Strata and Company Title
OUR EXPERIENCE
Carneys’ property lawyers are experienced in advising clients in relation to the ownership of units, whether they are registered as part of a strata scheme or as company title.
Over the past 25 years, the number of Australians living in apartments has increased by 78%. High density living has a number of benefits, but also can present challenges when dealing with neighbours or an owners corporation.
A neighbor may be jeopardizing your safety or disturbing your comfort, or your owners corporation might be failing to maintain common property. Worst of all, the building in which you have purchased may have defects which are not being properly rectified.
Whatever the reason, there are times where it feels like the dream of home ownership is turning into a nightmare. Before this happens, you need experienced strata lawyers in your corner.
“Carneys Lawyers acted for the owners corporation of the apartment I live in in a building defect dispute. I was impressed by the clarity of their advice - and that they were able to start proceedings urgently in the face of a tight deadline.”
“Carneys prepared an exclusive use by-law for my renovation. They made the process smooth and effortless for me. A great outcome.”
Our Work
Acting for the owners corporation of a large residential building in NCAT proceedings against a building claiming a work order (an alternatively) damages for defective building work.
Home Building Act Claim
Advising a client in relation to an AGM, which was said to be convened invalidly.
Strata Committee Dispute
Advising lot owners in respect the owners corporation’s duty to maintain common property pursuant to section 106 of the Strata Schemes Management Act.
Common Property Maintenance Dispute
Services
At Carney’s, we offer expert legal services to help you navigate the complexities of
owning strata and company title property. Our strata specialist lawyers are
experienced in issues relating to Home Building Act defects claims, disputes
concerning by-laws and disputes between lot owners and owners corporations.
As a firm, we are small by design. We pride ourselves on our ability to work closely
with our clients rather than providing impersonal advice that isn’t tailored to your
situation. In other words, working with Carney’s means working with a strata lawyer
who is with you every step of the way.
Our experienced strata lawyers can help your strata plan or community title run
smoothly and effectively. Where possible, our strata lawyers seek resolutions that are
both amicable and give you the very best outcome by:
- Assessing, drafting, and enforcing by-laws
- Liaising with strata managers to address and solve strata issues
- Negotiating building management agreements
- Amending building / strata management statements
- Assisting with insurance issues
STRATA DISPUTES
As the adage goes, good walls make good neighbours. When things start to break
down, a Carney’s strata dispute lawyer can help you by:
- Acting for both owners corporations and lot owners to resolve strata disputes
- Where a dispute cannot be resolved, commencing proceedings in NCAT or
the Supreme Court of New South Wales
In addition to our standard strata and community title services, we can help you by:
- Assisting in conveyancing matters
- Leasing and licensing assistance
- Reviewing / amending community, building and strata management statements
Whether you are an owner-occupier of your forever home, have dipped your toes in
the market for the first time, or own your unit as part of a diversified portfolio, we can
give you expert advice and, flowing from this, peace of mind.
Wallace Meakes
PARTNER
Property Law Specialist
Nathan Wrench
Associate
Specializes in Property and Civil Dispute Matters
Arthur Carney
PARTNER
Leader of the Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution team
Arthur Carney
PARTNER
Leader of the Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution team
QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor of Laws University of Sydney
Master of Laws
London School of Economics and Political Science
ACCREDITATIONS
Accredited Specialist in Commercial Litigation
- t. (02) 8226 5555
- e. acarney@carneys.com.au
Arthur leads the Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution team and has extensive experience in the New South Wales Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, Federal Court and High Court. He was admitted to practice as a lawyer in 1977. In November 1984, he was admitted to the degree of Master of Laws by the London School of Economics and Political Science (University of London).
In September 1995 Arthur was certified as an Accredited Specialist in Commercial Litigation by the Law Society of New South Wales. There are 101 Accredited Specialists in the field of Commercial Litigation, selected from over 32,000 legal practitioners in New South Wales. He is the Chairman of the Law Society Specialist Accreditation Commercial Litigation Committee. This Committee sets and marks the examination and assessment process for lawyers seeking specialist accreditation in the field of commercial litigation.
