Ten Sydney firms for buying, selling, strata and property disputes, with what each one suits and the NSW rules on contracts, cooling off, off the plan sales, transfer duty and strata disputes.
Google ratings checked 24 October 2026 · Updated 25 October 2026
Free, no obligation written conveyancing quote, with an agreed fixed fee where possible. No obligation discussion for leasing matters.
Office
Level 7, 10-14 Smith St, Parramatta NSW 2150
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Matthews Folbigg is a Parramatta firm with deep roots in property. Its history goes back to 1962, when Brian and John Folbigg set up what the firm calls one of the first specialist property practices in Parramatta, and it merged with Paul Matthews' Blacktown practice in 1997. The property group lists three principals and several property solicitors. It covers everyday conveyancing as well as strata, leasing and compulsory acquisition. A good fit for Western Sydney buyers, sellers and owners corporations. Conveyancing quotes are free and in writing, at an agreed fixed fee where possible.
Origins in 1962; Matthews Folbigg formed by merger in 1997
Also worth knowing
It also acts on strata disputes, compulsory acquisition and corporate leasing.
Lawyers
Anna Zdrilic, Principal, property law, estate planning, commercial, local government and planning
Michael Stevens, Principal, commercial, insolvency and property law
Stewart Gough, Principal, commercial and employment law (listed in property team)
Terry Doust, Consultant, property law and wills
Eadz Tang, Senior Associate, property law
Yuki Zeng, Associate, property and commercial law
Karen Kaur, Solicitor, property law
Lena Thompson, Solicitor, property and commercial law
Contact the firm to ask about first consultation terms.
Office
Suite 13, Level 57, 25 Martin Place, Sydney NSW 2000
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Coleman Greig is a long established Western Sydney firm that now runs four offices, including Martin Place in the CBD. Its property services team is led by principal lawyer Chris Tohme and mixes solicitors with licensed conveyancers under one roof. That suits people who want a simple home purchase handled by a conveyancer but a lawyer on hand if things get tricky. The team covers off the plan, auctions, company title and group sales to developers, plus commercial leasing and property disputes. Ask about first consultation terms when you call.
Also worth knowing
It has offices in the Sydney CBD, Parramatta, Penrith and Norwest.
Lawyers
Chris Tohme, Principal Lawyer and Team Leader, Property Services
Selina Comertpay, Associate
Barbara Papevski, Conveyancing Manager and Practice Group Advisor
Contact the firm to ask about first consultation terms.
Office
Level 3, 65 Berry St, North Sydney NSW 2060
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Bannermans is a North Sydney firm whose work is mainly strata. David Bannerman started it as a sole practice in 2007 and it now has more than 25 lawyers, according to the firm. Its main clients are owners corporations and strata managers, along with builders, developers and insurers. For apartment owners it handles strata disputes, building contracts, defect claims, NCAT work, boundary disputes and collective sale advice. Routine home conveyancing isn't on its services list, so think of it for problems after you've bought. It's a strong pick for owners and strata committees dealing with defects or by-law fights.
Founded in 2007
Also worth knowing
It won Strata Community Australia's Excellence in Innovation award in 2017.
Lawyers
David Bannerman, Principal Accredited property law law specialist
The site offers a free call. Ask what it covers and about fee terms when you book.
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Finn Roache says it has been practising since 1921 and now runs nine offices across NSW, including the Sydney CBD and Parramatta. Its property team is large, with senior consultants, senior associates, an associate, a conveyancer and paralegals. Senior consultant Howard Robilliard, based at Parramatta and an accredited property law specialist according to the firm, works across residential, commercial and industrial deals, and his profile says he also advises on subdivisions, strata, development and compulsory acquisitions. The team handles conveyancing, leasing, strata title and property disputes. It suits buyers, sellers and landlords who want a big team behind them. The site offers a free call to start.
Operating since 1921, according to the firm
Also worth knowing
It handles conveyancing, commercial and retail leasing, strata title and property disputes.
Lawyers
Howard Robilliard works from Parramatta. Ask which office the others work from.
Howard Robilliard, Senior Consultant, property (Parramatta) Accredited property law law specialist
Keith Bow, Property law Accredited property law law specialist
No obligation quote by phone; initial consultations can be booked online.
Office
Level 12, 32 Martin Place, Sydney NSW 2000
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Jake McKinley is the new name for the Martin Place firm long known as Foulsham & Geddes. Principal Jacob Carswell-Doherty leads a team of around a dozen lawyers, and conveyancing sits with partner Joseph Fitzpatrick and solicitor Estephen Gear Bugarin. The property list is broad, from NSW and Queensland conveyancing to strata, leasing, caveats, compulsory acquisition and co-ownership disputes. It suits CBD buyers and investors who may need a litigator if a deal goes wrong. Call for a no obligation quote, and initial consultations can be booked online.
