STEP Victoria - Tasmania Branch invites you to our next Estate Litigation Special Interest Group with Eleanor Coates TEP, Barrister at Douglas Menzies Chambers.

Topic: Litigation

Please come along with questions, issues, problems you have or are encountering for an open discussion.

DATE: Wednesday, 2 April 2025

TIME: 5:30pm - 7:00pm

LOCATION: Aitken Partners | Level 28, 140 William Street, Melbourne, VIC, 3000

COST: This is a free event for STEP members, however spots are limited. Please advise your membership number when registering for this event.

This Special Interest Group event is an In-Person only event, it will not be recorded.

For further information or assistance, please contact step.victoria-Tasmania@step.org

FACILITATOR

Eleanor Coates TEP | Barrister at Douglas Menzies Chambers

Eleanor signed the bar roll in October 2012, reading with Stephen Russell. Prior to coming to the bar Eleanor served her articles under Tony Hargreaves at Kenna Croxford & Co in 1999. She remained at the firm, which became Kenna Teasdale Lawyers in 2004, for 13 years with a broad practice heading up the Wills and Probate department whilst maintaining her practice in Criminal Law.

Eleanor has vast experience in Testator’s Family Maintenance claims together with broader Probate cases including proof of informal Wills, declarations of paternity, caveat disputes and other such complex Probate applications. Eleanor regularly undertakes the role of mediator, having completed her accreditation as a Mediator in December 2010, becoming nationally accredited in 2011. She was described by the assessors as “a natural mediator”. Eleanor is a teacher in the Lawyer's Mediation Certificate course.

Eleanor also appears in the Coroner's Court where she is able to make use of Science degree in understanding medical and scientific evidence. Eleanor has also had extensive experience in criminal practice. She has been involved in criminal defence work including Occupational Health and Safety matters.

Eleanor has a Bachelor of Science (Pharmacology) and Bachelor of Laws with Honours. Whilst at Monash University Eleanor was awarded both the Butterworths Prize and the Baldwins Prize for Wills and Probate and was on the winning team of the Governor General’s Moot (1997).

Eleanor is on the Victoria Legal Aid Preferred Trial Counsel List and has obtained her Indictable Crime Certificate.

Eleanor has been named annually on the Doyle's Guide to Leading Wills & Estates Litigation Barristers since 2015, both as Victorian Junior Counsel and also across Australia.