Our Team
John de Mestre – Principal
John has practised as a solicitor in Sydney since 1984. John established John de Mestre & Co Pty Ltd in 1992. He has been involved with many and varied areas of general practice including:
- Appearing in most of the various levels of different Australian Courts and jurisdictions.
- Sports law including appearances in the Court of Arbitration for Sport and advising large sporting organisations on corporate governance and sports law issues
- Presenting conference papers and providing legal comments on topical legal issues (see Publications/Cases).
John was also the Chairman of the Tattersalls Club (http://www.tattersallsclub.org) and was a director on the board of the FSHD Global Research Foundation (http://www.fshdglobal.org)
Michael de Mestre – Director
Michael is a solicitor of John de Mestre & Co with over ten years of practising experience, specialising in strata title and property. He has extensive experience with property law, mortgages, leases, mezzanine and bank financing, commercial agreements, by-laws and strata law. Michael has acted on all contractual documentation required for thousands of off-the-plan units in Rhodes, NSW and Wentworth Point Marinas for the developer Billbergia Pty Ltd.
In addition to his commercial practice, Michael has been a Director of the Charity Hope for Cambodia since 2018. Hope is a community-based charity in Cambodia that seeks to assist some of the poorest and unprivileged children. Michael’s proudest achievements for the charity include assisting with surviving COVID shutdowns and opening the first charity baby nursery in Cambodia for working mothers.
Being the father of two young children, the nursery holds a special place in Michael’s heart. Naturally, he provides financial support to the charity, including yearly donations and funding the university scholarships of underprivileged children.
Outside of his professional life, Michael is happily married to his wife Rachel de Mestre and is the father of two young girls. Michael is the eldest son of John de Mestre, the firm’s principal and Michael greatly enjoys being a working father in a happy working family business environment.
MaryAnn de Mestre – Senior Associate
([email protected])
Sessional Academic, Macquarie Law School
MaryAnn is a Senior Associate Solicitor and is qualified with a Bachelor of Arts & Sciences, a Bachelor of Laws with Honours, Certificate of Practice Legal Training & a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice Management. MaryAnn is currently finishing a Master of Laws majoring in Wills & Estate Planning.
MaryAnn was the Tipstaff to the Honourable Justice Geoff Lindsay (Probate & Protective List Judge) of the Supreme Court of NSW, which gave her invaluable knowledge and experience in respect of complex Estate Litigation.
MaryAnn has undertaken a number of academic pursuits including, Guest Editor of the Elder Law Review and Guest Lecturer for the Elder Law LLB Course for Western Sydney University. MaryAnn has also presented at the International Legal Ethics Conference VII in New York on Elder Law and Substitute Decision Making. MaryAnn has acted as an Academic Adjunct Fellow for Western Sydney University and is currently a Sessional Academic for Macquarie Law School. MaryAnn currently enjoys her role as Tutor and Marker for the Wills & Estates, Succession Law subject for Macquarie Law School.
Additionally, as part of her academic pursuits MaryAnn has published a number of articles on her area of interest (Wills and Estates) and has acted as referee for the Adelaide Law Review and assisted in the updating of the NSW Civil Procedure Handbook as an author. In 2023 MaryAnn was a finalist for Academic of the Year 2023 for the Lawyers Weekly Australian Law Awards.
MaryAnn has extensive experience in a full range of matters and has particular interest in litigation, wills, estates and succession law. Her practice includes comprehensive succession planning, as well as acting in a number of litigation disputes and alternative dispute resolution processes. MaryAnn often drafts complex wills and succession documents for high-profile individuals and frequently appears in numerous Courts, including the Supreme Court, Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia.
Warren Azar – Solicitor
With over 40 years’ experience in the law, Warren has acted on countless options, sales, acquisitions, development agreements and complex loan facilities for major boutique residential, commercial and retail developments. He continues to support substantial developers of medium-high density strata developments. Warren also engages a good deal of his time in pro bono work for diverse charitable and religious organisations.
Michael Tomaras -Associate
Michael joined our firm in 2016. He was admitted as a solicitor in 2022.
During Michael’s time at our firm he has acted on strata developments, residential & commercial conveyancing, commercial & retail leasing, sales & purchases of business and in strata law.
Michael has a keen interest in property and commercial law. He is an enthusiastic member of the team with a strong work ethic and excellent attention to detail.
Brenda Fang – Solicitor
Brenda graduated from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Laws and has been practicing as a solicitor since 2020. Brenda is fluent in Mandarin and English.
Prior to joining John de Mestre & Co in November 2020, she accumulated over two years experience within the legal profession as a paralegal. During her tenure as a solicitor, Brenda has gained notable experience within the areas of property law, commercial agreements, and estate law.
She holds a strong interest in wills & estates, real property and litigation.
Georgia Owers – Solicitor
Georgia graduated from the Australian Catholic University with a Bachelor of Biomedical Science and a Bachelor of Laws. She has since completed her Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice and was admitted as a solicitor in June 2023.
Since joining John de Mestre & Co as a graduate in March 2023 she has gained valuable experience in a wide variety of fields including real property, litigation, and wills & estates.
Prior to joining the firm Georgia was fortunate to gain experience working as a law clerk and as a member of an inhouse legal team.
Breanna Ivankovic – Paralegal
Breanna joined John de Mestre & Co in March 2021 and is currently in her third year, completing a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Commerce (majoring in Accounting) at Macquarie University.
Since joining the firm, she has gained invaluable experience within the legal profession as a paralegal in a wide variety of fields including property law, family law, civil litigation, and wills & estates. Prior to joining the firm, Breanna worked for a Chartered Accounting firm, gaining valuable professional and commercial experience, and accounting knowledge that she uses to provide assistance to the firm.
Yvonne Zheng – Paralegal
Yvonne is currently a Juris Doctor student at UNSW. She graduated with honours as a High Distinction student from the University of Sydney, obtaining a Bachelor of Project Management with a major in Business Analytics.
Since joining John de Mestre & Co in March 2022 as a paralegal, she has gained valuable experience in various areas of law, including property law, family law, civil litigation, and wills & estates.
Prior to joining the firm, Yvonne worked as a Management Consultant, acquiring knowledge and skills that contribute to the effective and efficient delivery of legal services to the firm.
Emmy Phung- Paralegal
Emmy joined John de Mestre & Co in February 2023 and is currently in her fourth year, completing a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Arts (majoring in International Relations) at Macquarie University.
Since joining the firm, she has acquired extensive knowledge within the legal profession as a paralegal in a wide variety of fields including real property, family law, civil litigation and wills & estates. Prior to joining the firm, Emmy worked for a range of different and unique firms and volunteer centres, gaining invaluable experience in debt recovery, personal injury, historical abuse and social justice.