Archives May 2026

This article was written by Jialin Liu Solicitor and Nancy Wang Principal Solicitor at W & G Lawyers. 

When you are facing a legal problem — a disputed lease, an estate to organise, a property settlement after separation — it is natural to open an AI tool and type in your question. Within seconds you get something that sounds clear and structured, sometimes with section numbers and case names attached.

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Source: This article is translated and adapted from “Conflict Issues,” an English article written by our colleague at the Bar, Isaac Douglas of Counsel. The original appeared in the member contributions section of Roundtable, Autumn 2026.

This article was written by Melinda Gao Principal Solicitor at W & G Lawyers. 

In family law and other litigation matters, it is not uncommon for clients to change law firms. However, when a lawyer moves from one firm to another — particularly where that lawyer has previously had access to the opposing party’s case materials — whether the new firm may continue to act for its existing client often raises serious conflict-of-interest questions.

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This article was written by Melinda Gao Principal Solicitor at W & G Lawyers. 

Every time a client first approaches our firm, they are often “interrupted” by a series of questions: please present your identification, please confirm your details, please wait while we run a conflict-of-interest search. Some clients feel puzzled, or even a little annoyed, viewing this as bureaucratic red tape that slows down resolving their problem. But as practising lawyers, we want to say to every client in earnest: identity verification and conflict-of-interest checks are not only our legal obligation — they are the first line of defence protecting your own lawful rights and interests.

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This article was written by Simone Garcia Solicitor at W & G Lawyers.

When a legal dispute ends, the question of who pays for it is rarely an afterthought. Court cases can be expensive, and the party who succeeds will often want to recover what the case has cost them. This is where a costs order comes in. Understanding how costs orders work — how they are made, how the amount is worked out, and what happens if they go unpaid — can make a real difference to anyone involved in a court or tribunal matter in Queensland.

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This article was written by Nancy Wang Principal Solicitor at W & G Lawyers. 

When a company fails, the people it owes money to are often the ones left most in the dark. The directors step back, an outside professional — called an external administrator (an administrator or liquidator) — takes over the company’s records, and you, the creditor, still have to make hard decisions. Should you make a claim? Should you sue? Is it worth the money and effort? The law helps by giving you a right to ask for information, and a way to force the issue if you’re refused. Here’s how that works in Australia.

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This article was written by Nancy Wang Principal Solicitor at W & G Lawyers. 

Most people assume that if you go ahead with a deal knowing something is wrong, you’ve made your bed — you can’t complain about it later. A recent Queensland Supreme Court decision shows that’s not always how the law works. A buyer who knew about a serious problem with a property before it signed the contract still walked away and got its $275,000 deposit back. Here’s how, and what it means for anyone buying property.

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This article was written by Grace Blake Solicitor at W & G Lawyers. 

Life changes, and so do family relationships. Whether due to separation, estrangement, or shifting financial circumstances, many people at some stage consider whether they can remove a beneficiary from their Will.

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This article was written by Jialin Liu Solicitor at W & G Lawyers.

Many parents walk into a family law firm with the same opening line: “I want full custody” — or “My ex says the kids have to be split 50/50.” Behind both statements are misconceptions about Australian family law that are remarkably common, and that often make an already difficult situation harder than it needs to be.

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This article was written by Jialin Liu Solicitor at W & G Lawyers.

Following the release of the 2026 Australian Federal Budget and the latest Migration Program Planning Levels, skilled migration has once again become a major topic of discussion across Australia.

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This article was written by Nancy Wang Principal Solicitor at W & G Lawyers. 

On 12 May 2026, the Australian Government handed down the 2026–27 Federal Budget. The Budget sends a clear policy message: the Government intends to direct tax concessions, housing incentives, business support and skilled migration settings towards areas considered more productive for the Australian economy.

These include new housing supply, genuine business investment, skilled labour, and migrants who are able to make an immediate and meaningful contribution to Australia’s workforce and tax base.

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