Our
People
We haven’t just compiled a team of skilled and educated professionals. We go above and beyond when it comes to recruitment to ensure that any new member of the team is reliable, kind and genuinely wants to work with us. Once on board, we are proud to offer a level of support to our staff that makes them want to stay. All of this means that you are dealing with people who are truly enthusiastic about providing legal assistance and advice.
Rob Meers
Solicitor Director
Accredited Specialist - Business Law
Rob is a director of Belbridge Fleming Law and has decades of experience in business law, wills and estates and succession planning. When asked about his experience and what drives him as a solicitor, Rob continues to come back to the same core values:
“I do my best work when I am helping clients to avoid or minimise the risk of claims against their assets in the future. It’s a bit like playing chess and thinking 5 moves ahead – you need to think “what if X occurs”. I get the most satisfaction when a client comes in saying “I’ve got a problem, X has just happened” and I am able to reply “Don’t worry, I covered that for you in the documents a few years ago”.
I help people who are buying or selling businesses, or who are entering into arrangements with other people in the course of their business. I prefer to work with clients who are building their wealth, being positive, creating things – not looking over their shoulder into the past and arguing over past issues.
I do a lot of work advising people about the creation and maintenance of their wealth, and ultimately how to protect passing that wealth on to the next generation. Many families are now faced with situations where the risk of a challenge against their Will (after their death) is a concern – I can help those clients to prepare for such risks arising and help them to structure the ownership of their assets to reduce or eliminate such risks. I can also help them to prepare Wills in situations where they have a child who is disabled, or to prepare Wills to protect their assets for “their own bloodline” if a child is bankrupt, or where a child is going through a family law property settlement. I see a lot of “blended families” where the partners have different children from different marriages – I can offer advice about alternative ways to structure things to deal with those issues.
I really enjoy being able to help families across the generations, knowing what to anticipate and having the background knowledge of their asset ownership structures to be able to give proactive advice to them.
Some years ago a retired ex-farmer who was living simply in a very small community nearby came in to see me and said “Rob, I’m your best client”.
I enquired of him “Jack, what makes you say that?”
He replied “My grandparents were clients of this firm, my parents were clients of this firm, I’m your client, I’ve made sure that my children are clients of yours and I’m going to make sure that my grandchildren become clients here too”.
I agreed – “Jack, you are my best client”.
When we are at home, my wife Margie and I enjoy spending time with Patsy the West Highland White Terrier.”
Kellyanne Allwood
Solicitor Director
Accredited Specialist - Wills and Estates Law
Kellyanne is a director of Belbridge Fleming and practices extensively in the areas of estate and succession planning, estate administration and claims upon deceased estates.
She holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Canberra and a Master of Laws (Applied Law) majoring in Wills and Estates from the College of Law. Kellyanne is an Accredited Specialist in Wills and Estates and is the only local practising solicitor who holds accreditation in this area of law from the Law Society of New South Wales. Kellyanne is also a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP), and the only local practitioner who is a member of this international organisation.
Clients seek Kellyanne’s advice and expertise on a wide range of estate planning issues, ranging from complex strategies for farming families, blended families and vulnerable beneficiaries, to tax effective wills incorporating testamentary trusts and more straightforward planning incorporating financial powers of attorney, guardianship documents and advanced care planning. Clients also seek Kellyanne’s advice and expertise in complex estate administration matters, as well as the negotiation and litigation of deceased estate disputes.
Kellyanne understands the difficulties clients experience planning their personal affairs or dealing with the estate of a close friend or relative. She enjoys developing strong relationships with her clients and their other advisors, as well as her professional colleagues and approaches her practice with compassion, empathy and attention to detail.
Kellyanne is committed to community education and regularly gives presentations on estate planning and elder law issues to community groups and her professional peers.
Kellyanne is a graduate fellow of the College of Law, an active member of the Law Australasia Estate Planning Special Interest Group and provides pro bono legal services to a charitable organisation. She is a member of the NSW Law Society, a past member of the Specialist Accreditation Wills & Estates Advisory Committee and a past office-bearer of the Albury & District Law Society.
Paul Muntz
Special Counsel
Accredited Specialist - Business Law
Paul was a director of Fleming Muntz Solicitors, prior to its merge with Belbridge Hague Law. He has practised in Albury for over 50 years and is a Law Society of New South Wales Accredited Specialist in Business Law.
Clients appreciate the depth of Paul’s experience when seeking creative or tax-effective solutions to estate planning and commercial issues – especially when complex or extensive assets are involved. Numerous rural families throughout regional Victoria and southern New South Wales have sought out Paul’s assistance negotiating estate plans fair to all family members, and to restructure their affairs to ensure smooth succession of on- and off-farm assets between generations.
