Raffael Maestri

Raffael is a Senior Associate in our Private Clients Team and draws on specialised experience in advising and acting on both non-contentious and contentious wills, estates and succession law matters. In 2019, 2020, 2022 and 2023 Raffael was listed in Doyle's Guide as a Rising Star in Wills and Estates law.

Raffael was admitted to practice in 2016 having graduated with a distinction average from the University of Sydney. His technical expertise and meticulous approach to his work assists him in delivering to his clients practical, effective and results-driven solutions to complex legal issues.

Raffael is a regular contributing author to LexisNexis’ Retirement and Estate Planning Bulletin. 

 

Qualifications

• Master of Laws (applied Law) majoring in Wills and Estates (graduating first place with High Distinction, The College of Law Australia)

• Juris Doctor (Distinction average, University of Sydney)

• Bachelor of Arts (Media Communications) (Distinction average, University of Sydney)

• Accredited Specialist in Wills and Estates Law

 

What Raffael’s clients say

“Raffael Maestri acted for me in 4 separate claims against the estate of my late husband. This was an extremely stressful period for me, at a time when I was also dealing with immense grief. Raffael was a constant source of calm. His extensive knowledge and attention to detail were reassuring from our very first meeting, and remained so throughout. I was encouraged by Raffael’s genuine patience and understanding. Raffael was sensitive to my situation and proved to be a steadying influence as the pressure mounted. Raffael was consistent in his approach to all aspects of my matter. Emails and phone calls were promptly returned and Raffael took the time to explain every detail of my matter, which at times felt beyond me. I could not be more grateful to Raffael and would recommend him without hesitation.”

- Private client

 

A word from Raffael

The diversity of our clients’ respective circumstances, and the legal issues that arise and confront them, continually reinforce to me the depth and complexity of wills, estates and succession law. It is constantly fulfilling to build and develop client relationships by navigating clients through the legal thicket to a positive resolution of such issues, in what I understand is often an emotional and overwhelming time for them.

 

Career highlights

• Being listed in the 2019, 2020, 2022 and 2023 Doyle's Guide as a Rising Star in Wills, Estates & Succession Planning in Australia. The listing details non-Partner level lawyers practising in either of contentious or non-contentious wills, estates and succession planning law matters across all Australian legal markets who have been identified by senior level Wills and Estates lawyers and barristers for their knowledge and expertise in these areas.

• Assisting the wife of the deceased in defending and favourably resolving four separate family provision claims against the estate of her late husband.

• Successfully obtaining rare orders for security for costs in contested probate proceedings, requiring an overseas plaintiff to pay money into Court as security for costs before being able to take any further steps in the proceedings.

• Successfully assisting the beneficiary of a discretionary trust in convincing the trustees of the trust to exercise their discretion in the beneficiary’s favour and distribute the whole trust fund to the beneficiary.

• In contested proceedings in the protective list of the Supreme Court, successfully assisting the siblings of a person suffering from a mental illness to obtain orders establishing an appropriate guardianship and financial management regime which protected the person’s best interests.

• Authoring numerous articles published in the LexisNexis Retirement & Estate Planning Bulletin.

 

Specific areas of focus

• Estate planning, including advising on and preparing complex testamentary trust wills, power of attorney appointments and enduring guardian appointments.

• Contested estate litigation, including acting and advising on estate disputes such as family provision claims, challenges to the validity of wills and disputes arising from estate administration.

• Uncontested applications to the Supreme Court for a grant of probate or letters of administration.

• Estate administration, both testate (where there is a valid will) and intestate (where there is no will).

• Applications for Court-authorised Wills for persons who are unable to make a will themselves due to lack of testamentary capacity.