Dennis Staunton

Founder Dennis Staunton graduated from the University of Sydney with degrees in Arts and Law in 1969.

In recent years Dennis has practised mainly in property law, as well as commercial litigation and wills and estates.

Dennis has a very extensive clientele, comprising both personal and corporate clients.

Bruce Thompson

Bruce also graduated from the University of Sydney with degrees in Arts and Law in 1969. After practising in Sydney for 3 years he spent 3 years in London obtaining a Masters Degree in Law and also further practice experience with a large London firm.

A partner in Staunton & Thompson since 1976, Bruce has been accredited by the Law Society as a specialist in business law. He also practises in property law and wills and estates and associated dispute resolution.

Bruce is based at our Manly office, but also attends our North Sydney branch office by appointment.

Ray Griffiths

After many years as senior partner with another Manly firm, Ray has practised since 1997 as a consultant with Staunton & Thompson. Ray is a graduate in Arts and Law from the University of Sydney and speaks fluent German and French.

Ray’s legal knowledge and experience is both vast and erudite and his opinion is highly valued by clients and colleagues alike.

Andrew Corish

Andrew graduated in Arts and Law from Macquarie University in 1981 and after several years in general practice has practised almost exclusively in family law since 1988.

Andrew was one of the first practitioners to be accredited by the Law Society as a family law specialist. He is a member of the Family Law section of the Law Council of Australia.

Family commitments required Andrew to practise in Canberra for 8 years but on returning to Sydney in 1999 he joined Staunton & Thompson, to provide our clients with a specialist service in this challenging and expanding area of law that has a major impact on the lives of so many.

Andrew is based at our North Sydney branch office and visits the Manly office frequently to interview clients.

In addition to advising and representing old and new clients of the firm who have a family law situation, Andrew receives referrals from many other sources to whom he has become known during his 2 decades of specialisation in this area of law.

Andrew strives to give every client realistic advice and to achieve a satisfactory resolution of every family law dispute by negotiation or mediation wherever possible.

Paul Tocchini

Paul graduated from Sydney University Bachelor of Laws in 1970 and Master of Laws with Honors in 1976. He practised initially with the First Builders Licensing Board in NSW and subsequently went into private practice in 1977.

He was in private practice with the firm Tocchini & Worthington in the City and in Manly since that time and joined Staunton & Thompson in October 2004. Paul has a wide range of practice interests but tends to concentrate his efforts in Probate, Family Provision Matters, Construction, Commercial Litigation and Conveyancing.

Paul is based in our Manly office but also attends our North Sydney office by appointment.

Sarah Milson-Mahy

Sarah graduated from the Queensland University of Technology with a Bachelor of Law in 1991 and from the University of Technology Sydney with a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice in 1993. She is admitted to practice as a solicitor in NSW, ACT, Queensland, and The High Court.

Since 1995, Sarah has worked exclusively in the area of Family Law and has considerable experience in all aspects of it.

Sarah has recently joined the Family Law Division of Staunton & Thompson. She uses a cheerful and practical approach for clients and works hard to resolve matters in a manner that will enable the best possible outcome for the family as a whole, as cost efficiently and with as little stress as possible.

Melanie Roberts-Fraser

Melanie graduated in Law from the University of Auckland, New Zealand in 1986. She then worked in Auckland and London as a Family Lawyer. In 1994 Melanie obtained a Masters Degree in Law from University College London.

After working for a number of years as a University Lecturer teaching and publishing in the areas of Family and Child Law, Alternative Dispute Resolution and Public Law, Melanie moved to Sydney.

In 2007 Melanie co-authored a book, No Sex Please We're Parents, which examines the impact of children on a relationship. The book also deals with the breakdown of relationships.

Melanie has recently joined the Family Law division of Staunton & Thompson. She brings with her experience in resolving children disputes and all family law matters.

Licensed Conveyancers

Maureen Keary

Staunton & Thompson are indeed fortunate to have the services of this dedicated conveyancer, with her painstaking attention to detail and commitment to making your conveyancing experience as smooth and painless as possible.

Maureen has an Associate Degree in Law (Paralegal Studies) and is licensed under the Conveyancers Licensing Act. She has many years of practical conveyancing experience and works closely with our property lawyers, Dennis Staunton, Bruce Thompson and Ray Griffiths.

Probate Manager

Adrienne Anderson

Adrienne first joined Staunton & Thompson in 1981 and has been with the firm continuously since 1991. She has over 30 years’ legal experience and now has special responsibility with regard to the firm’s wills and estates practice, as well as maintenance of our deeds and wills registers and document custody service. She also has an important role to play in the training of younger staff and in “stepping into the breach” whenever occasion demands.