WHAT WE DO
We are a boutique law firm based on the Central Coast of New South Wales and are specialists accredited by the Law Society of NSW in the field of Local Government and Planning Law.  We have served the Central Coast community for over 40 years, protecting our clients’ rights and interests and helping them navigate the legal system.  We have a demonstrated expertise in early dispute resolution and mediation and aim to help you resolve your problems without the need for expensive litigation.

OUR CLIENTS
Our clients include private developers, corporations and individuals as well as local government authorities.  We provide you with a personal and individualised service tailored to your needs.

OUR SERVICES
There are over 28,000 solicitors in New South Wales and only 51 of them are accredited specialists in Local Government and Planning Law.  Our firm specialises in the provision of legal services to the planning and development industry, as well as providing legal services in the areas of conveyancing, commercial law, and wills and estates, as well as criminal law.  All your matters will be handled by a qualified solicitor, in a careful and professional manner.   

OUR AIM
Our aim is to be the best boutique environmental planning and development law firm in Australia, providing excellent client services across a range of other practice areas to meey our clients’ legal needs, and help them negotiate the complex legal issues they face in their businesses and lives.

OUR TEAM

ROBERT BYRD

Robert is one of the co-principals of PJ Donnellan & Co.  He was admitted as a Solicitor in 1992 after graduating with a BA LLB from Macquarie University, and has been with our firm since 1995, having also practiced law in regional NSW.

Robert is highly experienced in all aspects of property law and is the principal lawyer looking after our conveyancing and other property needs.  He has expertise not only in purchases and sales but specialist property needs including easements, leases and subdivisions, having looked after the conveyancing needs of local government authorities and developers for many years.

Robert also practices extensively in the areas of wills and estates.  He can assist in the preparation of your will, whether it be a simple document or involve testamentary trusts.  Robert can also assist in the administration of estates and help make the Probate process a simple one for you.  Robert has also acted on numerous family provision claims and challenges to wills, acting both for executors defending the will and for beneficiaries who have been overlooked.

Robert was, until recently, the chairperson of the Positive Support Network on the Central Coast and still is an active supporter of the local LGBT community. Having recently moved to the southern end of the Central Coast he is getting to know his new local area and the needs of the community there.

PATRICK DONNELLAN

Patrick Donnellan OAM graduated with Bachelor of Arts in 1966 and Bachelor of Laws in 1970 from Sydney University and as Master of Arts from the University of New South Wales in 1991 majoring in French.  Patrick has the Diplôme Supérieur de Français des Affaires.  He was admitted as Solicitor of the Supreme Court of NSW in 1970. Patrick has now retired but remains a consultant to our firm.

Patrick has practised extensively over the years in the Land and Valuation Court, the Local Government Appeals Tribunal and the Land and Environment Court and has appeared in every Court from the High Court of Australia to the Local Court which has jurisdiction in relation to Local Government affairs and has had an abiding interest in all areas of Local Government Law, particularly in the area of planning and environmental law.

Patrick is an accredited Specialist in Local Government and Planning Law. He   is also an accredited mediator, having gained qualifications and accreditation through Bond University in 2011.

Patrick has an extensive knowledge of Local Government and Planning and Development Law, Local Government legal needs and an understanding of and how those needs may best be met.  It would be correct to describe Patrick as one of the most experienced practitioners in the specialised field of providing legal services to Local Government, having appeared in hundreds of cases of greater and lesser importance over the years.  

Patrick was the President of the Gosford Philharmonia Inc. from 1977 to 2006 and was President of the Central Coast Law Society from 2000 to 2002.  He is one of the fifteen senior practitioners who form the New South Wales Local Government Lawyers Group. He was awarded the OAM in 2013 for services to the Community of Gosford.

DONNA MAKEPEACE

Donna has been providing her invaluable skills to the running of PJ Donnellan & Co for over 25 years.  Donna is the office manager and oversees our accounts; her exceptional skills are key to the smooth running of our practice.  Donna is currently looking for ways to improve our delivery of legal services and is herself undertaking further studies through the University of Newcastle.

TRACEY HILL

Tracey is an experienced legal secretary having worked in legal offices for over 34 years and has been with our firm for 15 years.  Tracey provides personal assistant services to Pauline Wright and has wide legal experience including conveyancing, estates, and litigation.  Tracey has high level skills with Word and is responsible for maintenance of our precedent system.  Tracey keeps everyone in the office well supplied with treats from her Thermomix.

DI GILLAN

Di is a senior legal secretary and paralegal who has been with P J Donnellan & Co for 23 years.  She has been personal assistant to Patrick Donnellan for over 14 years.  Her experience extends from Land and Environment Court work, to contested estates and probate, as well as commercial and domestic conveyancing.  Di is a highly skilled and valued member of our staff and looks after a great deal of administration including our in-house stamping of documents for the Office of State Revenue.