Robert McGirr
Co-Founder and Partner
Robert McGirr, an industry veteran, was admitted to practice in 1978 and became one of the Victoria’s first Accredited Commercial Litigation Specialists in 1993.
Biography
Robert McGirr, an industry veteran, was admitted to practice in 1978 and became one of the Victoria’s first Accredited Commercial Litigation Specialists in 1993.
Rob has over 40 years’ experience in the legal industry as a Senior Partner responsible for commercial litigation and insurance legal teams. He has practiced throughout Australia and in New Zealand at both trial and appellate levels.
Rob practices substantially in commercial litigation, arbitration, equity, trade practices, contract disputes, corporate governance/directors duties/oppression actions, and has particular expertise in professional indemnity defence work.
A special interest in media and defamation matters led to his completion of a masters subject in the discipline, thereafter working in proceedings for high profile individuals as well as providing pre-publication advice for weekly Australian magazine “New Idea”.
For more than 30 years, Rob represented the sole insurer for solicitors in Victoria, the Legal Practitioners’ Liability Committee. This has involved acting on behalf of Victorian solicitors and the insurer in a variety of litigious matters in all jurisdictions.
Rob is highly regarded for his depth of expertise, integrity and tenacity, attributing much of his success to having a high attention to detail and thorough understanding of the facts and dynamics at play in a litigation matter.
After taking a sabbatical between late 2019 and early 2020, Rob partnered with former colleague Danielle Snell to create a new transformational way of providing legal services and to pursue his passion to help clients achieve commercial solutions. Rob splits his time between Melbourne and Noosa, and is a member of the Noosa Lifesaving Club.
Rob sits on the Law Institute of Victoria’s Commercial Litigation Advisory Committee, and was formerly a member of the Litigation Lawyers Executive Committee, and the Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee.
Major Matters
Major Matters
Robert McGirr
CO-FOUNDER AND PARTNER
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"The best of the best plaintiff lawyers against insurance companies. We had a very tough and complex case and Danielle and her team settled with the insurance company for an optimal outcome."
Insurance Policy Holder
Home owner
The best of the best plaintiff lawyers team against insurance companies.
We had a very tough and complex case against insurance company that we lost our home and contents. After disappointing and frustrating process from another law firm and firing them we found Danielle Snell and her team.
They are very dedicated, knowledgeable, passionate and possess great communication skills. We couldn’t ask for more and settled with a optimal outcome.
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"It’s great to be able to confidently refer clients to someone who can help and support them, and to feel that they are receiving the best service."
Senior Adviser
Financial Planner
We are so glad to have you in our referral channel.
It’s great to be able to confidently refer clients to someone who can help and support them, and to feel that they are receiving the best service.
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"This was a “David v Goliath” fight as our dispute was with a large global corporation. The attention, compassion and guidance that Danielle and the team showed us was absolutely incredible."
CEO & Founder
National mental-health support organisation
We recently instructed Danielle from Elit Lawyers by McGirr & Snell to help with a legal dispute. As a small purpose led business, this was a “David v Goliath” fight as our dispute was with a large global corporation. This dispute was during a very emotional time as we were in the middle of a global pandemic, Melbourne’s sixth lockdown, homeschooling and no childcare – all while trying to keep our small business alive.
The attention, compassion and guidance that Danielle and the team showed us was absolutely incredible. I have 10 years legal experience myself and even with that, I was reluctant to litigate, especially during such a difficult time. However Danielle always gave us confidence in knowing that she was in our corner and always working for our best interests, so my reluctance was quickly appeased.
Today I am pleased to share that David defeated Goliath and we could not be more thrilled with the result we received thanks to Danielle and the team from Elit Lawyers. Danielle not only saved our company, but ensured that we could continue doing the good work we were previously and helping improve the lives and mental health of mothers across Australia.
I could not recommend Danielle and the team from Elit Lawyers more highly. I am *hoping* that I will never need their services again, but feel very reassured knowing they are there and always in my corner.
Thank you Danielle and team.
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"I consider Robert and Danielle to be “trusted and safe pair of hands” who will respect the originating client relationship."
Senior Partner
Leading Melbourne Law Firm
For the sake of my own reputation and practice, I always refer conflicted legal matters or those outside my expertise to Elit Lawyers as I consider Robert and Danielle to be “trusted and safe pair of hands” who will respect the originating client relationship.
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"Elit negotiated a settlement which saw all proceedings against my company dismissed, with no order as to costs."
Owner and Managing Director
Major Transport Company
I was recently introduced to Elit Lawyers by McGirr & Snell by my former lawyers after they were required to cease acting for me due to a conflict of interest. The stakes were high as my company was exposed to multiple court proceedings. Elit Lawyers by McGirr & Snell impressed me so much. They went that extra mile and were able to negotiate a settlement which saw all proceedings against my company dismissed, with no order as to costs. I can’t thank Elit enough.
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"I was immediately impressed by their ability to assume conduct quickly and get across all the legal issues..."
Senior Victorian Litigator
As a senior lawyer working at a national law firm, conflicts come up from time to time. Most recently, I was conflicted from acting for a client when an insurance issue arose. I referred the client directly to Elit Lawyers by McGirr & Snell and was immediately impressed by their ability to assume conduct quickly and get across all the legal issues. My client contacted me a few months after achieving an outstanding result and was very appreciative of the referral to your terrific firm.