History,
in the making.

Kelly completed her Commerce/Accounting degree at Adelaide University.  She has also completed her qualifications at the Institute of Chartered Accountants and her MBA.

Kelly has a background in Agriculture and Grain Trading, working in the finance team of  ASX listed, and large global companies before started her own bookkeeping and finance consulting business in 2016.

With exposure to different industries (not for profits, medical, construction, architecture, logistics, professional services and startups), Kelly ensures Sanicki Lawyer is up to date with the latest finance systems and processes.

Kelly is known to be a bit of a coffee snob (lucky she lives in Melbourne) and loves to chill out at a local café with a good book in hand.

Practising primarily in defamation law and commercial law, Jonathan prides himself in providing thorough guidance and reassurance to his clients during all stages of complex legal matters.

He has acted in defamation matters involving all kinds of print and online publications, including in major daily newspapers and on social media. With a commercially minded approach to dispute resolution, he has consistently achieved successful outcomes for aggrieved parties before needing to commence legal proceedings, as well as cheap and timely resolution of defended matters for publishers. Jonathan’s comprehensive understanding of defamation law enables him to advocate fiercely for clients on either side of defamation matters.

At the same time, Jonathan is experienced in a broad range of commercial law areas, including business sales and acquisitions, retail and commercial leasing, business structuring and commercial disputes. He is a trusted advisor to a diverse range of clients, from sole traders to medium-sized enterprises, and is adept at handling complex transactions with bespoke contracts. Working closely with his clients across a variety of industries including retail, hospitality, manufacturing, health and media, Jonathan is attentive to each of their commercial and personal objectives, while providing them with dedicated and reliable representation.

Holding a combined Bachelor of Laws (with Honours) and Bachelor of Music degrees from Monash University, Jonathan is also a classically trained pianist and composer. When not immersed in the analysis of defamatory imputations, you’ll find him at the piano, preparing for his next concert.

Stephanie is a Senior Associate Family Lawyer – and is the Head of the Sanicki Lawyers Family Law Team.

Stephanie has over 10 years of experience helping separated couples resolve disputes regarding parenting and property matters. She has extensive experience in all areas of family law including Family Dispute Resolution Conferences, Conciliation Conferences, Recovery Orders, Parentage testing, Spousal Maintenance, negotiated settlements, family violence and other risk-related matters, Binding Financial Agreements, Child Support matters – plus litigation in the Family Court of Australia and Federal Circuit Court of Australia.

Stephanie brings a diverse background of practice – including previously representing legally aided applicants as well as privately funded clients. She enjoys a productive and successful working relationship with clients as well as professional colleagues such as Barristers, psychologists and psychiatrists, expert property valuers and forensic accountants.

Stephanie prides herself on realistic and practical advice; plus strong Court advocacy skills with excellent outcomes for clients at competitive prices. She regularly receives referrals from past satisfied clients and professional associates.   Having Stephanie join the Sanicki Lawyers Team means that we can offer an even greater, and fully comprehensive, range of services to all our valued clients.

Peter joined Sanicki Lawyers in May 2019 as Special Counsel.

He brings with him over 40 years’ experience as a Commercial Lawyer and is an Accredited Commercial Law Specialist.

Previously, Peter worked with a number of prestigious city legal firms, including Browne & Co (when they were AFL’s Lawyers), Mills Oakley and Marshalls & Dent.

Peter specialises in most aspects of Commercial Law including:

• Mergers & Acquisition
• Shareholder and Business Succession Agreements
• Business set-up & Restructure
• Franchising
• Commercial Disputes, including Alternative Dispute Resolution
• Insolvency
• Commercial Leasing

Peter also specialises in:

• Estate Planning,  including drafting  Wills,  Enduring Powers of Attorney and Appointments of a Medical Decision Maker
•  Acting in connection with deceased estates including obtaining Grants of Probate

Moira holds a Bachelor of Contemporary Music, Bachelor of Laws and joined Sanicki Lawyers in 2011. Specialising in entertainment and intellectual property law, Moira has a passion for working with creatives across a range of industries, with a focus on music, fashion, gaming and start-ups.

