMSF property acquisition.

ℹ️ This information is general in nature and current as at 2 August 2026. It does not constitute financial, taxation or legal advice specific to your circumstances.

09/07/2026

📢 Important Legal Update for Property Vendors & Builders (Victoria)

From 1 July 2026, significant changes will apply to owner-builder insurance requirements when acting for a vendor selling residential property.

Under the updated Victorian framework, vendors who have carried out owner-builder works will now need to ensure compliance with the Statutory Insurance Scheme (SIS) rather than the previous domestic building insurance requirements.

Key changes include:
• The insurance obligation shifts to compliance with the Statutory Insurance Scheme (SIS)
• The scheme operates as a first-resort insurance model, expanding potential coverage in certain circumstances
• The changes form part of broader reforms replacing the previous domestic building insurance framework with Home Warranty insurance reforms commencing 1 July 2026

These amendments will directly impact vendor disclosure obligations, particularly when preparing Section 32 statements and advising on contracts involving owner-builder works.

⚖️ If you are selling a property that involves owner-builder work, it is important to ensure insurance compliance is reviewed early to avoid delays or risk at settlement.

📞 For advice tailored to your matter, please contact our office.
https://lplc.com.au/resources/lplc-article/acting-for-a-vendor-changes-to-owner-builder-insurance-from-1-july-2026

06/07/2026

📢 Big changes for retirement village residents in Victoria

New laws are now changing how retirement villages operate across Victoria.

What this means for you:
🏡 New standard contracts (being introduced through to 31 August 2026)
📄 Clearer information before you sign
📊 Stronger rules around maintenance, repairs and village management
⏱ Changes to how and when you receive your exit entitlements

💡 Why it matters:
These changes are designed to give you more transparency and protection — but they may also affect your rights, costs, and what happens when you leave the village.

📞 Not sure how this affects you?
We can review your contract and explain your options in plain English.

Get in touch with our team for a chat.

Address

Suite 6027 Level 6/22 Synnot Street
Werribee, VIC
3030

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Website

http://www.scottlegal.com.au/

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