In his practice, Paul has provided legal services to a number of Government and quasi-Government bodies as well as regional, national and international businesses and has particular experience in:
- complex rural land transfers
- estate and succession planning
- succession planning for farming families
- services to the medical profession
Paul is a past President of the Albury & District Law Society and is a past Chair of the Estate Planning section of Law Australasia. He has been a regular speaker on estate and succession planning for professional bodies and at public seminars.
Chantelle Shaw
Senior Solicitor
Chantelle was born and bred in Wodonga, then spent some time in the “Sunshine State”, where she completed both her undergraduate degree and her post-graduate Diploma in Legal Practice. Having been admitted as a solicitor since 2011, Chantelle has recently become our first remotely-located solicitor, combining her strong and independent work ethic with her passion for travel.
Chantelle is an experienced senior solicitor with a wide range of exposure to all things commercial. She is passionate about client service and places great value on providing practical and commercially realistic advice to our clients. She understands that the law does not operate in a vacuum, and applies an analytical and grounded approach when providing advice.
Whether in-person at office social events or via online Zoom meetings from the other side of the world, Chantelle is always looking for opportunities to provide comedic relief to our staff. In a high pressure environment, she appreciates the value of a good belly-laugh and is always ready for a friendly chat or some light-hearted banter.
Chantelle is a nerd of the highest calibre; she loves all things Harry Potter and is the queen of the office jigsaw-puzzle table – just don’t mix the straight-edges with the middle pieces, and you’ll get along fine! When she is not flitting from country to country on wild adventures, you can usually find Chantelle upside down at the nearest aerial circus training facility, finding new and different ways to get bruises in unusual places!
Breanne Kovacs
Solicitor
Breanne has been with Belbridge Hague since finishing high school and has now been an admitted solicitor for several years. Breanne supervises our HELP Team (covering all areas of commercial law) and is passionate about solution-focused thinking. She has a soft spot for all things colour and creativity.
Breanne loves to think holistically about our clients’ needs to ensure that all bases are covered. She strives to build long-term relationships of trust and reliability with clients so that she can assist them with everything from conveyancing to succession planning.
Breanne does everything that she can to contribute to an inclusive and welcoming environment for everyone in the firm. Breanne loves organising social staff events and bringing in games and activities for staff to enjoy while they’re taking a break from their screens. Breanne is a self-professed tech nerd and loves introducing new systems and procedures to make life easier for our staff and clients.
Breanne is terrible at all activities which require balance or coordination, including but not limited to ice skating, skateboarding, dancing, paddle boarding, skiing and standing on one leg for more than 3 seconds. Breanne has a notorious competitive streak which comes out when the team go ten pin bowling.
Lois Mentakis
Solicitor
Lois completed the final pieces of her Bachelor of Laws and Graduate Diploma of Practical Legal Training whilst employed at Belbridge Hague (which has now merged with Fleming Muntz to create Belbridge Fleming Law). Lois was admitted as a solicitor in March 2021. Lois brings a solution-focused approach to the team.
Lois is empathetic and understanding. She enjoys a challenge and creating great relationships with her clients, as well as the wider legal community.
Lois supports inclusivity within our team. She is our coffee and cocktail queen and is always willing to listen and assist wherever she can. She has a love of music, performing arts, and snowboarding, and heads up our unofficial “theatre club”. Lois loves to be organised and everything has a specific spot on her desk (Don’t dare touch it!).
Stephen Wood
Client Services Manager
As Client Services Manager, Stephen’s primary focus with the firm is client engagement and marketing. Stephen works closely with our directors Rob Meers and Kellyanne Allwood as part of the senior management Team, meeting once a week to ensure that things are running smoothly, and that the BF train is on the right track. Stephen’s overarching and globalised approach is central to his role in maintaining the overall welfare of the firm and its staff.
Stephen is heavily involved in the professional networking scene both inside the office and out. He is integral in developing strong business relationships with like-minded professionals in the Albury-Wodonga region, as well as being an active member of the Belbridge Fleming social club. Stephen throws himself whole-heartedly into this role and when he is not representing the firm at an external gala or conference, Stephen can usually be relied upon to be front and centre at BF social events, boosting morale whether in plain clothes or fancy dress!
