Our lawyers are dedicated to helping charities, not-for-profit organisations and social enterprises meet their legal needs efficiently, effectively - and in a manner that enables them to accelerate and enhance their impact.
Anne Robinson AM
PartnerBA LLB (Hons) FAICD
Anne Robinson is the founder and a Partner of Prolegis Lawyers. Anne's areas of advice include corporate law, governance, charitable trust structuring and tax issues.
Anne has advised charities, not-for-profits and philanthropists on corporate law, governance, charitable trust structuring and tax issues across the whole range of Australia's charitable institutions.
She is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and also has had 40 years' experience in governance of not-for-profit organisations, including as director and board chair of several significant and well-known charities, including Australia’s largest international aid and development organisation.
Anne was Deputy Chair of the Not-for-Profit Sector Reform Council and a member of the NFP Tax Concession Working Group between 2008 and 2013, and the Australian Taxation Office Not-for-Profit Stewardship Group from 2016 - 2022 . Anne is a member of the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Professional Users Group and founder and Chair of the Charity Law Association of Australia and New Zealand 2009 - 2021.
Anne’s expertise is sought by organisations across the country and is a highly regarded speaker and presenter.
Anne holds a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws (Hons) from Macquarie University.
Jon Cheung
PartnerBMedSc LLB LLM GAICD
Jon specialises in protecting the interests of charities and not-for-profits through his work in the areas of governance, operational and contractual arrangements, and dispute resolution.
Jon is an experienced lawyer with a background in corporate and commercial law. He advises charities, not-for-profits, and philanthropists across governance and operational areas. He provides advice to program managers, senior executives, CEOs and boards. As Managing Partner, Jon also oversees the strategic direction and business of the firm.
With a special interest in cross-cultural issues, Jon previously worked in an aid and development organisation in Mpumalanga, South Africa operating in communities across the region in response to issues arising from the effects of AIDS/HIV.
Jon holds a Bachelor of Medical Science and Bachelor of Law from the University of Technology, Sydney and a Master of Law from the University of Sydney. He is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and completed courses for executives at Harvard Business School and the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Jon currently serves on the board of Philanthropy Australia as chair of their finance and risk committee, the board of an independent school and the Asia Pacific Regional Board of the Global Alliance of Impact Lawyers.
Sam Burnett
PartnerB.Media LLB
Sam specialises in safeguarding, and has particular expertise assisting charities and not-for-profits implement systems to minimise risk to children and comply with regulatory and other reporting obligations.
Sam joined Prolegis in early 2018.
Sam specialises in safeguarding, and has particular expertise assisting charities and not-for-profits implement systems to minimise risk to children and comply with regulatory and other reporting obligations.
Sam also has particular expertise advising on complaint-handing and disciplinary matters within complex governance structures, including in the context of church law.
In addition to safeguarding, Sam assists charities and not-for-profits navigate their responsibilities under discrimination and privacy law, as well as advising on challenging disputes, regulatory investigations, and public inquiries.
Prior to working with Prolegis Lawyers, Sam worked as a senior lawyer with the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse on public hearings focused on religious institutions. Sam was a contributing writer of the religious organisations volume of the final report, and was involved in the development of recommendations for religious institutions.
Sam holds a Bachelor of Media and a Bachelor of Laws from Macquarie University.
Tina Lee
PartnerB.Sc LLB (Hons) GAICD
Tina advises in relation to re-structures, mergers, transfers of registration of incorporated associations, corporate governance, compliance and strategy, and tax matters.
Tina joined Prolegis Lawyers in 2013 and became a partner of the firm in 2023. Tina advises charities and not-for-profits in respect of restructures including mergers and disaggregations. She advises on corporate governance matters and has extensive experience in preparing and updating constitutions for new charities and not-for-profits as well as constitutions in the context of compliance reviews and restructure/merger matters. She also advises clients in the schools and disability sectors including in relation to the NDIS.
Prior to joining Prolegis, Tina worked at a major Australian law firm, first in the property team advising on real estate development matters including acquisition of property, property finance law and hotel and tourism law, and later in corporate law as a member of the merger and acquisitions team. As a senior practitioner, she advised on legal issues affecting the firm and its associated entities, particularly in the areas of contract and commercial law.