Arthur’s areas of practice include:
- Contractual Disputes
- Corporations – Directors & Officers Duties and Liabilities
- Corporate Recovery & Insolvency
- Property Disputes
- Trade Practices
- Class Actions
- Insurance and Common Law Litigation
- Wills and Succession Act Disputes
- Mediation
- Arthur has extensive skills in the organisation and management of large and complex litigation.
In December 1998 Arthur was appointed as a District Court Arbitrator and in 2008 he was appointed by the Supreme Court of NSW to the panel of solicitors supervising Anton Piller Search Orders. He served on the Law Society of NSW Professional Conduct Committee for 10 years.
Wallace Meakes
PARTNER
Property Law Specialist
Wallace Meakes
PARTNER
Wally is an accredited Property Law specialist, his practice covers all aspects of residential and commercial property work.
QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor of Laws University of Sydney
Bachelor of Commerce
University of New South Wales
ACCREDITATIONS
Accredited Specialist in Property Law
Wally is accredited by the Law Society as an Accredited Specialist in Property Law. He has developed a broad solid base of clients, both individual and corporate.
Wally is experienced in acting in matters involving the acquisition and sale of property including strata title, torrens title, leasehold and company title. In addition, he acts for developers and investors in relation to acquisition of sites and development of the properties. He also acts in relation to many lease transactions, both for the landlord and tenant, and is retained by a number of overseas clients and corporations including MGM.
Wally has provided advice to many individuals and corporations over the last 41 years, accumulating a wealth of knowledge in the commercial and property area. He has chaired a number of property seminars conducted by the College of Law, providing seminars to property professionals in large corporations including CBRE Richard Ellis.
As Property Partner, Wally has a strong team of professionals to assist him to achieve a cost-effective service to clients to achieve their commercial expectations with expediency and efficiency. Wally joined Carneys in 1981 and is now enjoying his 41st year with the firm. He was admitted as a partner with the firm in 1985. In addition to Property Law, he also practises in the area of Wills, Probate and Succession and has considerable experience and expertise in the area of Commercial Business Law which includes sale of business.
Stephen Titus
Special Counsel
Specializes in Commercial Litigation and Commercial Work
Stephen Titus
Partner
Stephen has been qualified for over 30 years and specializes in commercial litigation and commercial work.
QUALIFICATIONS
SAB 1978 –University of Sydney
ACCREDITATIONS
Accredited Specialist in Commercial Litigation
Stephen’s practice includes a broad equity and commercial practice acting for Plaintiffs and Defendants in courts and tribunals where he often appears as advocate and otherwise engages very good counsel to act for clients.
Stephen’s areas of practice include:
- Building & Strata Disputes
- Representing solicitors & barristers in consumer and disciplinary allegations and complaints by the Law Society, Bar Association and Legal Services Commissioner and in Tribunal proceedings against practitioners
- Contractual Disputes
- Trade Practices
- Insolvency & Debt Recovery
- Supreme Court Equity Actions
- Probate, Wills & Succession Act Disputes
- Professional Negligence Actions
- Defamation
- Commercial Advice and Drafting
- Common Law and Insurance Claims
- Acting for Councils in Debt Recovery and advice on commercial arrangements and disputes
Stephen will think outside of the square and consider alternatives to litigation with cost effective strategies. His strengths include focusing on the issues and evidence required, gathering that evidence, working with appropriate counsel, considering settlement or getting the best result from the litigation. Stephen joined Carney Lawyers in 2002. In October 2004 he was certified as an Accredited Specialist in Commercial Litigation by the Law Society of New South Wales. He is a past Member of the Law Society Dispute Resolution Committee and Litigation Law and Practice Committee.
Arthur Carney
PARTNER
Leader of the Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution team
QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor of Laws University of Sydney
Master of Laws
London School of Economics and Political Science
ACCREDITATIONS
Accredited Specialist in Commercial Litigation
- t. (02) 8226 5555
- e. acarney@carneys.com.au
Arthur leads the Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution team and has extensive experience in the New South Wales Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, Federal Court and High Court. He was admitted to practice as a lawyer in 1977. In November 1984, he was admitted to the degree of Master of Laws by the London School of Economics and Political Science (University of London).
