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Firm Profile
Forum Law is a full-service commercial and property law practice, based in Leichhardt. Our core practice areas include conveyancing, retail and commercial leasing, property law, litigation, and general matters regarding commercial law. Our team includes a principal and senior lawyer, Annette Fontana, another senior solicitor, a junior solicitor, a paralegal, and an office manager who is also admitted to practice. If successful in this tender, we will engage more staff to meet your needs as required.
Staff
Annette Fontana, Principal of Forum Law
Annette was admitted as a solicitor in 1991. Over the past twenty one years, her clients have included small, medium and large firms throughout Sydney, publicly listed companies, government departments and external administrators of companies. She is experienced in commercial property law and commercial litigation, and regularly advises on conveyancing, commercial and retail leasing and development projects for private, corporate and government clients.
Education: BA Dip Law, LLM, Graduate Member of the Australia Institute of Company Directors. Annette majored in corporate and trade practices law in her Masters Degree, and completed a course in Negotiation for Lawyers at Harvard University, Boston in 2008.
Previous firms include: Shailer, Dawson & Hickey (now Atkinson & Vinden), Gadens Lawyers, Leigh Adams Lawyers and Brown & Partners.
Management experience: Annette has been the director of Forum Law for six years. She actively supervises all staff in all matters.
Groups and associations: Annette engages with many businesses through networking events and meetings for the NSW Law Society; Australian Institute of Company Directors; Housing Industry Association of Australia, Women on Boards and other groups.
Annette has been a speaker for the Law Society's Speaker's Bureau for many years and is happy to speak to groups in the areas of commercial and private law including corporations, trade practices, debt recovery and property law as well as wills, powers of attorney and estate planning matters. She has been an active member of the Law Society's Inner West branch since 2006 arranging for speakers and presenting seminars for her legal colleagues in the Inner West. Annette has been a member of the Law Society's Business Law Committee since 2011 where she participates in the drafting of policy and submissions for law reform.
Andrew Lozynsky, Senior Lawyer
Andrew has worked with Forum Law since 2006, and is a corporate and commercial lawyer in a variety of areas including commercial litigation, insolvency and contractual disputes. He has also acted for clients in property and family law matters.
Prior to his admission as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of New South Wales in 1994, Andrew acquired litigation and commercial law experience working in a boutique city law firm, which specialised in commercial litigation and insolvency law.
Andrew has a particular focus on commercial and insolvency law, having acted for a broad range of clients including liquidators, voluntary administrators, bankruptcy trustees, creditors, debtors, directors, companies (including publicly listed) and business owners.
Gareth Hipwell, Junior Lawyer
Gareth has been a full-time solicitor with Forum Law since his admission to practice in May 2011, having worked previously for us as a paralegal since November 2007. Previously Gareth worked in the general claims section of a major general insurance company. Gareth holds a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws double-degree from Macquarie University, including first-class honours in Law. Gareth received 3 University prizes from Macquarie University on his graduation, including the prestigious Dean’s Award.
As a solicitor with Forum Law, Gareth has assisted clients in a range of property transactions including sales and purchases, leasing, strata subdivisions and off-the-plan sales, and has acted for clients in the Consumer Trader and Tenancy Tribunal and the Local and Supreme Courts. In addition, Gareth has assisted clients with probate and estate distribution, debt recovery and a range of commercial agreements.
Gareth is instrumental in writing Forum Law’s Newsletters, and he has presented a paper to clients about the PPSA. He is continuing to develop his skills and knowledge in all areas including a special interest in property law, building and construction, planning and development.
Karen Schmitzer, Office Manager and Paralegal
Karen is the Office Manager of Forum Law. Karen was admitted to practice in 2000 and worked as a commercial lawyer in both small and medium Sydney CBD firms until leaving the workforce to raise her two young boys.
With previous experience working in legal accounts combined with her legal knowledge, Karen joined Forum Law in October 2011 and she runs our accounts, and all office operations as well as assisting Annette, Gareth and Andrew with commercial and property matters. Karen will soon be obtaining her practising certificate and become more involved in legal matters as and when required.
Aaron Church, Paralegal
Aaron is a recent law graduate from the University of Western Sydney who joined Forum law in February 2013. Aaron is currently completing the Practical Legal Training requirements of the Legal Profession Admissions Board to enable him to seek admission as a solicitor in the near future. His interests include litigation, consumer, commercial and administrative law as well as all aspects of property transactions and estate planning.
