In a bumper round of promotions, Madgwicks is delighted to promote five of its extraordinary young talents in recognition of their expertise and dedication to the firm and its clients. Chris Vlahos, Aleksandar Kovaceski, Bethany Visser, Melissa Passarelli and Alexandra Lawrence have been promoted effective 1 June 2022.
This next generation of legal experts come from all practice areas of the firm and have demonstrated outstanding service to both the firm and its clients along with a high level of skill and competence in their respective practice areas.
Promoted Lawyers
Chris Vlahos | Special Counsel | Property Team
Chris is a commercially astute and experienced property lawyer with considerable experience that includes sale and purchase of residential and commercial property, preparing deeds of variation and cancellation; reviewing and drafting master off the plan land and building contracts; retail and commercial leasing, deeds of variation, renewals and surrenders; acting for Landlords in relation to property re-entries; advising property developers in relation to restrictive covenants and their variation/removal; and drafting loan agreements, general security agreements and mortgages. Chris regularly works with business owners, private investors and high net worth individuals. Chris has been a valuable member of the Property team since joining us in 2020.
Aleksandar Kovaceski | Senior Associate | Litigation Team
Aleksandar has experience working across an array of disputes including contractual, retail and commercial leasing, employment law, property, shareholder, and trust disputes with a particular interest in building and construction disputes. With this extensive experience in commercial disputes, Aleksandar has advised both singular shareholders and directors as well as companies and businesses.
Aleksandar also has extensive insolvency expertise with experience that includes representing liquidators and administrators, receivers or managers as well as creditors and third parties with an interest in the administration or liquidation of a company.
Bethany Visser | Senior Associate | Property Team
Bethany has experience with acquisitions and dispositions of both residential and commercial property, existing and off-the-plan transactions, preparation of subdivision applications and partition agreements and building disputes.
In addition, Bethany has experience in adverse possession claims, advises on disputes involving owners’ corporations as well as expertise in applications as to removal of title encumbrances and warnings, including covenants, easements and caveats.
Melissa Passarelli | Senior Associate | Litigation Team
Melissa is an experienced litigator who had successfully advised clients across a range of disputes including commercial, contractual, trusts, employment, franchising and defamation proceedings. She regularly advises on wills and estates disputes including Part IV applications and applications to revoke wills. Often called upon to provide advice in property disputes, Melissa assists clients with owners’ corporation disputes and commercial and retail leasing disputes.
In addition to litigation and disputes expertise, Melissa also regularly acts in insolvency matters advising both liquidators and individuals on all aspects of corporate insolvency and personal bankruptcy.
Alexandra Lawrence | Associate | Litigation Team
Alexandra has been involved in a variety of cases; from those dealing with the proceeds of crime through to prosecutions involving unsafe workplace practices, insolvency matters and property, contractual and trust disputes.
Alexandra has appeared in VCAT, the Magistrates Court, County Court, Supreme Court of Victoria, and the Federal Circuit Court on many matters, also both with and without counsel.
