Liam Sambrook

Liam specialises in the areas of family law and estates law and works as both a barrister and solicitor. He advises and acts for clients on a range of issues within his areas of practice from succession planning and simple Family Law applications to complex Federal Circuit and Family Court trials and appeals and large or complex estate or inheritance claims in the Supreme Court.

While always promoting a negotiated result as the best and least costly way to resolve legal issues, Liam remains fearless in litigation should the matter need to proceed down that path. He also works with the best specialist barristers in South Australia and will not hesitate to brief someone if it will deliver the best result for our clients.

Liam has been the instructing solicitor in numerous high stakes trials and appeals in the Supreme Court and Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia. Of note, Liam was the instructing solicitor prosecuting the case of Benson and Drury which ran a successful Kennon claim at trial and on appeal, one of the very few successful cases in Australia since 1997. A “Kennon” claim is a claim that a person is entitled to an increase in a property settlement due to that person experiencing family violence at the hands of their spouse.

Liam’s experience with complex and high stakes litigation provides D’Angelo Lawyers’ clients with a wealth of knowledge and experience. He also has a solid track record in securing costs awards in favor of his clients for his strategic approach and advice.

His work behind the scenes as a solicitor has enabled the timely and cost-efficient resolution of his matters while also delivering great results and happy clients.

With degrees in law and psychology, Liam not only resolves the complex legal issues faced by our clients, but he also provides clarity and assurance during these difficult times.

Liam is an avid fan of the outdoors, regularly going away for camping trips with his wife and young family.

Main areas of practice:

Estate and Succession Law

Probate and letters of administration

Deaths occurring and registered overseas.
Large and complex estates;
Unexpected deaths;
Probate applications when a Will has been lost, damaged or destroyed;
Application for probate of informal testamentary documents;
Applications for informal wills or other testamentary documents;
Applications for rectification of Wills;
Administration involving Public Trustee and minor beneficiaries;
People dying without a Will;
Matters involving Public Trustee including as a co – executor

Estate Claims

Inheritance claims: claims someone has been left out of a will or did not receive adequate provision.
Claims that a parent has died leaving their estate to a stepparent; step children’s claims
Grandchildren’s claims
Claims wills are invalid or fraudulent.
Claims that a person did not have the capacity to make a will;
Claims that a person did not understand a will due to advanced dementia or illness
Claims of undue influence on a person who made a will
Claims that executors, administrators or attorneys have stolen money or damaged the estate.
Compromising claims of beneficiaries under the age of 18; coming to agreements with underage beneficiaries

Succession Planning

Complex trusts
Testamentary trusts
Family Trusts
Discretionary Trusts
Special Disability trusts
Fixed interest trusts
Inheritance protection from bankruptcy or creditors
Trust and succession plan integration with financial and tax advice
Deathbed wills
Bankruptcy and Family Law concerns in relation to beneficiaries

Family Law

Property settlements

Overseas assets, properties and businesses overseas
Spousal maintenance
Large and complex companies and trusts
Current businesses operating in South Australia and inter and intra state
Directorship and breach of director duties
Businesses and parties with responsibilities to employees; one party damaging businesses
Self-managed superfunds
Related party or loans between family members
High income earners
Deaths during proceedings; applications by executors
Family violence; parties experiencing
Family business involving parents and siblings
Parties using businesses to hide assets
Parties using businesses to hide their income
Large inheritances received during and after relationship
Large property windfalls
Criminal confiscation and forfeiture orders; gaining property back from the crown or prosecution due to Family Law entitlements and equitable contributions

Children’s applications

Airport watchlist orders
High risk applications
Family violence
Parental alienation of children
Parental kidnapping
Drug use
Applications by non-parents; grandparents claims and other family member claims
Transgender children
Vexatious litigant orders; preventing someone from being able to file proceedings in the Court
Costs Orders, indemnity costs orders.