Also worth knowing
The firm publishes guides on off the plan sunset clauses and forced sales of co-owned property.
Lawyers
Jacob Carswell-Doherty, Principal
Joseph Fitzpatrick, Partner, conveyancing
Dannielle Henderson, Partner, wills and estates, also property and conveyancing
John Fitzpatrick, Special Counsel, commercial, property and estates
Jackson McKinley, Senior Associate, probate, conveyancing, commercial and litigation
Contact the Sydney office to ask about first consultation terms.
Office
Level 42, 2 Park Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Colin Biggers & Paisley is a large national commercial firm, with its Sydney office at 2 Park Street and others in Brisbane and Melbourne. It runs a property practice alongside a construction and engineering group that the firm says has been a core part of its work for more than 40 years. Its clients are mainly companies, developers, builders and government bodies, so it fits commercial property and projects rather than a home purchase. Owners and developers facing a large building dispute may find that construction depth useful. Contact the Sydney office to ask about first consultation terms.
Also worth knowing
The firm says its construction team is ranked in Chambers and Partners, Legal 500 and Best Lawyers in Australia.
Contact the firm to ask about first consultation terms.
Office
Level 10, 1 Chifley Square, Sydney NSW 2000
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Teece Hodgson & Ward is a Chifley Square firm best known for wills and estates, with a business and property group alongside. Consultant Deborah Linwood handles residential, rural and commercial conveyancing and also advises charities and trusts. The group covers sales and purchases, leases, property finance, building contracts and building disputes. It suits clients who want their property work and estate planning handled by the same CBD firm, especially where a trust or charity owns the property. Ask about first consultation terms when you call.
Also worth knowing
Its office is at 1 Chifley Square in the CBD.
Lawyers
The property page names only one property lawyer.
Deborah Linwood, Consultant, wills and estates law and property law
Szabo & Associates is a small Surry Hills practice that principal George Szabo founded in 1994. Alongside its wills work, it runs a conveyancing and property practice covering purchases, from preparing or reviewing the contract through to settlement, as well as sales and commercial, industrial and retail leases for landlords and tenants. It also guides first home buyers, acts on auction purchases, and handles put and call options, development and subdivision, and property disputes. It suits inner city buyers, sellers and small landlords who prefer a small local practice. Ask about first consultation terms when you call.
Founded in 1994
Also worth knowing
It also handles put and call options, development, subdivision and property disputes.
Lawyers
George Szabo, Founder and principal
Areas of property law handled
Buying property, from contract review to settlement
The site has a book a consult button. Ask about first consultation and fee terms when you book.
Office
Suite 1, Level 4, 17-21 Macquarie Street, Parramatta NSW 2150
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Hammond Nguyen Turnbull, which trades as HNT Legal, is a multi practice firm on Macquarie Street in Parramatta. It's best known for a large family law team, but it also has a conveyancing and property law group, with senior solicitor Albert Thai and solicitor Rachel Siew listed in that team. The firm also advises on building contracts. It suits Western Sydney buyers and sellers who want a local firm, and people whose property question overlaps with a separation, since both teams work from the same office. Ask about first consultation terms when you book.
Also worth knowing
It also has a large family law team in the same office.
Lawyers
Albert Thai, Senior Solicitor, conveyancing and property
Rachel Siew, Solicitor, conveyancing and property
Areas of property law handled
Conveyancing
Buying and selling property
Property law advice
Building contracts
Office
Suite 1, Level 4, 17-21 Macquarie Street, Parramatta NSW 2150
Fixed fee conveyancing, with government charges extra. Contact the firm to ask about first consultation terms.
Office
Shop 2, 22-40 Sarsfield Circuit, Bexley North NSW 2207
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
V.S. George is a small St George area practice in Bexley North, set up in 2015 by Vinesh and Neeta George. Vinesh has more than 20 years in practice, including in house roles with Mercedes-Benz in the UK and Inchcape, and time at HWL Ebsworth. Property solicitor Vanessa Liu, admitted in 2010, handles conveyancing and leasing. Conveyancing is on a fixed fee, and the firm also does stamp duty advice, SMSF transfers and caveats. It suits local buyers and sellers in the St George area who want a solicitor rather than a conveyancer.
Founded in 2015
Also worth knowing
The firm also handles SMSF property transfers and stamp duty concessions.
