Director & Principal Lawyer
Justeen Dormer
Justeen has over 25 years experience in commercial equity, specialising in estates, taxation, and corporations law. Justeen has cultivated a breadth of knowledge that is increasingly rare in today's legal landscape, where specialisation has become the norm. Justeen’s experience equips her with the skills to identify intricate legal issues and develop innovative solutions to resolve disputes. This interdisciplinary approach has proven invaluable in delivering comprehensive and tailored legal strategies to her clients.
Justeen has experience in all forms of dispute resolution, including litigation in various courts and tribunals in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland, domestic and international arbitration, mediation and conciliation.
Justeen has represented clients in various types of estate matters with all degrees of complexity, taxation (including crime) matters, tortious claims and family law matters where there are complex tax and commercial issues. She has represented commercial clients from a broad range of industries, including construction, manufacturing, information technology, professional and financial services, and advised on a wide range of legal issues and disputes in the areas of taxation, business and corporate structures, asset protection, corporate governance, insolvency and contractual disputes.
In 2008, following a successful career in commercial dispute resolution at Ashurst, Justeen established her own boutique law firm associated with Kreston Dormers Accountants and Business Advisors (now Tricor) to form a full service professional advisory firm. In 2012, Justeen founded Dormer Stanhope Lawyers and has focused on commercial equity dispute resolution.
In the last 6 years Justeen has developed expertise in succession law and estate disputes, achieving excellent outcomes for clients in cases involving contested probate, contested enduring guardianship and power of attorney, family provision, informal wills, setting aside transactions in equity due to unconscionable conduct, estoppel based on promises made by a testator that certain gifts would be made on death, mutual wills, misplaced wills, appointment of financial managers, and acting for minors and those under incapacity in estate disputes, including having settlements approved by Court.
Justeen has a strong interest in social justice, particularly every person’s right to access affordable legal services. Justeen applies her legal and business skills to promote equal access to public funding such as legal aid, and services that facilitate access to affordable legal services and self-representation. She regularly provides pro bono legal services via the Law Society of NSW Scheme.
Justeen graduated with a Bachelor of Arts/Laws (Honours) in 1997 and was admitted to the Supreme Court of NSW in 1998. She is also admitted to the High Court of Australia. In 2013 she completed a Certificate of Applied Taxation with the Tax Institute of Australia and in 2019 received the Company Directors Award having completed the International Directors Course (Dubai) with the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She remains a member of both Institutes, regularly attending conferences and events. In 2022 Justeen completed short courses with University of Technology Sydney, “Understanding Dementia: Facts and Foundations” and “Planning Ahead: Focus on Advance Care Planning”. Justeen is a regular attendee of the Blue Mountains Law Society Succession Conference.
Qualifications
Queensland University of Technology (Bachelor of Arts), 1997 (BA)
Queensland University of Technology (Bachelor of Laws with Honours by Award), 1997 (LLB Hons)
Graduate of the International Directors Course, AICD Dubai 2019 (GAICD)
Admitted to Supreme Court of NSW, 1998
Appointments and Memberships
Affiliate Member of STEP
Affiliate Member of The Tax Institute
Member of Australian Institute of Company Directors