Law firm Melbourne CBD & Mount Waverley

Who we are

Hicks Oakley Chessell Williams is a well-respected law firm whose origins began in 1961 in Mount Waverley, an Eastern suburb of Melbourne.

Hicks Oakley Chessell Williams is an incorporated practice, initially formed as a partnership in 2006 by a merger between the firms of Hicks & Oakley and Chessell Williams.

The current Directors and Principal Lawyers are Matthew Hicks, Lachlan Vallance and Vincent Caruso. Sarah Lindsey, Emmalaura Messer, Ali Dogan and Bernard Mackey are Principal Lawyers. Simone Wunderlich, Brooke Boothby, Neville Sampson and John Davies are Consultant Lawyers. David Williams and John R Sharkie retired from private practice on 30 June 2022. Garry Philpott retired in February 2023 and Will Summons retired at the end of June 2023.

Why choose our firm

Our experienced solicitors at Hicks Oakley Chessell Williams provide high quality legal services to clients including corporate, small business and private. With extensive years of professional experience, we provide specialist advice from experienced advisors. Lawyers in our Melbourne office and Mount Waverley office, in the southeastern suburbs of Melbourne, are able to assist you with a wide range of practice areas.

We have lawyers who are Law Institute of Victoria Accredited Specialists in:

commercial litigation workplace relations wills & estates family law

Our property lawyers and experienced conveyancers are experienced in substantial property matters and private client advisory work.

Appointments may be made with our lawyers at either office at a mutually convenient time.

How we came about…

Hicks & Oakley was founded in 1961 by John Hicks in the name of F J Orames & Downing. In the 1970’s John was joined by Tony Oakley and in 1983 John & Tony formed the firm Hicks & Oakley. 

Chessell Williams was established in 1997 by Murray Chessell and David Williams.

Our law firm continues to expand and has acquired or merged with practices including Lester Fielden, Gerald A Grotjan and Davies & Gullquist.

In 2017 the firm acquired the deeds held by Weston Gambetta & Co., Forest Hill, Victoria. 

In 2019 we merged with John R Sharkie, Lawyers & Solicitors, a Malvern East, Victorian Law Firm.

In 2019 we acquired the deeds held by Ray Kaynes Lawyer, 332 Maroondah Highway, Ringwood, Victoria.

In 2020 we merged with Boothby & Boothby Lawyers, 883 Dandenong Road, Caulfield East, Victoria.

From July 2021 we are able to provide legal services, from an office in Korumburra, to our Gippsland based clients. Appointments may be made on a Thursday at the offices of Williams, Edwards and Findlay, Certified Practicing Accountants, located at 19 Commercial Street, Korumburra 3950. Please phone the office of Hicks Oakley Chessell Williams on 03 9550 4600 to make an appointment. Click here for more information on our legal services in Gippsland.

In 2021 we acquired the law firm of EP Johnson & Davies, 52 Collins Street, Melbourne, Victoria. John Davies still continues as a Consultant with HOCW.

In 2021 Will Summons Whitehead Summons, 45 Arnold Street, South Yarra, joined HOCW, with Will retiring at the end of June 2023.

On 12 June 2024 the firm acquired all deeds held by Kerr & Thomas Lawyers, Bayswater, Victoria.

Through this expansion our lawyers are pleased to be able to provide legal services for these practices' clients who live in Greater Melbourne: the City of Melbourne, Port Phillip, Stonnington, Yarra, Banyule, Bayside, Boroondara, Glen Eira, Manningham, Monash, Moreland, Knox and Whitehorse. We also provide legal services for our clients in the Gippsland region.

Our firm is pleased to provide a range of legal services and has relished the opportunity to keep evolving and growing professionally to meet the needs of our clients, locally and nationally.