Incorporating the practices of Neil Telfer, Boyle & Telfer, and Fowler & Hick, established 1896.
The practice of Fowler & Hick started in 1896. Fowler & Hick merged with Boyle & Telfer in 1998. This significantly broadened the firm’s range of services with particular emphasis on property and small business. Brian Fowler graduated from Melbourne University in 1958. Brian’s father was a solicitor practising under the firm name of Fowler & Hick in Williamstown and Melbourne. Brian joined his father in 1961. During his 40 years of practice, Brian has been involved in many areas of the law, but mainly in matters relating to property, conveyancing, commercial and residential leases, wills, probates, deceased estates, and local government.
The practice merged with Hannebery and Whelan in 1991 to form Hannebery, Boyle & Partners. With the changes in conveyancing and other areas of practice, including the specialist accreditation and the retirement of Neil Telfer in Scotland, and his return to become a consultant with the firm, the firm became Boyle & Telfer. Neil Telfer graduated in law from the University of Glasgow in 1956. He worked as a Legal Assistant in the Dumfries County Council for a period of two and a half years before migrating to Melbourne. He became enrolled as a solicitor in 1959. Neil worked mainly in the field of conveyancing, wills, and probate.
In 2004, Vijay Kooblal moved from South Africa after 23 years of legal practice. He became the principal of Boyle Telfer & Kooblal. Vijay broadened the range of services to include trusts, taxation issues, and litigation.
The firm Boyle Telfer & Kooblal thus comes with a combined 112 years of legal practice.
Our Team
Vijay Kooblal
Principal Lawyer
Vijay obtained a B. Proc Law degree from the University of South Africa in 1982, Bachelor of Laws LLB degree from the University of South Africa in 1987, Certificate in Constitutional Litigation from the University of Natal, South Africa, in 1994, Certificate in New Labour Relations from the University of Natal 1996 and Master in Taxation (M. Tax) from Monash University in 2006 (awarded top student – anti-avoidance in tax transactions and tax administration in 2006 and 2007). He was admitted as an attorney of South Africa in 1982 and later became an Australian legal practitioner. Vijay started his practice in Durban, South Africa, in 1983, whereafter he moved to Melbourne and became the Principal of Boyle Telfer & Kooblal. He is a member of the Law Institute of Victoria and a Chartered Tax Adviser of the Tax Institute of Australia.
He has covered many areas of law in his practice spanning over forty one (41) years. He was instrumental in taking the first socio-economic case to the Constitutional Court in South Africa. Vijay has experience in the areas of Civil Litigation, Commerical Law, Family Law, International Transactions, Franchising, International Trade and Contracts, acquisitions and mergers of smaller entities, Estates, Wills & Probate, Business Law, Company Law, Trusts, and Taxation Law.
He has also attended to matters relating to patents, stamp duty, land tax, capital gains tax, business disputes, shareholders and partnership disputes, contested wills/deceased estate family provision and family law.
Vijay appears in the Supreme Court, County Court, Federal Court, Federal Magistrates Court, Magistrates Courts, Family Court, Children’s Court, Victorian Civil & Administrative Tribunal (VCAT), Australian Securities & Investment Commission (ASIC), Small Business Commissioner, and other Tribunals.
Ethan Pierce
Senior Associate (Solicitor)
Ethan Pierce is a Senior Associate and Manager of our Property Law department. Being trained by Special Counsel for Property Law, Ethan has developed a deep knowledge in the Property Law area. Ethan regularly posts articles on Property Law aspects via his Linkedin Page.
He deals with purchase and sale of property, stamp duty issues, adverse possession claims, encroachment of boundary, boundary re-alignment, off-the-plan, owners corporation disputes, subdivisions, retirement village freehold and leasehold transactions, planning, trust and superannuation-related property transactions and Property Litigation.
Ethan also attends to Commercial matters such as retail and commercial leases, renewals, transfer of leases, sale of business transactions.
Being a Property Lawyer, Ethan naturally developed an interest in Wills, probates, contested wills and family provision, taxation, family law and litigation.
Shyma Kooblal
Practice Manager
Shyma commenced working in the legal profession in 1983. She is the practice manager and has over thirty (30) years of experience.
She is committed to ensuring that clients’ matters are attended to promptly. She monitors matters from the receipt of instructions to its conclusion ensuring turn around times are maintained at all times.
Christina Downes
Law Clerk
Christina attends to general areas of law including conveyancing, commercial matters, deceased estates, wills, powers of attorney – medical, financial and guardianship. She works in civil litigation in many Victorian jurisdictions.
Christina has over twenty years of experience in the legal profession.
Linda Mcleod
Legal Assistant
Linda has been in the legal profession for over twenty (20) years.
She attends to accounts, Family Law, Commercial Law, Probates, Wills & Powers of Attorney and General Law matters including civil litigation in many Victorian jurisdictions.