Our Team

Eric Butler Co-Founder 

Consultant 

Between 2012 and 2022 I was a New South Wales Law Society Accredited Specialist in Wills and Estates Law. Currently my role is that of consultant to the practice assisting in cases when called upon go do so, however I have not renewed my Accredited Specialist status. We still Specialise in Will Contests in NSW, Queensland and Victoria with agents and alliances with some of the most respected lawyers in each State.  

After a combined period of over 70 years as lawyers and over 30 years’ working solely for clients in Will Contests we have been involved in over 5000 will contest cases, representing claimants and defendants at mediation or hearings; acting as supervisor and consultant to other solicitors; given thousands of pro bono hours advice to the public; given over 270 public seminars about contesting a will; been interviewed many times on radio and for print media as an expert in this field of law: Nearly all of my cases have settled successfully without the need for a court hearing.

We are also listed in Doyle’s Guide to the Best Lawyers in Australia as one of Sydney’s leading and recommended lawyers in Wills and Estates Litigation.

Joanne Butler BA LLB 

Company Director

I started working with my father, Eric, in 1992 and now have almost 30 years’ experience working in legal offices. I started as Eric’s secretary and later worked as a paralegal, while I studied for my Arts/Law at Newcastle University.  In 2006 I was admitted as a solicitor and since that time my work has been almost exclusively wills and estates law. We have a small practice with three fantastic, highly experienced support staff.  The only work we do, all day every day  is wills and estates. We have a panel of the very best barristers, all of whom specialise in will contest cases.

Throughout my career, I have had the benefit of mentoring from some of the most respected solicitors and barristers in wills and estates law including Eric. I’ve assisted many clients through, what is often a distressing situation, compounded by the grief of losing a loved one. I have learned over the years that combining my knowledge of the law with a commitment to forming a solid relationship with my clients from the outset is fundamental to a successful outcome. I aim to ensure our client’s experience is as stress-free as possible by offering my personal and professional support throughout the legal process.

Having worked in this area of law for a long time and on many cases, we are extremely familiar with the Court processes and are well regarded for our knowledge and experience in wills and estates law.  Through this knowledge and experience, we have been able to streamline our processes, which helps keeps our costs down.

I am committed to ongoing education in wills and estates law and I keep up to date by regular Wills and Estates seminars and conferences in NSW, Queensland and Victoria conducted by fellow specialist wills and estates members of the legal profession.

During my spare time, I love to hang out with my husband, our two daughters and our pet staffy. We love camping, swimming, surfing and working in our garden. I also enjoy exercise, especially yoga.

Alison Butler BA LLB LLM

Solicitor

I first learned about will disputes in the late 90s, as a 20-something law student working in my father’s legal practice. Since being admitted as a solicitor in 2005 I have focused solely on will dispute claims.

Estate law is in my family. My father is a well-known wills and estates specialist and my uncle and sister have also worked in the area. Family gatherings are often reduced to the lawyers boring the non-lawyers with talk of estate law.

The interesting thing about contesting wills is no two cases are alike. Everyone has a unique story. I've come to appreciate the importance of taking the time to fully comprehend each client's story and obtain the bigger picture - a crucial element to crafting a convincing claim.

When I tell people what I do for a living they often screw up their nose and say it sounds nasty. It can be. But mostly it’s just unfair. People in our society have the freedom to leave their assets to whomever they choose. That doesn’t mean they choose wisely. I see many wills that are both morally and legally irresponsible. Convincing a court what a 'wise and just testator' would and should have done in the circumstances, and getting a good result for my clients in the process, is extremely satisfying work.

Other than accumulating 20 years practice in estate disputes I have a Masters Degree in International Law. I worked in human rights, undertaking internships with the United Nations in New York and Mexico City. I later worked with a non-profit women’s rights organisation associated with the International Criminal Court in The Hague. All of this work was about helping people.

When my life brought me back to Australia I found a different way to help people, a way that is supported by my background, education and abilities. Now my aims are twofold: to continue to expand my knowledge about estate law and help my clients to obtain the best result in an efficient and cost-effective manner.