Stephen’s time outside of work is primarily dedicated to community involvement. He is an active member of the Rotary Club of Albury West, and Stephen’s work in co-ordinating the Albury Nail Can Hill run has lead to him being appointed as president of the club for the 2022-2023 financial year. Stephen also enjoys volunteer work in the Albury-Wodonga region… although delivering Meals on Wheels is not quite so thrilling to him as tipping into a turn at 240km/hr in a Porsche at Sandown!
Nicole Jackson
Deceased Estates Clerk / Licensed Conveyancer
Nicole is our resident guru Estates Clerk and Licensed Conveyancer who would prefer not to admit how long she was tied to a desk at Belbridge Hague before the merger! Nicole is a senior member of our team, and her pragmatic style is specifically tailored to deceased estates and property matters. Her focus can be broken only by photos of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.
Nicole has a detailed knowledge of the history of the Albury-Wodonga region, and the families who make up this historical and diverse community. She takes a considerate and practical approach to her role; Nicole’s keen attention to detail gives her the edge when it comes to preparing complex legal documents at an often tumultuous and emotional time for our clients.
Nicole is a positive and caring member of the Belbridge Fleming team. She is the first to get behind her colleagues and friends in the office, whether it is encouraging them to develop their skills within the profession, or supporting them unconditionally in pursuing their dreams outside of work. Nicole is a fierce competitor at all of the staff social events and has no hesitation in trying new things such as joining the BF Theatre Club.
Nicole’s competitive edge is somewhat dulled when she is distracted by her 2 fur-babies (and 1 fur-grandbaby!) or her resident chickens which are frequently causing havoc at home! Nicole is supported in life by her loving husband and incorrigible daughter, and values family above all else… when they are not driving her crazy, that is!
Jan Bennie
Administrative Assistant
Jan brings to Belbridge Fleming Law a career in law administration spanning over 30 years previously with Belbridge Hague since 1984. Jan has an exceptional wealth of knowledge regarding Belbridge Hague, including both its history and its people. As a stalwart Albury-Wodonga local, Jan is the go-to person for extensive information on everything local knowledge.
Jan works in an administrative role within the firm, as well as making herself available to assist our authors, paralegals and receptionist when required. She is dedicated to maintaining and updating our Deed Room, where she effectively manages important documents held on our clients’ behalf. Can’t find a Will or a Certificate of Title from 1963? Ask Jan.
Jan offers a great deal of knowledge to her colleagues in general administration and word processing, having used all kinds of file management systems over the years – yes, Jan was around when we were still using typewriters! In addition to maintaining the firm’s precedent and template systems.
When not buried in old parchments in the Deed Room, you can usually find Jan at home with her family, or out on the weir in a boat. Jan has an active lifestyle on the water and her passion for water-skiing and the great outdoors is matched only by her ability to say “yes” to anything her grandchildren ask of her … despite what their parents may say!
Leonie Ryan
Paralegal
Leonie commenced her legal career over 40 years ago and has worked within the profession in Albury/Wodonga for most of that time.
She joined Fleming Muntz (one of the two firms that merged to create Belbridge Fleming) in early 2012 as part of our clerical team.
Leonie works specifically in the areas of Business and Estate planning providing paralegal support in these areas.
Vicki Beames
Paralegal
In addition to her work in commercial and estate litigation, Vicki is a paralegal experienced in leasing, administrative tribunal work and general commercial matters. Vicki came to Belbridge Hague (one of the firms that became Belbridge Fleming Law in 2024) from the big smoke of Melbourne, and brings with her a working understanding of the Victorian court system, as well as a network of state-wide contacts in the litigation field. It is Vicki’s attention to detail however which sets her apart, and she is often called on to run “fresh eyes” over complex documents before they are finalised.
Vicki is the administrative expert when it comes to drafting, collating and registering lease documents, and has become incredibly adept at ensuring that they are in the correct format… even when the land registry itself gets it wrong! She is methodical and meticulous and ensures that nothing slips through the cracks on the client files which come across her desk.
Whilst Vicki provides exemplary service to our clients, it is through her work behind the scenes in supporting our solicitors that Vicki truly shines. Whether it is preparing technical court forms, collating briefs of thousands of pages, or formatting a particularly problematic document, our staff rely on Vicki to take care of the form, so that they may focus on the substance. Vicki is a quiet achiever in the office, but her work does not go unappreciated by her colleagues.
Vicki has chosen part-time employment so that she may dedicate her time and attention to her young son, who is the light of her life. Monday to Wednesday you will find her elbows-deep in paper at her desk, but outside of work Vicki is a loving and caring mother first and foremost. When she is not on the floor playing Thomas the Tank Engine with a 4 year old, Vicki also enjoys dragon boating, hiking and travelling… all of which are passions that Vicki will be looking to reignite as her son gets older.
