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Justeen Dormer

Principal Lawyer & Director
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Justeen Dormer began her career at Ashurst, a top-tier law firm where she developed a strong foundation in complex commercial dispute resolution. As the Principal Lawyer and Director of Dormer Stanhope, Justeen leads a premier boutique law firm founded on the principle of delivering top-tier legal expertise with personalised client service. With a distinguished career spanning nearly three decades, Justeen brings a level of strategic insight and experience typically associated with major national firms. This background provides Dormer Stanhope's clients with a distinct advantage: the strategic rigour of a top-tier lawyer combined with the direct, hands-on attention that only a boutique law firm can offer.

At Dormer Stanhope, the client-lawyer relationship is paramount. Justeen leads a capable team of senior associates, graduate lawyers, paralegals, and expert consultants, including a former Ashurst Partner. However, she ensures that every matter receives her direct oversight and strategic input. Cases are not delegated to junior staff; instead, clients benefit from Justeen's extensive experience from start to finish. This approach guarantees that complex legal challenges are met with seasoned expertise and unwavering commitment.

While specialisation has become the standard in the legal profession, Justeen's career has taken a deliberately different path. Having practised across multiple areas of law, she has come to understand that the law is deeply interconnected — and that breadth of experience makes for a more effective litigator. Her comprehensive knowledge across disciplines allows her to identify intricate legal issues and craft innovative solutions that others might miss. Having built this broad foundation, Justeen has now chosen to focus her practice on Wills and Estate Disputes, bringing the full weight of her interdisciplinary insight to bear in this complex and deeply personal area of law.

Justeen specialises in Succession Law & Estate Disputes, expertly navigating contested probate, enduring guardianship disputes, family provision claims, and challenges to wills. Justeen has achieved excellent outcomes in cases involving informal wills, unconscionable conduct, estoppel, and matters concerning minors or those under incapacity.

Justeen is a member of both The Tax Institute and the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She completed the International Directors Course with the AICD in Dubai in 2019. She is dedicated to continuous learning, regularly attending industry events like the Blue Mountains Law Society Succession Conference and completing further studies, including courses on "Understanding Dementia" and "Advance Care Planning" with the University of Technology Sydney.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Master of Laws (Applied Law) majoring in Wills and Estates and Estate Planning

  • Graduate of the International Directors Course, AICD Dubai 2019 (GAICD)

  • Admitted to Supreme Court of NSW, 1998

  • Queensland University of Technology (Bachelor of Laws with Honours by Award), 1997 (LLB Hons)

  • Queensland University of Technology (Bachelor of Arts), 1997 (BA)

APPOINTMENTS AND MEMBERSHIPS

  • Member of The Law Society of New South Wales

  • Affiliate Member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners

  • Affiliate Member of The Tax Institute

  • Member of Australian Institute of Company Directors

  • Member of IR Global

SELECTED CASES

  • Mackinlay v Holliday (No 2) [2023] NSWSC 1024

  • Mackinlay v Holliday [2023] NSWSC 949

  • Nelson v Health Care Complaints Commission (No 2) (Costs) [2023] NSWCATOD 93

  • Nelson v Health Care Complaints Commission [2023] NSWCATOD 5

  • JS and SD v Nationwide News Pty Ltd, Hornsby Local Court Unreported decision, Magistrate Denes, 17 December 2021, non-publication and suppression order for high-profile criminal case

  • In the matter of Pak Brothers Pty Ltd [2021] NSWSC 1247

  • Moriah War Memorial College Association v Augustine Robert Nosti [2020] NSWSC 942

  • Moriah War Memorial College v Nosti [2020] NSWSC 603

  • In the matter of Australian Worldwide Pty Ltd [2019] NSWSC 1475

  • Burton v Prior (No 2) [2019] NSWSC 518

  • Burton v Prior [2019] NSWSC 518

  • Australian Worldwide Pty Ltd v AW Exports Pty Ltd [2018] NSWSC 1632

  • In the matter of Australian Worldwide Pty Ltd [2017] NSWSC 1641

  • Turnbull v Turnbull [2017] NSWSC 1316

  • Cassaniti v Ruse NSW Pty Limited [2017] NSWSC 499

  • Cassaniti v Ruse NSW Pty Ltd [2017] NSWCA 285

  • Armstrong Strategic Management and Marketing Pty Limited v Expense Reduction Analysts Group Pty Ltd (No 10) [2017] NSWSC 16

  • Esplanade Wollongong Unit Trust v Chief Commissioner of State Revenue [2017] NSWCATAD 15

  • Mortimer v Lusink & Ors [2017] QCA 1

  • Armstrong Strategic Management and Marketing Pty Limited v Expense Reduction Analysts Group Pty Ltd (No 9) [2016] NSWSC 1005

  • Kaspersky Lab UK Ltd v Hemisphere Technologies [2016] NSWSC 147, stay application pursuant to section 7 of the International Arbitration Act 1974 (Cth) and request for arbitration pursuant to the Institute of Stockholm Arbitration Centre rules

  • Mortimer v Lusink & Ors [2016] QSC 119

  • Kafataris v Deputy Commissioner of Taxation [2015] FCA 874

  • R v Pratten (No 15) [2015] NSWSC 573

  • R v Pratten (No 14) [2015] NSWSC 457

  • Esplanade Wollongong Pty Limited v Commissioner of State Revenue [2015] NSWCATAD 228

  • Hua Wang Bank Berhad v Commissioner of Taxation (No 17) [2015] FCA 72

  • LHRC v Deputy Commissioner of Taxation (No 4) [2015] FCA 70

  • Channel Pastoral Holdings Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Taxation [2015] FCAFC 57

  • LHRC v Deputy Commissioner of Taxation (No 3) [2015) FCA 52

  • Russell Gould Pty Ltd v Ramangkura (No 2) [2015] NSWCA 14

  • Hua Wang Bank Berhad v Commissioner of Taxation (No 16) [2014] FCA 1407

  • Allan J Heasman Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Taxation [2014] FCA 1282

  • McGrouther v Commissioner of Taxation [2014] FCA 1102

  • LHRC v Deputy Commissioner of Taxation [2014] FCA 388

  • Armstrong Strategic Management and Marketing v Expense Reduction Analysis Group [2013] NSWSC 1702

  • Hua Wang Bank Berhad v Commissioner of Taxation (No 15) [2013] FCA 1124

  • Hua Wang Bank Berhad v Commissioner of Taxation (No 14) [2013] FCA 1096

  • Hua Wang Bank Berhad v Commissioner of Taxation (No 13) [2013] FCA 1095

  • Hua Wang Bank Berhad v Commissioner of Taxation (No 12) [2013] FCA 1091

  • Hua Wang Bank Berhad v Commissioner of Taxation (No 11) [2013] FCA 1055

  • Hua Wang Bank Berhad v Commissioner of Taxation (No 9) [2013] FCA 1022

  • Hua Wang Bank Berhad v Commissioner of Taxation (No 8) [2013] FCA 1021

  • Hua Wang Bank Berhad v Commissioner of Taxation (No 6) [2013] FCA 992

  • Armstrong Strategic Management and Marketing Pty Ltd v Expense Reduction Analysts Group Pty Ltd; Expense Reduction Analysts Group Pty Limited v Armstrong Strategic Management and Marketing Pty Limited [2012] NSWCA 430

  • Armstrong Strategic Management and Marketing Pty Limited & Ors v Expense Reduction Analysts Group Pty Ltd & Ors [2012] NSWSC 393

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