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About Us

Focusing on estate planning and succession, Opes Legal & Consulting recognise that you and your family are unique so we tailor our legal services to each client based on whether you have simple or more complex needs.  

 

We provide legal support focused on trusts and estate planning for individuals and their families across Australia.

Our Experience

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Caroline Harley

BA, LLB, Grad Dip Leg Prac, LLM (Leg Prac), TEP, SSA® 

Principal Lawyer

Caroline has extensive experience after practising in family law, trusts, superannuation and estate planning.  She has a genuine interest in helping people and a passion for this area of the law which impacts all of us.  Caroline draws on her experience to help clients understand relevant issues, make informed decisions and take proactive steps to feel secure and confident.

 

In addition to working with law firms Caroline has worked with one of Australia's largest professional trustee companies and was responsible for the legal issues arising in the administration of estates, day to day trust operation and financial management for individuals.

 

She has experience working with Australia's largest multi-family office as well as working directly with single family offices, private clients and their families.

 

Caroline has worked with an APRA regulated superannuation fund advising on the payment of superannuation death benefits when member nominations fail.

 

Caroline holds a Bachelor of Arts, a Bachelor's and Master's degree of Law, the Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice, and was admitted to legal practice in 2008. Caroline is presently completing her second Master's degree in Applied Law majoring in Estate Planning and Wills & Estates.

 

Caroline has contributed articles to legal and financial journals and presented technical papers at conferences for over a decade.

In 2017 Caroline was a finalist in the category of Legal Counsel of the Year at the Women in Finance Awards.

She is recognised as an SMSF Specialist Advisor® by the SMSF Association, and a trusts and estate specialist by the London membership committee of STEP (the international Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners).  

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Committee Appointments

2014

Specialist Accreditation Wills & Estates Law Advisory Committee

The Law Society of New South Wales

2014

Elder Law & Succession Committee

The Law Society of New South Wales

2016 - 2018

Victorian State Chapter Committee

SMSF Association

2016 - 2020

Regulatory Advisory Committee

SMSF Association

The life of the law has not been logic; it has been experience

Oliver Wendell Holmes

Working with your team

Our experience tells us that working closely with you, your financial advisor and accountant ensures a holistic rather than piecemeal approach.   

The partnership between our firm and your existing professional advisors also provides a solid foundation for the next generation following transitions, whether during or after your lifetime.

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