There are many insurance policies offered on the market for luxury home and contents. The Chubb Masterpiece Signature Policy is one such policy with a premium level of coverage for high-value properties and contents including fine art collections, valuable jewellery and costly tech products. The policy covers for, inter alia, natural disasters, fire, water damage and burglary. We understand that as a luxury home and contents insurance policyholder, facing the aftermath of a disaster including a fire or theft can be devastating. Amidst the turmoil of loss, policyholders may often expect a strai ..read more

At Elit Lawyers by McGirr & Snell we work closely with many members of the VicBar and appreciate that your time is limited and extremely valuable. As you are aware, Australia’s larger law firms are often conflicted from acting in certain matters due to their ongoing representation of large clients such as insurers, government and media organisations. As a boutique litigation firm of 15 people, Elit Lawyers doesn’t face those conflicts and we can act in all aspects of commercial, insurance and media litigation. We are grateful to receive referrals from not only large law firms but also memb ..read more

Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Danielle Snell is named “Managing Partner of the Year” at the Australian Law Awards 2023. Danielle has not only built and nurtured a diverse and high-performing team but has also directly challenged the archaic, traditional structures and gender stereotypes prevalent in the legal industry. ​ ​ Holding multiple roles in life – wife, mother, friend, lawyer and entrepreneur – Danielle’s leadership style empowers her staff to work, collaborate and deliver excellent client service in a flexible work environment without compromising on their personal commitments ..read more

From legal to accounting and insolvency, professional services firms operate at the nexus of convention and innovation. Two leaders lift the lid on their firms’ digital strategies and what they strive for. While professional services firms are often deeply rooted in traditions and adhere strictly to rules and standards, they’re also embracing new digital practices and service delivery models. The nature of these professions also means that breakthrough technologies stand to have an outsized impact on the way they operate. For example, the interplay of artificial intelligence and the human judg ..read more

Has your house burned down or been the subject of a theft? Did a pipe burst and cause damage from the flow of water? Did your business suffer a loss as a result of an unexpected event? After the shock has passed, you may thanking your lucky stars that you have insurance for this situation, only to find an unexpected battle ahead with your insurance company in processing your claim, fairly quantifying the loss, and properly rectifying the damage. While it can be daunting, you should feel confident in dealing with your insurance company to obtain the benefit of the policy. Policy holders have tr ..read more

We are proud to announce that our Co-Founder & Director, Danielle Snell has been awarded “Law Firm Leader of the Year (≤100 employees)” at the Australasian Law Awards 2023! This prestigious recognition from Australasian Lawyer highlights Danielle’s exceptional leadership and guidance over our rapidly growing and high-performing team. Danielle’s fearless approach has challenged outdated structures and shattered gender stereotypes in the legal industry. She has built a diverse and talented team, fostering a collaborative and inclusive work environment where each team member’s unique attribu ..read more

Recently, a UK-based junior barrister shared a “misogynistic” letter she received from another lawyer, which detailed how she should go about finding a husband. Here, award-winning women lawyers recount how gendered prejudice remains all too common in the legal profession, including in Australia, and how it can be eradicated. Earlier this year, a US-based lawyer received a text message from a now-former colleague accusing her of “collecting salary while sitting on your ass”. The message was posted on LinkedIn by a third lawyer, close to the recipient, which went viral. The incident underscored ..read more

As was recently evidenced in a US-based law firm, there remain misconceptions in legal services workplaces about taking parental leave. Here, Danielle Snell — who co-founded her award-winning law firm while seven months pregnant — discusses why such biases continue to exist and what we can do to overcome them. On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back Elit Lawyers by McGirr & Snell managing director and co-founder Danielle Snell (whose firm won Boutique Law Firm of the Year at the 2022 Australian Law Awards) to discuss why certain misconceptions are s ..read more

Has your house burned down or been the subject of a theft? Did a pipe burst and cause damage from the flow of water? Did your business suffer a loss as a result of an unexpected event? After the shock has passed, you may thanking your lucky stars that you have insurance for this situation, only to find an unexpected battle ahead with your insurance company in processing your claim, fairly quantifying the loss, and properly rectifying the damage. While it can be daunting, you should feel confident in dealing with your insurance company to obtain the benefit of the policy. Policy holders have tr ..read more

The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) is a popular less expensive forum for resolving various types of disputes, such as domestic building, retail leasing, consumer and trader, owners corporations, and residential tenancies disputes. However, recent court decisions have highlighted some important limitations on VCAT’s jurisdiction which could mean that VCAT may not be able to hear your case and you may be forced to issue proceedings in a Court which can often be more formal and cost excessive. VCAT has no jurisdiction to deal with matters involving federal legislation One sign ..read more