Lawyers
Vinesh Shelton George, Principal
Vanessa Liu, Solicitor, property law, conveyancing and leasing
Areas of property law handled
Residential conveyancing
Contract review
Stamp duty advice and concessions
SMSF and in specie transfers
Residential leases
Retail and commercial leases
Caveats and dealings
Office
Shop 2, 22-40 Sarsfield Circuit, Bexley North NSW 2207
Firm details come from each firm's own website. Google ratings are shown as published on Google and don't set the order. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
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How we compiled this list
We include firms with a Sydney office whose own websites show real property work, from conveyancing and off the plan purchases to strata, leasing, building defects and property disputes. For each firm we read its website in October 2026 and wrote the description ourselves. We name an accredited specialist where the firm's site or the Law Society of NSW register names the lawyer and the area, we say where the claim comes from, and we name the accrediting body when the source does. Some firms here lean towards strata, developers or commercial clients rather than home buyers, and we say so in the write-up. Free calls, quotes and fee terms are as the firm describes them, so confirm them when you call. We show Google ratings with the date we checked them.
Firms can pay for a featured listing on some of our pages, which affects where they appear. No firm on this page pays. Payment doesn't buy the write-up. We write those ourselves, and firms don't get to edit them. If something here is out of date, let us know. There's more detail on how we rank law firms.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Rules, rates and fees are as published in NSW legislation and by the NSW Government, NSW Fair Trading, Revenue NSW, Building Commission NSW, NCAT, the NSW courts and Legal Aid NSW in October 2026. Transfer duty rates are for the 2026/2027 financial year.
Buying or selling in NSW: the contract and what the seller must attach
In NSW the seller's side prepares the contract for sale before the property goes on the market. The draft contract, prepared by a lawyer or licensed conveyancer, must be available at the agent's office, and if the agent arranges the exchange, signed copies must go to each party within 2 business days. The documents that must be attached are set by the Conveyancing Act 1919 and Schedule 1 of the Conveyancing (Sale of Land) Regulation 2022, which started on 1 September 2022.
The prescribed documents include:
a planning certificate for the land, and sewer diagrams if they're available in the ordinary course
for Torrens title land, a property certificate (the title search) and the plan of the land
registered easements, restrictions on use and positive covenants
for a strata lot, the property certificates for the lot and the common property, the strata plan and the by-laws, plus any strata development contract, strata management statement or building management statement
for a house with a pool or spa, a certificate of compliance, an occupation certificate with evidence the pool is registered, or a certificate of non-compliance. This doesn't apply to lots in strata or community schemes with more than two lots, or to off the plan contracts
the prescribed warnings about smoke alarms and loose-fill asbestos, unless they're printed in the contract
If a prescribed document is missing, the buyer may be able to rescind the contract within 14 days of exchange. That's a reason to have your lawyer read the whole contract and its attachments before you exchange, not after.
For a seller, the job is mostly the reverse: getting the contract and certificates ready before marketing, answering requisitions from the buyer's side, and arranging the discharge of any mortgage at settlement.
Cooling off, auctions and the 66W certificate
Most residential buyers in NSW have a 5 business day cooling off period. It starts on exchange and ends at 5pm on the fifth business day. Sellers have no cooling off period.
Situation
Cooling off
Most residential contracts
5 business days from exchange
Off the plan residential contracts
10 business days
Bought at public auction
None
Contract made on auction day after the property was passed in
None
A section 66W certificate given at or before exchange
None
If you cool off, you forfeit 0.25% of the purchase price to the seller. That's $250 for every $100,000. The cooling off period can be waived with a 66W certificate, or shortened or extended by agreement.
Because there's no cooling off at auction, get the contract checked, finance approved and any building and pest inspection done before auction day. The same goes for a private sale where the agent pushes for a 66W certificate so the seller has a firm deal.
Buying off the plan in Sydney
An off the plan contract must attach a disclosure statement setting out key information, such as the sunset date and other conditional events, along with draft documents including the draft plan, a schedule of finishes and draft by-laws. Off the plan buyers get a 10 business day cooling off period, with the same 0.25% forfeit if they pull out.
Your deposit: it's held by the stakeholder in a trust or controlled money account and can't be released to the developer before settlement. A bank guarantee or deposit bond can only replace a cash deposit if the developer agrees before you sign
Sunset clauses: a sunset clause lets either party rescind if the plan isn't registered, or an occupation certificate isn't issued, by a set date. A developer needs the buyer's consent to end a contract under a sunset clause. Without it, the developer must apply to the NSW Supreme Court
Changes to the plans: the developer must tell you about changes that materially prejudice you. You may be able to pull out and get your deposit back, or settle and claim compensation capped at 2% of the price. You have only 14 days from being notified to act
Duty concessions: Revenue NSW may provide concessions for some off the plan purchases. Check your eligibility with Revenue NSW on 1300 130 624
Many Sydney off the plan purchases are apartments, so read the draft by-laws and any strata management statement as closely as the floor plan. Once the building is registered, those documents govern how you can use your lot.
