Finance, Tax, Debt & Bankruptcy Lawyers and Solicitors in Sydney

This area covers the legal side of money problems and money disputes. It includes tax audits and disputes with the Australian Taxation Office, debt recovery and defending claims for debt, personal bankruptcy and debt agreements under the Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth), company insolvency and restructuring under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), lending and mortgage disputes, and asset protection planning.

Courts and tribunals

Bankruptcy petitions are heard in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2) and the Federal Court of Australia. Company winding-up and liquidator disputes are heard in the Supreme Court of New South Wales or the Federal Court. Debt claims are issued in the Local Court or the District Court, depending on the amount. Decisions of the Commissioner of Taxation on objections can be reviewed by the Administrative Review Tribunal, or challenged in the Federal Court. Complaints against banks and lenders can go to the Australian Financial Complaints Authority. The Australian Financial Security Authority administers the personal insolvency system and the bankruptcy register.

How bankruptcy works

A person becomes bankrupt by sequestration order made on a creditor's petition or by lodging a debtor's petition. Bankruptcy generally lasts three years and one day, though objections and other factors can extend it. A trustee takes control of divisible property, and some assets and income are protected.

Legal aid and free services

Legal Aid NSW does not usually fund bankruptcy or tax disputes. Free financial counselling is available through the National Debt Helpline, and the Financial Rights Legal Centre gives free legal advice on credit and debt to eligible people. Check each service for its criteria.

What to bring to a first meeting

• Letters of demand, statements of claim, court documents or ATO notices
• A list of debts, assets, income and expenses
• Loan and credit contracts and recent statements
• Tax returns and notices of assessment

Checking credentials

Solicitors must hold a current practising certificate shown on the Law Society of NSW register. Barristers are listed by the NSW Bar Association. Registered trustees and liquidators are separately registered.

Practitioners on this page work with clients in the Sydney CBD, Parramatta and Western Sydney, the North Shore, the Eastern Suburbs, the Inner West, the South West, Sutherland, the Hills District and the Northern Beaches.

The listings below are alphabetical and are not ranked.

Common questions

What is a statutory demand?

A statutory demand is a formal written demand served on a company under section 459E of the Corporations Act 2001 for payment of a debt. If the company does not pay or apply to a court to set the demand aside within 21 days, it is presumed to be insolvent, which can allow the creditor to apply for the company to be wound up.

Does bankruptcy affect a person's ability to run a business?

It can. A bankrupt person generally cannot be a company director without court permission, and bankruptcy is recorded on the National Personal Insolvency Index. Some occupations that require licences or professional registration may be affected. The rules differ by industry, and the regulator for the relevant licence can confirm its requirements.

Who can review an ATO decision?

A taxpayer who disagrees with an assessment can lodge an objection with the ATO. If the objection is disallowed, the taxpayer can apply to the Administrative Review Tribunal for review or appeal to the Federal Court. Strict time limits apply at each step.

Finance, Tax, Debt & Bankruptcy lawyers by suburb

Eastern Suburbs

Bellevue Hill, Ben Buckler, Bondi, Bondi Beach, Bondi Junction, Bondi Junction Plaza, Bronte, Centennial Park, Charing Cross, Clovelly, Clovelly West, Coogee, Daceyville, Darling Point, Diamond Bay, Double Bay, Dover Heights, Edgecliff, Hmas Rushcutters, Hmas Watson, Kensington, Kingsford, Maroubra, Maroubra South, Moore Park, North Bondi, Paddington, Pagewood, Point Piper, Queens Park, Randwick, Rose Bay, Rose Bay North, South Coogee, St Pauls, Tamarama, Vaucluse, Watsons Bay, Waverley, Woollahra

Inner West

Annandale, Balmain, Balmain East, Birchgrove, Drummoyne, Leichhardt, Lilyfield, Rozelle, Stanmore, Westgate

North Shore

Artarmon, Cammeray, Castlecrag, Cremorne, Cremorne Junction, Cremorne Point, Crows Nest, Gore Hill, Greenwich, Hmas Platypus, Hmas Waterhen, Kirribilli, Kurraba Point, Lane Cove, Lane Cove North, Lane Cove West, Lavender Bay, Linley Point, Longueville, McMahons Point, Middle Cove, Milsons Point, Mosman, Naremburn, Neutral Bay, Neutral Bay Junction, North Sydney Shoppingworld, North Willoughby, Northbridge, Northwood, Osborne Park, Riverview, Royal North Shore Hospital, Spit Junction, St Leonards, Waverton, Willoughby, Willoughby East, Willoughby North, Wollstonecraft

Northern Beaches

Allambie, Allambie Heights, Balgowlah, Balgowlah Heights, Beacon Hill, Brookvale, Clontarf, Curl Curl, Fairlight, Frenchs Forest, Frenchs Forest East, Freshwater, Harbord, Manly, Manly East, Manly Vale, North Balgowlah, North Manly, Oxford Falls, Queenscliff, Seaforth, Warringah Mall

Sydney CBD and Inner South

Alexandria, Barangaroo, Beaconsfield, Broadway, Camperdown, Chippendale, Darling Harbour, Darling Island, Darlinghurst, Darlington, Dawes Point, Eastlakes, Elizabeth Bay, Enmore, Erskineville, Eveleigh, Forest Lodge, Glebe, Golden Grove, Haymarket, Hmas Kuttabul, Kings Cross, Millers Point, Missenden Road, Newtown, Parliament House, Potts Point, Pyrmont, Redfern, Rosebery, Rushcutters Bay, Surry Hills, Sydney, Sydney South, Taylor Square, The Rocks, The University Of Sydney, Ultimo, Waterloo, Woolloomooloo, Zetland