Jenni Coates
Probate and Deceased Estate Clerk
Jenni joined the team in 2017 and brings over 23 years of experience working in the legal profession to her role at Belbridge Fleming.
Throughout Jenni’s career, she has gained significant experience in both Victorian and New South Wales conveyancing (including electronic conveyancing transactions), and in estate planning and estate administration.
Jenni acts primarily as one of our probate and deceased estate clerks, however provides support and assistance to all of the Belbridge Fleming team.
Miranda Finck
Legal Assistant
Miranda is always willing to provide an excellent level of service and thoroughly enjoys working with clients to provide assistance and solutions.
Outside of work Miranda enjoys nature walks, cooking, painting and exploring the beautiful towns our region has to offer.
Ruth Kamber
Administrative Assistant
Ruth joined the team in 1990.
She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the firm in her role as an administration assistant. Ruth’s organisational skills and attention to detail are integral to her role, which encompasses not only attending to the firm’s general administrative duties and staff support, but also to maintaining the integrity and security of our deeds storage facility.
Ruth is also a Justice of the Peace and is proud to provide JP services to our clients.
Maddie Leach
Legal Assistant
Maddie’s friendly and approachable attitude – as well as her fantastic attention to detail and adaptability – enable her to jump in and provide assistance to all practitioners within all areas of the firm. She enjoys building strong relationships and aims to assist our valued clients in reaching their objectives. Maddie seeks continuous learning and growth within the legal industry, and is always eager to take on new challenges and more diverse tasks within the team.
Outside of work, Maddie enjoys camping with her husband and two daughters, travelling, mountain bike riding, and the occasional social game of Netball… Maddie claims that she is no longer competitive on the netball court, but we are yet to validate this claim!
Sally Currie
Legal Assistant
If you’ve ever seen Suits, then you’ll know what we mean when we say that Sally is our Donna! Sally sets the bar at Belbridge Fleming Law when it comes to attention to detail, organisation and a drive to assist everyone around her. One of the things that makes Sally a unique gem in our world is that she has experience across every area that we practice, having spent various chunks of time assisting in litigation and all types of commercial matters.
When our clients call Sal they are quickly put at ease by her calm phone manner. Sal prides herself on keeping up to date with everything that is happening on files across the firm, which means that she can always provide timely updates to our clients and assure them that we are on the case! If a client needs advice from a solicitor, Sal will be more than happy to take a detailed message so that a solicitor can get back to the client quickly and with the correct information.
There is no better shoulder of support than Sal’s. We love how close-knit our team is and Sal plays a significant part in that. Whether it be morning coffee runs to keep us caffeinated, birthday morning teas, mentoring newer staff or making sure she takes on enough work to prevent everyone else from drowning – she’s got our backs! Sal is also a wonderfully fast learner and has an eagerness for learning which means she is always up to the task at hand.
Sal’s home is her castle! When she isn’t making everyone else’s lives easier at BF, you can find her spending time in her beautiful backyard with her husband and sons, dogs and chooks. You’ll never see Sal shying away from legal tasks, but don’t use the word ‘moist’ in her presence or suggest that she eat any liquids like soup! (gross)
Noellene Wells
Accounts
Noellene’s role is to assist the firm one day per week by attending to all account-related processes. As a registered BAS Agent, Noellene takes care of all areas relating to ATO/GST lodgements and also assists with payroll-related activities.
Noellene enjoys interacting with clients to assist with their account enquiries.
Only being in the office one day per week, Noellene does enjoy catching up with staff and is also known to enjoy a joke and a laugh. Her role sometimes offers more frustration than necessary, which is best offset with obscure humour.
Noellene has a passion for fishing and enough gear to sink a battle ship, however the catch ratio sometimes seems to be consistent to that of a toddler.
Corissa Kilday
Finance Officer
Corissa works as our Finance Officer, alongside our Bookkeeper Noellene. She joined the team in August of 2023.
Prior to joining us, she worked in Accounts Receivable and Payable roles for over 9 years. She enjoys the role of Finance Officer and the variety of knowledge it entails.
Corissa is in the office on a part time basis, allowing her to spend time with her young family while working in a role she is passionate about.
While not at work, Corissa can be found crafting, baking, playing DnD, and spending time with her family.
She is on the school council as well as the parent’s social group and tries to volunteer with the school as much as possible. She believes that volunteering is what helps the community grow and thrive.
Corissa doesn’t have much of a green thumb, but that works well with her love of succulents. She has a growing collection of these little beauties, her Pink Witch being the favourite.
