Justeen Dormer

Justeen has over 25 years experience in commercial equity, specialising in estates, taxation, and corporations law. Justeen has cultivated a breadth of knowledge that is increasingly rare in today's legal landscape, where specialisation has become the norm. Justeen’s experience equips her with the skills to identify intricate legal issues and develop innovative solutions to resolve disputes. This interdisciplinary approach has proven invaluable in delivering comprehensive and tailored legal strategies to her clients.

Justeen has experience in all forms of dispute resolution, including litigation in various courts and tribunals in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland, domestic and international arbitration, mediation and conciliation.

Justeen has represented clients in various types of estate matters with all degrees of complexity, taxation (including crime) matters, tortious claims and family law matters where there are complex tax and commercial issues. She has represented commercial clients from a broad range of industries, including construction, manufacturing, information technology, professional and financial services, and advised on a wide range of legal issues and disputes in the areas of taxation, business and corporate structures, asset protection, corporate governance, insolvency and contractual disputes.

In 2008, following a successful career in commercial dispute resolution at Ashurst, Justeen established her own boutique law firm associated with Kreston Dormers Accountants and Business Advisors (now Tricor) to form a full service professional advisory firm. In 2012, Justeen founded Dormer Stanhope Lawyers and has focused on commercial equity dispute resolution.

In the last 6 years Justeen has developed expertise in succession law and estate disputes, achieving excellent outcomes for clients in cases involving contested probate, contested enduring guardianship and power of attorney, family provision, informal wills, setting aside transactions in equity due to unconscionable conduct, estoppel based on promises made by a testator that certain gifts would be made on death, mutual wills, misplaced wills, appointment of financial managers, and acting for minors and those under incapacity in estate disputes, including having settlements approved by Court.

Justeen has a strong interest in social justice, particularly every person’s right to access affordable legal services. Justeen applies her legal and business skills to promote equal access to public funding such as legal aid, and services that facilitate access to affordable legal services and self-representation. She regularly provides pro bono legal services via the Law Society of NSW Scheme.

Justeen graduated with a Bachelor of Arts/Laws (Honours) in 1997 and was admitted to the Supreme Court of NSW in 1998. She is also admitted to the High Court of Australia. In 2013 she completed a Certificate of Applied Taxation with the Tax Institute of Australia and in 2019 received the Company Directors Award having completed the International Directors Course (Dubai) with the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She remains a member of both Institutes, regularly attending conferences and events. In 2022 Justeen completed short courses with University of Technology Sydney, “Understanding Dementia: Facts and Foundations” and “Planning Ahead: Focus on Advance Care Planning”. Justeen is a regular attendee of the Blue Mountains Law Society Succession Conference.

QUALIFICATIONS
- Queensland University of Technology (Bachelor of Arts), 1997 (BA)
- Queensland University of Technology (Bachelor of Laws with Honours by Award), 1997 (LLB Hons)
- Graduate of the International Directors Course, AICD Dubai 2019 (GAICD)
- Admitted to Supreme Court of NSW, 1998

APPOINTMENTS AND MEMBERSHIPS
- Affiliate Member of STEP
- Affiliate Member of The Tax Institute
- Member of Australian Institute of Company Directors

