Since being admitted to practice, Georgeana has been involved in a number of high profile disputes, including:
Retail and Commercial Leasing
- advising and representing some of Australia’s largest landlords, shopping centre managers and tenants in relation to all aspects of retail and commercial leasing disputes
- acting in matters involving misleading and deceptive conduct, unconscionable conduct, disturbance, relocation and demolition claims
- advising on disputes arising from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on retail and commercial leases
- acting for retail landlords in recovering possession of leased premises and pursuing former tenants for rental arrears
- successfully obtaining judgment in the Supreme Court of Victoria in favour of a high profile landlord for arrears and loss and damages in excess of $7 million.
Corporate and Personal Insolvency
- preparing and issuing statutory demands against debtor entities and advising on, and managing, winding up proceedings in the Supreme Court of Victoria and the Federal Court of Australia
- advising creditors in relation to voluntary administrations, including attending creditors’ meetings
- advising on corporate insolvencies, including challenging liquidators’ remuneration and conduct, preference claims
- advising creditors in relation to voidable transactions and acting in associated court proceedings
- acting for creditors, in their capacity as petitioning and supporting creditors, in relation to statutory demands and winding up applications
- advising creditors on personal property securities, including issues of validity, enforceability and priority
- preparing and issuing bankruptcy notices against debtors and advising on, and managing, bankruptcy proceedings in both the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia and the Federal Court of Australia
- acting for both bankrupt debtors and creditors in bankruptcy matters, including challenges to trustees’ remuneration and advising on avoidance of property transfers
- acting for creditors in bankrupt estates subject to controlling trusteeship, including advising on and negotiating Personal Insolvency Agreements.
Commercial and Contractual disputes
- acting for a high-profile franchisor in successfully defending claims alleging misleading and deceptive conduct and breach of the duty of good faith in the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria, with decisions upheld on appeal in the Supreme Court of Victoria
- acting for a high-profile property developer in the Supreme Court of Victoria in defending misleading and deceptive conduct claims
- expertise in debt recovery, including successfully obtaining summary judgment and advising on and conducting enforcement procedures.