Moira represents some of Australia’s best-known music makers, as well as artist managers, record labels, producers, music festivals, ticketing providers and has acted for the artists on The Voice and X-Factor.

With expertise in the area of Trade Marks law, Moira maintains the local and international Trade Mark portfolios for a range of high profile commercial and entertainment clients and regularly advises on Trade Mark related matters, including oppositions, co-existence agreements and Trade Mark disputes.

Moira serves as Chair on the Board of youth music organisation, The Push, and has served on the Board of Victoria’s peak contemporary music body, Music Victoria. She regularly volunteers her time as a pro-bono lawyer for Arts Law Centre of Australia, BIGSOUND and Changes festival.

Paul joined Sanicki Lawyers as a consultant in 2015.

Notwithstanding that Paul completed his law degree in 1975, he was a full time performer / recording artist /songwriter for more than a decade during the 70’s and 80’s. He recorded with Festival Records, released a couple of albums and singles, toured with the likes of Cliff Richard, wrote songs for local and international artists, and generally “lived the life”.

Paul’s career took a turn in the mid 80’s when he was asked to join Fable Music as a publisher where he successfully pitched songs to John Farnham, Daryl Braithwaite and many international artists who recorded songs pitched by Paul from the Fable catalogue.

In the early 90’s, Paul managed Tommy Emmanuel, The Badloves, Debra Byrne and Russell Morris and also during that time managed Paul Dainty’s publishing company Marble Music.

Paul returned to law practice in the mid 1990’s and has since acted as legal adviser in the entertainment industry to a variety of the major and independent bands and performers, producers, songwriters and record labels in Australia ranging from Tex Perkins, Havana Brown, Ella Hooper, Megan Washington, Nathaniel, and British India to Russell Morris, Renee Geyer, Daryl Braithwaite, James Reyne and many others.

Darren completed his law degree with honours at Monash University in 2003 and has also completed post graduate courses in copyright law, trade marks, intellectual property, and industrial designs. Darren also holds a Bachelor of Economics degree from Latrobe University.

Darren’s legal career was forged at Marshalls & Dent Lawyers where he worked in areas including: residential and commercial conveyancing, business sales and acquisitions, commercial leases, corporate restructuring, and civil litigation. He was made a senior associate after three years.

As a one-time musician, Darren used his networks in Melbourne’s music scene, to commence and expand his music and entertainment client base while continuing to work in areas of commercial and property law.

Since opening the firm in 2009 (originally Darren Sanicki Lawyers), Darren has consolidated a substantial entertainment industry client base representing some of Australia’s best known bands, artists and creative businesses.

Darren has been selected by the Artists from The Voice for all 5 Seasons as their legal representative having previously represented contestants from X-Factor and Australian Idol.  He has represented clients in high profile litigious matters including the current Federal Court Case concerning a legend of the Australian music scene and the fixing of a statutory licence for use of an iconic song for the services of the Commonwealth. Darren also successfully represented Michael Barker (Split Enz) in a defamation action against News Ltd and Today Tonight.

Darren also has a substantial commercial client base comprising creative and corporate businesses including Moshtix, Windor Smith, Medical One, Strikeforce AMC, Wesley College and the  Meatball & Wine Bar.

Darren also volunteers his services as a pro-bono solicitor for the Arts Law Centre of Australia and is a 3 time recipient of the Arts Law Pro Bono award.

Darren is a board member of The Push, a not-for profit Government funded Victorian youth music organisation, and has held the role of Chairman since 2007. In 2010, Darren was a founding board member of Music Victoria, Victoria’s peak contemporary music industry body, leading the fight to preserve the Victoria’s live music scene and the general rights and well being of musicians. Darren has also taught in the Music Business and Music Law degrees at Victoria University.

Notwithstanding any of this, Darren is still best known for having a song he co-penned, “More Than A Game” used as the theme song for Channel 9’s The Footy Show for the past 23 years!