SELECTED CASES
- Mackinlay v Holliday (No 2) [2023] NSWSC 1024
- Mackinlay v Holliday [2023] NSWSC 949
- Nelson v Health Care Complaints Commission (No 2) (Costs) [2023] NSWCATOD 93
- Nelson v Health Care Complaints Commission [2023] NSWCATOD 5
- JS and SD v Nationwide News Pty Ltd, Hornsby Local Court Unreported decision, Magistrate Denes, 17 December 2021, non-publication and suppression order for high-profile criminal case
- In the matter of Pak Brothers Pty Ltd [2021] NSWSC 1247
- Moriah War Memorial College Association v Augustine Robert Nosti [2020] NSWSC 942
- Moriah War Memorial College v Nosti [2020] NSWSC 603
- In the matter of Australian Worldwide Pty Ltd [2019] NSWSC 1475
- Burton v Prior (No 2) [2019] NSWSC 518
- Burton v Prior [2019] NSWSC 518
- Australian Worldwide Pty Ltd v AW Exports Pty Ltd [2018] NSWSC 1632
- In the matter of Australian Worldwide Pty Ltd [2017] NSWSC 1641
- Turnbull v Turnbull [2017] NSWSC 1316
- Cassaniti v Ruse NSW Pty Limited [2017] NSWSC 499
- Cassaniti v Ruse NSW Pty Ltd [2017] NSWCA 285
- Armstrong Strategic Management and Marketing Pty Limited v Expense Reduction Analysts Group Pty Ltd (No 10) [2017] NSWSC 16
- Esplanade Wollongong Unit Trust v Chief Commissioner of State Revenue [2017] NSWCATAD 15
- Mortimer v Lusink & Ors [2017] QCA 1
- Armstrong Strategic Management and Marketing Pty Limited v Expense Reduction Analysts Group Pty Ltd (No 9) [2016] NSWSC 1005
- Kaspersky Lab UK Ltd v Hemisphere Technologies [2016] NSWSC 147, stay application pursuant to section 7 of the International Arbitration Act 1974 (Cth) and request for arbitration pursuant to the Institute of Stockholm Arbitration Centre rules
- Mortimer v Lusink & Ors [2016] QSC 119
- Kafataris v Deputy Commissioner of Taxation [2015] FCA 874
- R v Pratten (No 15) [2015] NSWSC 573
- R v Pratten (No 14) [2015] NSWSC 457
- Esplanade Wollongong Pty Limited v Commissioner of State Revenue [2015] NSWCATAD 228
- Hua Wang Bank Berhad v Commissioner of Taxation (No 17) [2015] FCA 72
- LHRC v Deputy Commissioner of Taxation (No 4) [2015] FCA 70
- Channel Pastoral Holdings Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Taxation [2015] FCAFC 57
- LHRC v Deputy Commissioner of Taxation (No 3) [2015) FCA 52
- Russell Gould Pty Ltd v Ramangkura (No 2) [2015] NSWCA 14
- Hua Wang Bank Berhad v Commissioner of Taxation (No 16) [2014] FCA 1407
- Allan J Heasman Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Taxation [2014] FCA 1282
- McGrouther v Commissioner of Taxation [2014] FCA 1102
- LHRC v Deputy Commissioner of Taxation [2014] FCA 388
- Armstrong Strategic Management and Marketing v Expense Reduction Analysis Group [2013] NSWSC 1702
- Hua Wang Bank Berhad v Commissioner of Taxation (No 15) [2013] FCA 1124
- Hua Wang Bank Berhad v Commissioner of Taxation (No 14) [2013] FCA 1096
- Hua Wang Bank Berhad v Commissioner of Taxation (No 13) [2013] FCA 1095
- Hua Wang Bank Berhad v Commissioner of Taxation (No 12) [2013] FCA 1091
- Hua Wang Bank Berhad v Commissioner of Taxation (No 11) [2013] FCA 1055
- Hua Wang Bank Berhad v Commissioner of Taxation (No 9) [2013] FCA 1022
- Hua Wang Bank Berhad v Commissioner of Taxation (No 8) [2013] FCA 1021
- Hua Wang Bank Berhad v Commissioner of Taxation (No 6) [2013] FCA 992
- Armstrong Strategic Management and Marketing Pty Ltd v Expense Reduction Analysts Group Pty Ltd; Expense Reduction Analysts Group Pty Limited v Armstrong Strategic Management and Marketing Pty Limited [2012] NSWCA 430
- Armstrong Strategic Management and Marketing Pty Limited & Ors v Expense Reduction Analysts Group Pty Ltd & Ors [2012] NSWSC 393