Jennifer Shaw

A Partner in our Dispute Resolution & Advisory team, Jennifer has over 25 years of experience in the legal profession. Jennifer has in depth experience in professional disciplinary matters. She acts and advises in relation to a broad range of disputes including professional negligence, contract disputes, construction disputes, intellectual property disputes, elder financial abuse, family provision/estate disputes, debt recovery including recoveries arising from fraud related events, winding up and bankruptcy. Jennifer works closely with her clients to find the most commercially sensible, timely and cost effective solutions.

She is a panel member of the Law Society’s Professional Conduct Advisory Panel, representing and advising solicitors and barristers who are subject to disciplinary complaints, show cause events, suspensions and related proceedings. Jennifer has also acted for and advised peak professional bodies in relation to the prosecution of disciplinary matters before specialist Tribunals in NSW and the ACT.

Jennifer is a trusted advisor appointed by Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ) to the Chartered Accountants Advisory Group (CAAG) legal panel. In this capacity she provides advice to referred chartered accountants in relation to disciplinary complaints, investigations and related hearings.

Jennifer commenced her legal career overseas and is admitted as a Solicitor in England and Wales having completed her two year training contract with an eminent and independent London law firm. Her French and Law degree included time spent working at the Ministry of Justice in Paris. With a continuing interest in French, Jennifer regularly hosts students from the Paris Bar School for 6 month internships as part of their studies.

 

Qualifications/Memberships

• Bsc (Honours) French & Law (University of Surrey, England) 1997

• Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice – College of Law (now the University of Law), Guildford, England 1998

• Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England & Wales 2000

• Solicitor of the Supreme Court of NSW 2001

• Panel member, Law Society of NSW Professional Conduct Advisory Panel

• Panel member, Chartered Accountants Advisory Group, CAANZ

 

What Jennifer's clients say:

"Jennifer Shaw has been a trusted and valued dispute resolution advisor to our Group over many years acting and advising in relation to a range of matters within her broad field of expertise. I have had many dealings with Jennifer personally in relation to important and complex litigation and found her to be a highly skilled lawyer who is not only extremely knowledgeable, responsive, diligent and efficient but is also very commercially minded. Jennifer is also a delight to work with and nothing is ever too much trouble. I highly recommend Jennifer in relation to dispute resolution in all its forms" - Andrew Forsyth, Strategy and Business Director, Dymocks Group

"I have dealt with many lawyers over the years and I would like you to know that I have never dealt with anyone with the expertise, skills set, honesty, work ethic and efficiency that you seemed effortlessly to provide to me” - private client

“Throughout this matter, your pleasant personal contact and very high standard of professional competence has reduced my level of stress and strain enough to make the process endurable. Accordingly, you have my greatest appreciation for a job well done” - business owner

“I thank you for your professionalism for this just result. Your fantastic submission allowed the Law Society to see the full story. I have dedicated my professional life to obtaining justice for others and I thank you for obtaining justice for me” - solicitor client

"Please allow me to express my deepest gratitude for the exceptional service you provided throughout this case. Your legal expertise, your compassion and empathy were great help in easing the emotional strain I had for the past year. I feel truly fortunate to have had you, and I cannot thank you enough for your outstanding efforts" - principal solicitor

 

A word from Jennifer

A problem shared is a problem halved.  When clients come to see me about their problem, it becomes my problem to solve too and I enjoy that challenge!  I am committed to providing my clients with practical, cost effective and timely legal advice and assistance to help them achieve the best possible outcomes. 

 

Career highlights

• Acting for solicitors and barristers who are facing disciplinary complaints, show cause events, appeals from suspensions of practising certificates, and in defending disciplinary proceedings brought against them in NCAT.

• Acting for publicly listed companies in proceedings in the Federal Court seeking interlocutory injunctions relating to trade mark infringements and damages for breaches of the Trade Practices legislation and passing off – thus protecting the clients’ valuable intellectual property rights.

• Acting for a restaurant chain in defending proceedings for an injunction and damages brought against them for a smell allegedly emanating from their premises and successfully resolving those proceedings at an early stage.

• Acting for private clients in seeking redress and damages for professional negligence against their former advisors – successfully settling the majority of these disputes at mediation.

• Acting for a company in proceedings in the Technology & Construction list seeking damages against a builder and superintendent under a building contract relating to a building of local heritage significance – successfully settling the proceedings shortly prior to hearing.

• Acting for executors of estates in defending family provision proceedings – resolving the majority of these disputes at conciliation conferences/mediation prior to hearing.

• Acting for a private client in successfully defending mortgage repossession proceedings on the grounds of fraud and thereby saving her house from being repossessed.

• Acting for a private client in a successful appeal to the Court of Appeal in a matter involving a range of issues including breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, questions of limitation and statutory interpretation.

• Acting for a law firm in bringing proceedings against former employees for breach of employment contract, breach of fiduciary obligations, breach of confidence by use of confidential information, seeking damages and restraining orders.

 

Specific areas of focus

• Professional Responsibility and Conduct - professional disciplinary complaints; show cause events; suspensions of practising certificates; professional disciplinary proceedings.

• Litigation & Dispute Resolution - professional negligence; contract disputes; construction disputes; intellectual property disputes; family provision/estate disputes; debt recovery; winding up and bankruptcy.