Tina is on the board of an independent girls’ school in Sydney and is a member of the Charity Law Association of Australia and New Zealand (CLAANZ).
Tina holds a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) from the University of Sydney and a Bachelor of Science in undergraduate business studies from Cornell University.
Murray Baird
ConsultantBA LLB FAICD
Murray joined Prolegis Lawyers as a Consultant in 2021 and was formerly Assistant Commissioner General Counsel at the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission.
Murray was the inaugural Assistant Commissioner and General Counsel at the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission 2012-2019 where he was responsible for registrations, compliance, reporting, legal and policy functions of the ACNC.
Prior to that he was Senior Partner and Chair of Moores Legal, Melbourne 1985-2012 and led the Not-for-profit group at that firm.
Murray is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors where he was on the steering committee for the development of the AICD Not for Profit Governance Principles 2019. He is a Director of the Charity Law Association of Australia and New Zealand, a Member of the Legal Services Council which oversees the regulatory framework for lawyers in Australia, and a member of the Charities and Not for profits committees of the Law Institute of Victoria and the Law Council of Australia.
He has completed studies in advanced mediation at Bond University and the Strategic Management Program at Harvard University Extension School.
He is Adjunct Professor at the University of Western Australia Law School and a Senior Fellow at the University of Melbourne Law School where he teaches charity law and policy.
John King
ConsultantBA LLB (Hons) LLM CTA
John joined Prolegis Lawyers as a consultant in September 2011 after 31 years as a Tax Partner at Mallesons.
After joining Mallesons Stephen Jaques in 1972, John became a tax partner in the firm in 1979 and remained in this position until his retirement on 31 December 2010 when he joined Prolegis as a consultant
From 1986-88 he was the resident partner in the firm’s then representative office in New York. During his 31 years as a tax partner at Mallesons, John's practice focused mostly on domestic and cross-border financial services and capital markets transactions and products, inbound and outbound investment, and trusts and partnerships. On many occasions he successfully lobbied the federal Government, Treasury and Parliament to have pending or existing tax legislation amended.
Throughout John's professional career, and especially over the last decade, he also advised on complex tax and related issues affecting charities, universities, cultural bodies, sporting clubs, other not-for-profit entities (amongst them, some iconic NSW institutions) and the philanthropic sector generally.
John holds a Bachelor of Arts Law (Hons) from the University of Sydney and a Master of Laws from the London School of Economics.
Peter Wilson
ConsultantB.Comm LLB CAHRI
Peter has over 30 years’ experience advising organisations on Employment and Workplace law issues and as a Human Resources Executive in a range of organisations.
Peter has over 30 years’ experience advising organisations on Employment/Workplace law issues and as a Human Resources Executive in a range of organisations.
He specialises in providing legal advice and consulting services to organisations on the full range of employment related matters (including restructuring, mergers, contracts, policies, terminations, discipline, investigations, discrimination, injured workers, dispute resolution).
Peter has a particular interest and expertise in developing fit-for-purpose human resources management systems and procedures that enable organisations to minimise risks in people-related matters. He also brings considerable experience in helping organisations undertaking significant change.
Peter is a trusted adviser on people-related issues in not-for-profit entities. He has served on the board of a not-for-profit entity engaged in community development work in Western Uganda and is a member of a group that trains and equips church leaders in Vanuatu.
Peter has a Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Law from the University of New South Wales. He is also a Chartered Member of the Australian Human Resources Institute, has been an accredited Workplace Mediator and holds a Graduate Diploma in Christian Counselling.
David Wells
ConsultantBA LLB
Prior to joining Prolegis Lawyers as a consultant in July 2023, David was in-house counsel with an Australian Fund Manager, a specialist in commercial litigation and Managing Principal with a well established law firm.
David qualified to practise as a lawyer in 1984 and in 1993, he was accredited as a specialist in commercial litigation. He became a partner of Melbourne legal practice, Moores in 1999 and following a management restructure in 2007, he was appointed as its first Managing Principal.
Since finishing at Moores in 2020, David has consulted to professional knowledge firms eager to explore business model transformation based on the creation of client value.
Prior to joining Prolegis Lawyers as a consultant in July 2023, David was in-house counsel with Prime Value, an Australian Fund Manager, for two years.