Transfer duty and first home buyers
Transfer duty, still often called stamp duty, is assessed by Revenue NSW. The thresholds are adjusted each year in line with CPI, and the rates that apply depend on the contract date.
Dutiable value
Transfer duty, 2026/2027
Up to $18,000
$1.25 for every $100 (minimum $20)
$18,001 to $38,000
$225 plus $1.50 for every $100 over $18,000
$38,001 to $103,000
$525 plus $1.75 for every $100 over $38,000
$103,001 to $387,000
$1,662 plus $3.50 for every $100 over $103,000
$387,001 to $1,290,000
$11,602 plus $4.50 for every $100 over $387,000
Over $1,290,000
$52,237 plus $5.50 for every $100 over $1,290,000
Rates for the 2026/2027 financial year as published by Revenue NSW (page last updated 6 October 2026). Residential property over $3,870,000 pays premium property duty of $194,137 plus $7.00 for every $100 over $3,870,000.
First home buyers. Under the First Home Buyers Assistance Scheme, for contracts exchanged from 1 July 2023:
What you're buying
No duty
Concessional rate
A new or existing home
Valued at $800,000 or less
Over $800,000 and under $1 million
Vacant land to build a home on
Valued at $350,000 or less
Over $350,000 and under $450,000
Who qualifies: at least one buyer must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident, and you and your spouse or partner must never have owned or co-owned residential property in Australia. You and your spouse or partner must never have received an exemption or concession under the scheme before. Buyers must also be individuals, not a company or trust, and over 18, although Revenue NSW may waive the age requirement on application
Living there: you must move in within 12 months after settlement and live there as your principal place of residence for at least 12 continuous months
New homes: the First Home Owner (New Homes) Grant is $10,000 for a newly built or substantially renovated home priced up to $600,000, or vacant land plus a building contract with a combined cost up to $750,000
Foreign buyers: surcharge purchaser duty of 9% of the dutiable value applies on top of standard transfer duty
Strata, building defects and property disputes
Strata disputes. NSW Fair Trading sets out the steps: talk to the other person, contact the owners corporation, which may issue a notice to comply or apply for mediation, use Fair Trading's free mediation service, and go to NCAT as a last resort. Mediation is compulsory for most strata disputes before you can apply to the Tribunal, and you attach the mediation certificate to your application. Some disputes are exempt, such as appointing a strata managing agent, unit entitlements, access to lots for repairs and penalty applications.
Strata cases go to NCAT's Consumer and Commercial Division. Most people represent themselves, and concession card holders pay a reduced fee. NCAT can make orders about breaches of by-laws, meetings and records, managing agents, contributions and funds, and it can order a penalty against someone who keeps breaching a by-law. NCAT usually gives its decision within six weeks after the final hearing, although it can take longer in some cases. NCAT is on 1300 006 228, and its Consumer and Commercial Division is at Level 14, Civic Tower, 66 Goulburn Street.
Strata change
From
Owners have six years, up from two, to claim damages for failure to maintain common property. Minor renovations are approved automatically if the committee doesn't refuse in writing within three months
1 July 2025
NSW Fair Trading can investigate and enforce owners corporations' repair duties. Levy notices must include financial hardship information, and payment plans of up to 12 months must be considered
27 October 2025
Strata information certificates must include utility information, certain orders and compliance action against the owners corporation, and meeting details
1 April 2026
Committee members must complete free online training within 3 months of appointment each year
1 October 2026
Building defects. Under the Home Building Act 1989, for contracts signed from 1 February 2012, you have six years to start a case for a major defect and two years for any other defect. If the breach becomes apparent in the last six months, you get a further six months. For a new building in a strata scheme, completion is usually the date the occupation certificate is issued, so an owners corporation in a new Sydney block needs to watch those dates. NCAT handles home building claims under $500,000, and most home building disputes have to go through the government's free dispute resolution service first, with some exemptions. That service now sits with Building Commission NSW, though some NCAT pages still refer to NSW Fair Trading.
Other property disputes. Contract, caveat, co-ownership and neighbour claims that go to court are heard by value. The Local Court deals with claims up to $100,000, and the District Court from $100,001 to $1,250,000, or more if the parties consent. Claims for possession under a mortgage go to the Supreme Court.
