Jennifer Maher

Jennifer is a leading Trusts and Estates lawyer in Victoria. She has been involved in landmark cases, has a track record of achieving successful outcomes, with an unwavering focus on her client’s objectives.

The Law Institute of Victoria has also recognised Jennifer an Accredited Specialist in Wills and Estates. This accreditation is provided to lawyers who have demonstrated a high level of expertise after completing further study and assessments. Jennifer’s deep technical knowledge allows her to find solutions to even the most challenging and unique legal issues.

In Doyle’s Guide, Jennifer has been recognised by her peers as:

• a Leading Estates Litigation Lawyer in Victoria for nine years (2015 until 2022, 2024);
• a Recommended Estates Litigation Lawyer in Australia for three consecutive years (2020 until 2022); and
• a Leading Wills, Estates & Succession Planning Lawyer in Victoria for seven consecutive years (2018 until 2024).

Jennifer is a member of the Law Institute of Victoria’s Succession Law Executive Committee, the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, the Include a Charity Advisory Committee for the Fundraising Institute of Australia, and the Mornington Peninsula Legal Association (MPLA).

Jennifer leads our Trusts and Estates Specialists team.

Jennifer’s experience includes:

• achieving a successful outcome in one of the most significant trust dispute cases of the Victorian Supreme Court of Appeal in recent times: Owies v JJE Nominees Pty Ltd [2022] VSCA 142;
• advising on a significant number of Estate and Will dispute matters, including family provision claims, disputes involving the validity of a Will, removal of executor applications,  Will construction applications and other estate disputes;
• taking carriage of proceedings in the equity jurisdiction (including cy-près applications, family business disputes, trust disputes including provision of information to beneficiaries and removal of trustees, promissory estopplel claims, applications for judicial advice (for Estates and trusts) and misappropriation claims);
• estate planning for families with complex requirements;
• assisting families with the estate administration process;
• appearing (and advising) in the Victorian and Civil Administrative Tribunal for guardianship and administration matters including disputes involving attorneys and their conduct or the validity of an enduring power of attorney; and
• being appointed as a litigation guardian (for the protection of minor’s interests), an administrator of a person’s estate as appointed by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, an independent trustee of family trusts and a court appointed administrator of deceased estates.