In September 1995 Arthur was certified as an Accredited Specialist in Commercial Litigation by the Law Society of New South Wales. There are 101 Accredited Specialists in the field of Commercial Litigation, selected from over 32,000 legal practitioners in New South Wales. He is the Chairman of the Law Society Specialist Accreditation Commercial Litigation Committee. This Committee sets and marks the examination and assessment process for lawyers seeking specialist accreditation in the field of commercial litigation.
Arthur’s areas of practice include:
- Contractual Disputes
- Corporations – Directors & Officers Duties and Liabilities
- Corporate Recovery & Insolvency
- Property Disputes
- Trade Practices
- Class Actions
- Insurance and Common Law Litigation
- Wills and Succession Act Disputes
- Mediation
- Arthur has extensive skills in the organisation and management of large and complex litigation.
In December 1998 Arthur was appointed as a District Court Arbitrator and in 2008 he was appointed by the Supreme Court of NSW to the panel of solicitors supervising Anton Piller Search Orders. He served on the Law Society of NSW Professional Conduct Committee for 10 years.
Wallace Meakes
PARTNER
Wally is an accredited Property Law specialist, his practice covers all aspects of residential and commercial property work.
QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor of Laws University of Sydney
Bachelor of Commerce
University of New South Wales
ACCREDITATIONS
Accredited Specialist in Property Law
Wally is accredited by the Law Society as an Accredited Specialist in Property Law. He has developed a broad solid base of clients, both individual and corporate.
Wally is experienced in acting in matters involving the acquisition and sale of property including strata title, torrens title, leasehold and company title. In addition, he acts for developers and investors in relation to acquisition of sites and development of the properties. He also acts in relation to many lease transactions, both for the landlord and tenant, and is retained by a number of overseas clients and corporations including MGM.
Wally has provided advice to many individuals and corporations over the last 41 years, accumulating a wealth of knowledge in the commercial and property area. He has chaired a number of property seminars conducted by the College of Law, providing seminars to property professionals in large corporations including CBRE Richard Ellis.
As Property Partner, Wally has a strong team of professionals to assist him to achieve a cost-effective service to clients to achieve their commercial expectations with expediency and efficiency. Wally joined Carneys in 1981 and is now enjoying his 41st year with the firm. He was admitted as a partner with the firm in 1985. In addition to Property Law, he also practises in the area of Wills, Probate and Succession and has considerable experience and expertise in the area of Commercial Business Law which includes sale of business.
Stephen Titus
Partner
Stephen has been qualified for over 30 years and specializes in commercial litigation and commercial work.
QUALIFICATIONS
SAB 1978 –University of Sydney
ACCREDITATIONS
Society of New South Wales Practising Certificate no. 970541
Stephen’s practice includes a broad equity and commercial practice acting for Plaintiffs and Defendants in courts and tribunals where he often appears as advocate and otherwise engages very good counsel to act for clients.
Stephen’s areas of practice include:
- Building & Strata Disputes
- Representing solicitors & barristers in consumer and disciplinary allegations and complaints by the Law Society, Bar Association and Legal Services Commissioner and in Tribunal proceedings against practitioners
- Contractual Disputes
- Trade Practices
- Insolvency & Debt Recovery
- Supreme Court Equity Actions
- Probate, Wills & Succession Act Disputes
- Professional Negligence Actions
- Defamation
- Commercial Advice and Drafting
- Common Law and Insurance Claims
- Acting for Councils in Debt Recovery and advice on commercial arrangements and disputes
Stephen will think outside of the square and consider alternatives to litigation with cost effective strategies. His strengths include focusing on the issues and evidence required, gathering that evidence, working with appropriate counsel, considering settlement or getting the best result from the litigation. Stephen joined Carney Lawyers in 2002. In October 2004 he was certified as an Accredited Specialist in Commercial Litigation by the Law Society of New South Wales. He is a past Member of the Law Society Dispute Resolution Committee and Litigation Law and Practice Committee.
