Position: Partner
An experienced practitioner across all Tetlow Legal’s practice areas, Emma leads the firm’s Commercial and Property divisions.
A personable, honest, caring and hard-working solicitor, Emma is passionate about providing accurate, timely and effective legal advice to clients. It is these characteristics which have allowed her to over the years build up a varied commercial, property and estate planning practice acting for individuals, small to medium business, and larger corporate entities.
As a savvy commercial lawyer, Emma regularly assists business owners with their commercial needs, including business succession; the acquisition and disposal of business interests; shareholder, unitholder and partnership agreements; commercial and retail leasing; business contracts and commercial conveyancing. With her meticulous attention to detail, and a focus on risk management, clients know that she will have their best interests in mind. Her business clients include pharmacists, medical and dental practitioners as well as other professionals.
In recent years, Emma has carved herself a niche in the boutique Canberra market by providing technical duty advice to landrich/landholder entities and in the process working with accountants and financial advisors to craft carefully thought out asset protection strategies for their mutual business clients.
Emma started her career as a property lawyer and still takes great joy in acting for both buyers and sellers alike in residential conveyancing transactions in the ACT and NSW. Whether it be helping first time buyers to purchase their first home or helping those looking to downsize and start their next great adventure, Emma is there to provide practical advice and support throughout the transaction. A well-respected solicitor within the Canberra conveyancing community, she is often called upon to give advice to real estate agents and to buyers looking to enter into more complicated property transactions such as purchasing ‘off-the-plan’.
When it comes to estate planning and business succession, Emma will carefully and diligently work with clients to develop and craft a comprehensive and workable estate plan.
Emma approaches estate planning with sensitivity and appreciates the inherently personal nature of Wills, Enduring Powers of Attorney and other estate planning documents. She has regularly been recognised by her legal peers as a leading lawyer in estate planning through Doyle’s Guide.
Emma also has a strong interest in the areas of Retirement Planning and elder law and older person issues. She regularly advises clients who are looking to make the transition to Retirement Village Living or into Aged Care, ensuring that her clients are aware of their rights and are at all times treated with the dignity and respect that they deserve.
Emma is a current member of the ACT Law Society’s Elder Law and Succession Law Committee where she has previously held the position of Acting Chair. She is also the current representative for the ACT on the Law Council of Australia’s National Elder Law and Succession Law Committee. Emma is an active and vocal member of both these Committees which are committed to raising awareness in the community about elder law and succession law matters.
Over a number of years Emma has played a pivotal role in identifying and advocating for various law reform projects with great success. As part of her ongoing advocacy, Emma is a contributing member of the ACT’s Retirement Villages Act Review Advisory Board and has recently led projects hoping to reform the area of Powers of Attorney.
Emma enjoys giving back to the community by volunteering her time to give talks and presentations to community and professional groups on Estate Planning, Aged Care, and Retirement Village living and by recently helping collaborate and pen the chapter on Wills and Estates in Austlii’s ACT Law Handbook.
Qualifications
Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice (Australian National University)
Bachelor of Laws with Honours (Australian National University)
Bachelor of Commerce (Australian National University)
Awards
Leading Wills, Estates & Succession Planning Lawyer, ACT 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019 (Doyle’s Guide to the Australian Legal Profession)
Recommended Wills & Estates Litigation Lawyer, ACT 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017 (Doyle’s Guide to the Australian Legal Profession)
Recommended Wills, Estates & Succession Planning Lawyer, ACT 2018 (Doyle’s Guide to the Australian Legal Profession)