Father & Daughter
Eric Butler Solicitor
Consultant.
Now a consultant, however between 2012 and 2022 I was a New South Wales Law Society Accredited Specialist in Wills and Estates Law and 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. As an Accredited Specialist I have been judged by my peers to have outstanding capability in Wills and Estates Law. As with all Accredited Specialist lawyers I have passed rigorous tests and assessments to be given that title. We are constantly dealing with cases listed in the Supreme Courts in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. It's the only legal work we do.
After 40 years a lawyer and over 25 years’ working solely for clients in Will Contests I’ve 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.
I am 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 and I am a Full Member of the International Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners which describes it's Full Members as "internationally recognised practitioners as experts in their field, with proven qualifications and experience".
As for my social activities my wife, Helen and I, have five children between us and share five grandchildren. We both go to the gym and like swimming, hiking and bush walking. I play golf and piano and Helen loves to paint. The walls in our home are full of Helen's paintings.
Joanne Butler Solicitor 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.
