People

Leon has practiced as a Litigation Lawyer for 46 years in all jurisdictions in Australia.  One of the founders of recoveriescorp, Leon has built long-standing relationships with recoveriescorp’s clients and has been a key driver in the company’s success.

Leon commenced the forerunner of Mason Black Lawyers in Victoria in 1991 and then, in 2002, incorporated Mason Black Lawyers in New South Wales.  As a Solicitor Director of Mason Black Lawyers, Leon is heavily involved in the daily management of the business, particularly legal matters, compliance and governance and maintaining client relationships.

Leon is also a Board member of Recoveries Corporation Group Pty Ltd and acts as Group Legal Advisor for Recoveries Corporation Pty Ltd.
 

Positions, Committees and Memberships:
Executive Director/Solicitor Director
Audit and Risk Committee Member
Remuneration and Capabilities Committee Member
Chairman Compliance Committee

Brett is a solicitor Director and National Practice Manager of Mason Black Lawyers.

He joined the Sydney office of Mason Black Lawyers in 2009. Brett’s principle focus has been on insurance law, providing the necessary advice to insurers, underwriting managers and other risk carriers on all aspects of the policy, in particular liability and coverage issues. He is also responsible for bringing and defending legal proceedings in most jurisdictions throughout Australia. In addition to this, Brett is also involved in commercial litigation.

Before joining Mason Black Lawyers, Brett was employed as an insurance consultant by Wotton & Kearney Insurance Lawyers in their Sydney office where he handled professional indemnity and general liability matters.

Before relocating to Australia in January 2009, Brett practiced in partnership in the Johannesburg firm of Harvey Nossel & Turnbull, a partnership that was formed in January 2000. Brett joined Harvey Nossel & Co in 1995, a specialist insurance law firm consisting of approximately 30 solicitors. In 2000 this practice dissolved and a new partnership, Harvey Nossel & Turnbull, was formed. Brett acted on behalf of most of the major short term insurance companies in South Africa as well as a number of underwriting agencies and brokers.

John Sinisgalli joined Mason Black Lawyers in 2013 as a Solicitor Director in our Melbourne office. A highly experienced and accredited commercial litigation specialist, John leads the team in Melbourne in commercial litigation, insolvency, commercial matters, trust and estate planning.

Prior to joining Mason Black Lawyers, John headed commercial litigation and insolvency practice for many years and previously acted for the ATO in high volume wind-up proceedings, bankruptcies and debt matters. He has a high-level protected security clearance for ATO matters.

John is also a former chairperson of the Law Institute of Victoria Commercial Litigation Advisory Committee and still serves on the committee.

With a strong commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility, John is a Director of the Marsh Foundation, a committee member of the DOXA Social Club and a pro bono adviser to the Long Walk Foundation.

Michelle re-joined Mason Black Lawyers at the start of 2017 as an Executive Manager and was appointed as Solicitor Director in August 2017.

From 2012 to 2017, prior to joining Mason Black Lawyers, Michelle was Managing Partner at the national firm of Milton Graham Lawyers, a Dun & Bradstreet Group company. During her time as Managing Partner at Milton Graham Lawyers, Michelle established and managed legal offices in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, all of which specialised in debt recovery and commercial litigation as well as insolvency. Milton Graham Lawyers acted on behalf of clients of all sizes and across a range of industries, including banking and finance, telecommunications, utilities, local government, large corporates and SME’s. 

In 2007, after relocating from South Africa to Australia, Michelle joined the legal team of Recoveries Corporation Group during which time she completed further studies to be admitted as an Australian Lawyer. In 2010 she joined Mason Black Lawyers where she specialised in commercial and insurance litigation.

Before the move to Australia in 2006, Michelle was the Principal of Van Niekerk-De Kock Attorneys, a firm which focussed primarily on personal injury, property and family law.

Michelle commenced her legal career in 1999 working in commercial litigation, insurance, family & property law. She holds a BProc Law Degree from the University of South Africa. Michelle is admitted to practice in both Australia and South Africa

Josh joined Mason Black Lawyers in January 2010 shortly after being admitted as a Solicitor and is now a Special Counsel.

Josh has specialised in dealing with commercial litigation, insurance, debt recovery, professional indemnity, insolvency, and bankruptcy and winding up proceedings.

Josh appears in all Courts and is a talented advocate with experience at hearings as well as contentious motion hearings. Josh plays a key role at Mason Black Lawyers in helping develop the skills of support staff and junior solicitors.

Matthew joined Mason Black Lawyers in July 2017 as Special Counsel in the Commercial Litigation and Insolvency team. Prior to joining the team, he managed the Victorian litigation practice of a boutique national practice.

Since his admission in 2007, Matthew’s practice has predominantly advised in the areas of commercial litigation, insolvency and debt collection, in particular in relation to winding up applications, bankruptcies and post insolvency recovery actions.

Matthew is committed to providing high quality and cost effective legal advice, focussing on achieving commercial resolutions to disputes through negotiation and other ADR processes whenever possible and professional litigation representation and advocacy where required.  

Matthew is a member of the Law Institute of Victoria.

Robert joined Mason Black Lawyers in 2015 as a Senior Associate.

Since being admitted in 2010, Robert has predominately practiced in commercial and property law and has solid experience in transactional matters involving large scale commercial property acquisitions and disposals, residential purchasers and sales, substantial development site acquisitions, joint venture agreements, off-the-plan sales, applications and  variations to subdivisions and Owners Corporation matters.

In commercial matters Robert has also solid experience in the sale and purchase of businesses, commercial and retail leasing, development leasing including heads of agreement, shareholder agreements, business and leasing disputes and general commercial advice.

Tara Nicholls joined Mason Black Lawyers in June 2013. She has 15 years of experience in insurance law and has spent five years working for a boutique insurance law firm.

Tara has extensive experience in Local Court civil litigation and has also assisted in acting for leading insurance companies in defending professional indemnity and personal injury claims in the District Court and the Supreme Court.

Tara is responsible for overseeing Mason Black Lawyers’ matters in the Local Court related to civil litigation; specifically personal and commercial property damage to vehicles and buildings, public and product liability, construction and all debt recovery matters.

Tara appears in all Courts and is an experienced and dedicated advocate, having achieved many successes in her appearances in hearings and various interlocutory applications.

Peter has practiced extensively in the areas of wills and estates, estate planning and property and business law since 1969. He joined Mason Black Lawyers in 2014 as a Senior Consultant based in Melbourne. His role is to manage the property, wills and estates, small business law and legal health check divisions of the firm.

He is dedicated to client service for the provision of both excellent and cost effective legal services.

Peter is also a Sessional Chairman of the Disciplinary Appeals Board relating to the Department of Education; the Village Advocate for the Rymans Retirement Homes and is the Honorary Solicitor to the Waverley Tennis Association.