He is a Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia and in recognition of his contribution to assisting professionals with business model transformation, he was appointed as a Senior Fellow of the Verasage Institute in November 2019
Emma Hodgson
Special CounselBA LLB (Hons)
Emma has extensive experience advising corporate, private and government clients on a broad range of real estate matters, including acquisition and disposals, due diligence and the property aspects of M&A activity.
Emma joined Prolegis Lawyers in 2017. Prior to joining Prolegis, Emma worked in the corporate real estate groups at leading top tier law firms in both Sydney and London and at a boutique law firm in Sydney. Emma has extensive experience advising corporate, private and government clients on a broad range of real estate matters including acquisitions and disposals of commercial, industrial, retail and residential properties, the property aspects of corporate mergers and acquisitions, leasing negotiations, purchaser and vendor due diligence investigations and other general commercial and property matters.
Emma has a special interest in disability issues having acted as principal solicitor of the Disability Discrimination Legal Centre in Kingsford and as a volunteer for Association for Children with a Disability NSW.
Emma was admitted as a solicitor in 2000 and holds a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Sydney. She is a member of the Charity Law Association of Australia and New Zealand.
Stephanie Judd
Senior AssociateLLB BA (Hons I)
Stephanie assists clients with the establishment and governance of charitable and not-for-profit entities, advising on various corporate governance issues, tax concessions, regulatory compliance, and disputes.
Stephanie assists clients with the establishment and governance of charitable and not-for-profit entities, advising on various corporate governance issues, tax concessions, regulatory compliance, and disputes.
Prior to joining Prolegis, she worked in a major Australian law firm in the banking & finance team, with a focus on social finance and impact investment, before reading theological studies at the University of Oxford.
Grace Park
Senior AssociateBA Juris Doctor
Grace specialises in advising clients on establishment, corporate and tax structuring, governance, charity registration, endorsement for tax concessions and DGR status and stamp duty exemptions. Grace is committed to providing high quality legal advice that is fit-for-purpose and helps further their goals and mission.
Grace joined Prolegis Lawyers in early 2017.
She advises charities, not-for-profit organisations and philanthropic foundations in areas relating to their establishment, corporate and tax structuring, governance, charity registration, endorsement for tax concessions and deductible gift recipient (DGR) status, stamp duty exemptions, and related legal compliance issues.
Prior to joining Prolegis Lawyers, Grace worked at a major Australian law firm in Melbourne. She has also worked overseas, including working for the United Nations Khmer Rouge Tribunal and International Labour Organisation in Phnom Penh and other legal centres in Seoul and London.
With a strong interest in the work of organisations in the charity and not-for-profit sector, Grace is committed to providing high quality legal advice that is fit-for-purpose and helps further their goals and mission.
Grace holds a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology, Criminology) and a Juris Doctor, both from the University of Melbourne.
Emma Kostas
Senior AssociateBA LLB (Hons)
Emma specialises in the areas of charity establishment, deductible gift recipient endorsement, re-structures, and corporate governance matters. She is passionate about ensuring that her clients have a fit for purpose legal structure and governing documents to facilitate their good work and has particular experience in preparing constitutions and board policies.
Emma has worked at Prolegis since mid-2018 in the Melbourne office.
She specialises in the areas of charity establishment, deductible gift recipient endorsement, re-structures, and corporate governance matters. Emma is passionate about ensuring that her clients have a fit for purpose legal structure and governing documents to facilitate their good work and has particular experience in preparing constitutions and board policies.
Emma collaborates with others in the charity and not-for-profit sector by assisting the Law Council of Australia Charities and Not-for-profits Committee and speaking at national and international conferences.
Emma holds a Bachelor of Arts (International Relations) and a Bachelor of Laws (Honours).
Allison Strickland
AssociateBA LLB (Hons) GAICD
Allison specialises in advising clients on corporate law and governance (including constitutions and governing documents), mergers, organisational structures, regulatory investigations and compliance.
Allison specialises in advising clients on corporate law and governance (including constitutions and governing documents), mergers, organisational structures, regulatory investigations and compliance.
Allison has a keen interest in good governance and has put this into practice in her extensive volunteer work with many not-for-profit community organisations.
Allison was admitted as a solicitor in 2007 and holds a Bachelor of Arts (English) and a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) from the University of Sydney and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (Order of Merit).
