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Robert McGirr

CO-FOUNDER & PARTNER

Rob, an industry veteran, was admitted to practice in 1978 and became one of the Victoria’s first Accredited Commercial Litigation Specialists in 1993.

Rob, 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 Brisbane, 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

Interlocutory applications

Undertaking urgent Supreme and Federal Court interlocutory applications in relation to various matters including: Partnership Disputes, Appointments of Receivers and Nuisance claims.

Directors, officers and trustees

Undertaking major Supreme Court litigation in relation to a dispute between family members arising out of property development projects involving tens of millions of dollars. This matter concerned the operation and effect of the various companies and trusts and the obligations of directors, officers and trustees.

Pre-publication advice

Previously acted on behalf of Pacific Publications Pty Ltd, the Publisher of New Idea.

Public liability and professional indemnity

Undertook public liability and professional indemnity work on behalf of Victorian Council pursuant to the Civic Mutual Plus Members Insurance Scheme for a period of 10 years; London insurers in Australia including Novae Syndicates Limited and Pro Claim Management Solutions.

Professional Indemnity Insurance

Previously acted on behalf of Victorian solicitors and barristers; representing the sole insurer for solicitors in Victoria, the Legal Practitioners’ Liability Committee, for over 30 years.

Major building dispute

Acted in a major building dispute by the client against a commercial building company, a division of BlueScope Steel Australia in respect to the construction on behalf of a client of a rail freight terminal in South Australia. The matter involved Supreme Court action and subsequent appeal to the Court of Appeal. Lysaght Building Solutions Pty Ltd (T/A Highline Commercial Construction) v Balanko Pty Ltd [2013] VSCA 158 and thereafter the conduct of an arbitration under the Commercial Arbitration Act 2011.

Robert McGirr

CO-FOUNDER & PARTNER

0413 944 023

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"Danielle guided us through the entire process with confidence and transparency, ensuring we always felt informed and supported."

Insurance Law

Plaintiff

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We had an outstanding experience working with Danielle. From the very beginning, she demonstrated exceptional professionalism, clear communication, and a genuine understanding of our situation. She guided us through the entire process with confidence and transparency, ensuring we always felt informed and supported.

What truly stood out was her ability to achieve a fast resolution while securing the exact outcome we were hoping for. Her expertise and strategic approach made a stressful situation significantly easier to manage.

Equally impressive was Danielle’s compassion and friendliness. She took the time to listen, showed real empathy, and made us feel like more than just another case. We always felt valued and reassured

"

"Danielle kept me well-informed and involved, ensuring I was aware of all my options throughout the legal process"

Insurance Law

Plaintiff

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Danielle Snell and the Elit Lawyers team acted for me on a high value insurance claim after insurers denied me all cover after my aircraft was damaged during the filming of a Hollywood movie. Given that insurers denied me all cover and offered to pay zero, with Danielle and team’s guidance, I issued proceedings in the Supreme Court of Victoria – Insurance List against the insurers involved. Danielle kept me well-informed and involved, ensuring I was aware of all my options throughout the legal process.

This was a stressful period for me, but I always felt confident and supported . I was happy to resolve the case prior to trial which involved a pay-out by the insurers. I felt confident to take on the insurers with the representation and support of Elit Lawyers and it proved to be the right move as I was ultimately paid out under my policy which was very different to the insurer’s original decision to pay me nothing.

"

"Within days, the podcast episode was removed and I was also given an apology, undertaking and some payment towards my legal costs"

Defamation – CEO

Plaintiff

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I highly recommend Danielle and her team to anyone needing to fight defamation matters, they achieve results! I was defamed on a podcast which was published on various forums. The Elit team prepared detailed Concerns Notices to the original publisher and also to the podcast operator and other forums the podcast was published on.  Within days, the podcast episode was removed and I was also given an apology, undertaking and some payment towards my legal costs. Thank you to the Elit team for helping me with this personal matter.

– CEO 

"

"On advice from Danielle and Mark, I sued the insurer in the Federal Court Insurance List and a settlement was reached within a couple of months!"

Insurance Law

Plaintiff

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One night, thieves broke into my home through the garage and stole my car whilst my wife and kids and myself were all in the house. They then abandoned and set the car on fire, resulting in a total loss. My insurance claim was denied because the car was parked in the driveway instead of the garage. On advice from Danielle and Mark, I sued the insurer in the Federal Court Insurance List and a settlement was reached within a couple of months!

"

"Aggie kept me well informed at every step and her supportive and approachable manner made a very stressful period in my life far easier to navigate."

Family Law – Property

Plaintiff

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I’m very thankful that my financial planner referred me to Aggie Vlahos. She guided me through negotiating, documenting and completing my family law property settlement with my ex. Aggie kept me well informed at every step and her supportive and approachable manner made a very stressful period in my life far easier to navigate. Would absolutely recommend.

 

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"I was grateful for Aggie’s expert advice, patience, and support during my family law court case"

Family Law

Plaintiff

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Aggie acted for me in relation to my litigated family law matter – during an intense and difficult time in my life.  I was grateful for Aggie’s expert advice, patience, and support during my family law court case which we were able to resolve positively at mediation. I would strongly recommend Aggie and her team to anybody needing legal assistance with their family law matter.

 

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