Banking & Finance

Our banking and finance team employs a highly strategic and commercial approach to a wide range of banking and financial services.

Elit Lawyers by McGirr & Snell is a boutique firm dedicated to providing clients with legal advice covering a wide range of banking and financial services and all forms of general borrowing.

Led by Aggie Vlahos, our team represents clients in banking and finance disputes, including litigated disputes and acts on behalf of private lenders. As part of our services, we are also able to assist clients in the documentation of loans made to family members and friends, as well as undertaking all aspects of loan recovery actions for loans advanced to family members or friends.

In addition, we can advise how a financial loan or gift may be handled in relation to a financial settlement under the Family Law Act 1975.

At Elit Lawyers by McGirr & Snell, clients are at the heart of everything we do.

Our approach to providing legal services embraces the spirit of entrepreneurship and modern collaboration, enabling our clients to be part of the journey, rather than removed from it.

Expertise

Banking and finance disputes, including litigated disputes

Loan agreements

Loan recovery

Security enforcement

Security documentation

Written demands pursuant to loan agreements, mortgages and guarantees

Mortgages and guarantees

Issuing default notices

Filing proceedings for possession of security properties

Filing proceedings for debt pursuant to loan agreements and/or guarantees

Obtaining default judgments

Filing warrants for possessions

Applications for summary judgment

Private lending

Expertise

Banking and finance disputes, including litigated disputes

Loan agreements

Loan recovery

Security enforcement

Security documentation

Written demands pursuant to loan agreements, mortgages and guarantees

Mortgages and guarantees

Issuing default notices

Filing proceedings for possession of security properties

Filing proceedings for debt pursuant to loan agreements and/or guarantees

Obtaining default judgments

Filing warrants for possessions

Applications for summary judgment

Private lending

Since the firm launched, Elit Lawyers by McGirr & Snell have won multiple awards, including:

Litigation Team of the Year 2025 - Finalist

Insurance Team of the Year 2025 - Finalist

Litigator of the Year 2025 - Finalist

Danielle Snell. Managing Partner of the Year.

Managing Partner of the Year - Winner

Law Firm Leader of the Year <100 employees - Winner

Boutique Firm of the Year - Winner

Major Matters

Release of obligations from major lender

Acting for a wife in relation to an application to the Financial Ombudsman Service against a major lender, ultimately negotiating a full release of her obligations under a Guarantee & Indemnity she had provided in relation to her husband’s business debt of $750,000.

Exercising power of sale against borrower

Representing a Lender seeking to exercise its power of sale in relation to an application made by a borrower in Western Australia seeking to set aside a $19M mortgage based on alleged unconscionable conduct.

Alleged breach of Valuation Services Agreement

Acting for a Lender in relation to a proceeding in the County Court seeking damages against a valuer for breaches under a Valuation Services Agreement and their duty of care in the completion of a Valuation Report provided to and relied on by the Lender.

Claims of fraudulent conduct

Representing a Lender in relation to a claim made by a mortgagor in Victoria seeking to set aside a $900,000 mortgage based on the fraudulent conduct of her husband and the Lender’s alleged failure to verify her identity using the applicable VOI Standards.

Right to reside

Representing a Lender seeking to exercise its power of sale pertaining to a claim by a borrower’s relative claiming to have superior title in a security property by way of an equitable right to reside in the property.

Major Matters

Get in touch

With us personally, it is just one more way we’re different.

Danielle Snell

CO-FOUNDER AND MANAGING PARTNER

.

Robert McGirr

CO-FOUNDER & PARTNER

.

Aggie Vlahos

PARTNER

.

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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

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

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

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

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

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.

 

"

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

Family Law

Plaintiff

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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