Sarah Ryan
AssociateLLB
Sarah assists clients in the areas of safeguarding, governance, regulatory compliance and disputes. She has particular expertise in assisting schools to comply with meeting their legislative and regulatory obligations.
Sarah joined Prolegis as a Law Graduate in 2022.
She now works as a solicitor advising on corporate law and governance, regulatory compliance, safeguarding, and disputes. Sarah is committed to assisting charities and not-for-profits achieve their purposes by providing quality legal advice and assistance.
Sarah holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of New England.
William Messer
SolicitorBA LLB
William assists clients in the areas of charity and not-for-profit establishment, mergers and restructures, tax exemption and deductibility and all aspects of maintaining healthy and trusted organisations.
William joined Prolegis in 2021.
William assists clients in the areas of charity and not-for-profit establishment, mergers and restructures, tax exemption and deductibility and all aspects of maintaining healthy and trusted organisations.
William holds a Bachelor of Arts (History) and Bachelor of Laws from Deakin University.
Maddie Crethar
SolicitorBA LLB (Hons I)
Maddie works in the areas of charity and not-for-profit establishment, organisational structures, regulatory compliance and policy review.
Maddie joined Prolegis as a Paralegal in 2019 while completing her studies at Macquarie University.
She now works as a Solicitor in the areas of charity and not-for-profit establishment and registration, restructures, dispute resolution, regulatory compliance and policy and contract review. With a strong interest in organisations that seek to do meaningful work, Maddie is committed to helping them achieve their purposes through quality legal advice and assistance.
Maddie holds a Bachelor of Arts (English) and a Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours).
Katelyn Thierry
SolicitorBA LLB GDLP
Katelyn assists clients in the areas of charity and not-for profit establishment, re-structuring, registration and endorsement for tax concessions, including Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR).
Katelyn was admitted to practise in Victoria in October 2022. She has experience in leading and serving in community organisations and undertook a board internship on a not-for-profit board receiving training and gaining experience of governance structures and processes in the not-for-profit sector.
Within the firm she assists clients in the areas of charity and not-for profit establishment, re-structuring, registration and endorsement for tax concessions, including Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR). Katelyn has also advised on a range of commercial legal problems including mergers and acquisitions, leases, license agreements and intellectual property.
Katelyn completed her studies at Deakin University where she was awarded the Dean’s Merit List Award for Academic Excellence, graduating with a Bachelor of Laws (Distinction) and a Bachelor of Arts (Distinction), specialising in History and Politics and Policy Studies.
Caleb Simmons
SolicitorBTh JD GDLP
Caleb assists clients with disputes, regulatory compliance and regulatory investigations, and advises on the establishment and governance of charitable and not-for-profit entities, including corporate governance issues and tax concessions.
Caleb graduated with a Juris Doctor from the University of Western Australia in 2021 and was admitted as a lawyer in Western Australia in February 2022.
Before joining Prolegis, Caleb worked for a boutique Commercial Law firm in Perth where he advised on a range of commercial legal problems and provided litigation services to clients appearing in the Court of Appeal, Supreme Court, Magistrates Court and Industrial Relations Commission.
Prior to becoming a lawyer, Caleb was a Youth Pastor in Perth for several years and worked for a large national charity. Caleb's interest in the law relating to charities led him to recently publish an article on governance in religious charities in the Australian Journal of Corporate Law (2022, Volume 37(3)).
Tess Shirley
SolicitorBA LLB (Hons I)
Tess works in the areas of charity and not-for-profit establishment, regulatory compliance, governance, property and disputes.
Tess was admitted to the Supreme Court of NSW in December 2022. Prior to joining Prolegis, Tess worked as a paralegal with a not-for-profit community organisation, the Refugee Advice and Casework Service (RACS), and helped to provide legal services for refugees living in Australia. Tess has also worked as a solicitor in personal injury law, specialising in historical institutional abuse matters.
Tess completed her studies at Macquarie University in 2021 where she graduated with a Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours) and a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology).
Frances Amato
Law GraduateBA JD
Frances completed her Juris Doctor at the University of Melbourne at the end of 2021 and is in the process of completing her Practical Legal Training.
Frances came to law later, initially studying history and spending some time living and working abroad in Edinburgh, Scotland.