Bernie O’Sullivan
Lawyer
One of Australia’s leading estate planning lawyers, Bernie has over 40 years’ experience advising individuals, family groups and businesses on all aspects of estate and business succession.
Often acting as advisor to prominent families, Bernie’s knowledge of family trusts, superannuation and estate and elder law enables him to provide clear, practical solutions for clients with complex family and asset structures. He is often asked to provide a second opinion on existing succession plans.
Accountants, financial planners and other advisers regularly refer clients to Bernie because of his collaborative approach and plain-English advice.
Bernie is lead author of Estate and Business Succession Planning, widely regarded as Australia’s leading text on succession planning, now in its 8th edition. He is a sought-after public speaker by many professional and educational bodies.
Bernie recognised by Best Lawyers 2025 as the “Lawyer of the Year” for Trusts and Estates in Melbourne. An extraordinary accolade for Bernie’s work in the field of Estate Planning and Business Succession. “Lawyer of the Year” awards are bestowed to only lawyers with the highest overall peer feedback for a specific practice area and geographic region. Bernie has also been recognised in Doyles Guide as a Preeminent Wills & Estates lawyer since 2020.
Jennifer Jackson
Lawyer
Heading up our estate planning team, Jennifer has been assisting clients for nearly two decades to achieve their estate planning objectives. Jennifer ensures that the plan she creates is tailored to her client’s particular circumstances, often working closely with their accountant and/or financial advisor to incorporate any ongoing taxation and asset protection strategies.
Jennifer primarily works on estate planning matters that have complex elements arising from asset structures such as family trusts, companies and self managed superannuation funds and/or family situations including traditional nuclear families where the clients want to provide asset protection and taxation advantages for their child’s inheritance, to blended families or other types of relationships where there are often competing interests.
Jennifer is regarded across Australia for her expertise in advising parents who have a child with an intellectual disability or other vulnerability, to ensure that the intended inheritance will be protected and to minimise the impact on any disability support pension. Jennifer can prepare Wills that incorporate a Special Disability Trust or other types of protective trusts or create these trusts during the parent’s lifetime if required. Jennifer presents across Australia to disability organisations and families on this area of her practice.
Jennifer is known for her calm and considered approach to often difficult and emotional situations and is valued by her clients as their trusted advisor.
Christopher J. Wilmot
Lawyer
Christopher’s practice is focused on raising and defending disputes over Wills, superannuation death benefits, actions by attorneys, and family trusts as well as complex probate and estate administration matters.
He has a client-focused approach based on building good relationships and understanding client’s needs. He aims to work towards practical outcomes but is always prepared to vigorously prosecute or defend his client’s position when required.
Registered to practice as a solicitor in both Victoria and England & Wales, Christopher offers specialist advice across both jurisdictions, including integrated estate planning for clients with assets in both.
Christopher studied law at the University of Sheffield, College of Law, Guildford and then Monash University and is a Member of the Law Institute of Victoria.
Merryn Figg
Lawyer
Merryn joined Wills & Wealth in 2022 and works across both our estate planning and probate departments. Merryn enjoys getting to know her clients and their circumstances to ensure tailored advice is provided.
With a personable approach to her work, Merryn understands that the preparation of estate planning documents or the administration of a loved one’s estate can be an emotional undertaking.
Merryn’s areas of expertise include preparation of Wills, including testamentary trusts and trusts for vulnerable beneficiaries; enduring powers of attorney and medical treatment decision maker documents; strategies to reduce risk of claims against estates; superannuation death benefits and preparation of binding nominations for SMSF and industry funds; and administration of deceased estates including applications for probate or letters of administration.
Merryn studied at Monash University and holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Arts and is a member of the Law Institute of Victoria.
Frederick Paralas
Conveyancer
Freddie joined the Wills & Wealth team in 2021, bringing a wealth of experience as a conveyancer.
In 2009, Freddie completed an Advanced Diploma of Business (legal practice) at Swinburne University of Technology. After graduating, he worked as a law clerk, primarily on property and conveyancing matters. In these roles, Freddie gained a range of experience in real estate transactions — from preparing Contracts of Sale to finalising complex property settlements. Freddie is proficient in all aspects of electronic conveyancing and State Revenue Office stamp duty matters, and he supports our estate administration team with any property registration requirements.
Freddie enjoys working with clients through their various property transactions to ensure a seamless and successful outcome.
Jennifer Turley
Office Manager
Jenny originally joined Wills & Wealth in 2017 as a conveyancer and, while still working closely with our property team, now keeps all aspects of the office running efficiently as our Office Manager.
With extensive experience in law firms, corporates and financial services, Jenny has a diverse range of responsibilities which support our commitment to providing outstanding legal client services. Jenny holds a Bachelor of Business (Economics & Finance) and a Diploma of Conveyancing.
Jessica O’Sullivan
Administration Assistant
Managing reception and administrative duties, Jessica is usually the first contact many of our clients have with Wills & Wealth.
With a broad background in hospitability and hotel administration, Jessica helps clients feel at ease and supports our team by responding to client enquiries, making appointments, collating documents and attending signing meetings.