Property lawyer or licensed conveyancer, choosing one, and free help
In NSW both solicitors and licensed conveyancers do conveyancing. To do conveyancing work for a fee you need a conveyancer licence, but that requirement doesn't apply to an incorporated legal practice or a solicitor corporation.
What a conveyancer can do: an unrestricted conveyancer licence covers residential and commercial conveyancing, mortgages, business sales and rural property sales. Licensed conveyancers must hold approved professional indemnity insurance and contribute to the Property Services Compensation Fund. You can check a licence at verify.licence.nsw.gov.au or on 13 32 20
What a conveyancer can't do: among other things, start legal proceedings, create trusts, prepare wills or give investment or financial advice
When that matters: for a simple purchase either can do the job. A property lawyer is the one to call if the deal may turn into a dispute, involves a trust, an SMSF or a family arrangement, or needs advice on a lease, a development or a strata fight. Some firms on this list have licensed conveyancers and solicitors in the same team
When you're choosing a firm:
Ask who does the work: a partner, a solicitor, a conveyancer or a paralegal, and who supervises
Ask what the quote covers: if your legal costs are likely to be more than $750, not counting GST and disbursements, the lawyer must tell you in writing how they'll charge and estimate the total. Fixed fee conveyancing is common, but check what's excluded, such as searches and government charges
Accredited specialists: the Law Society of NSW accredits solicitors as specialists, including in property law. Accreditation isn't needed to practise. On this list, David Bannerman of Bannermans Lawyers is an accredited specialist in property law, according to his firm's website, and Finn Roache says Howard Robilliard and Keith Bow are accredited property law specialists, without naming the body. You can search for accredited specialists with the Law Society's Find a Lawyer tool
Free and low cost help in Sydney:
LawAccess NSW: 1300 888 529, a free government service for legal information and referrals, and the number to call to check whether you can get free advice from Legal Aid NSW
Community legal centres: free advice for people facing economic, social or cultural disadvantage. Find one through clcnsw.org.au
NSW Fair Trading: 13 32 20, including free strata mediation, which you apply for online
Law Society of NSW Solicitor Referral Service: (02) 9926 0333, for up to three private firms in your area of law. The referral is free, but the firms charge their normal fees
Sydney property law: common questions
What documents must a NSW seller attach to the contract?
The prescribed documents set by the Conveyancing (Sale of Land) Regulation 2022. They include a planning certificate, the title search and plan, registered easements and covenants, sewer diagrams where available, a pool certificate where needed, and for a strata lot the strata plan and by-laws. If a prescribed document is missing, the buyer may be able to rescind within 14 days of exchange.
How long is the cooling off period in NSW?
5 business days for most residential contracts, starting on exchange and ending at 5pm on the fifth business day, and 10 business days for off the plan contracts. If you cool off, you forfeit 0.25% of the price. There's no cooling off at auction, on auction day after a pass in, or where a 66W certificate is given. Sellers don't get a cooling off period.
Can a developer cancel my off the plan contract with a sunset clause?
Not on its own. A developer needs your consent to end the contract using a sunset clause. If you don't consent, it must apply to the NSW Supreme Court. Your deposit must stay in a trust or controlled money account until settlement, and if the developer makes a change that materially prejudices you, you have 14 days from being told to act.
Do first home buyers pay stamp duty in NSW?
Not on a new or existing home valued at $800,000 or less, for contracts exchanged from 1 July 2023, and there's a concessional rate above $800,000 and under $1 million. For vacant land, the exemption is up to $350,000, with a concession to under $450,000. You must move in within 12 months of settlement and live there for at least 12 continuous months. Revenue NSW administers the scheme.
Do I need a property lawyer or a conveyancer?
Either can handle a standard purchase or sale in NSW. Licensed conveyancers can do residential and commercial conveyancing, mortgages and business sales, but they can't start legal proceedings, create trusts, prepare wills or give investment or financial advice. A property lawyer can also run a dispute, advise on a lease or a development, or deal with a trust or SMSF purchase. You can check a conveyancer's licence at verify.licence.nsw.gov.au.
How do I sort out a strata dispute in Sydney?
Talk to the other person first, then the owners corporation. If that fails, apply for NSW Fair Trading's free mediation. Mediation is compulsory for most strata disputes before NCAT will hear them, and you attach the mediation certificate to your application. NCAT's Consumer and Commercial Division hears strata cases, most people represent themselves, and NCAT usually gives its decision within six weeks after the final hearing, although it can take longer.
Where can I get free legal help with a property problem in Sydney?
Call LawAccess NSW on 1300 888 529 for information, referrals and to check whether Legal Aid NSW can advise you. Community legal centres help people facing disadvantage, and you can find one at clcnsw.org.au. NSW Fair Trading runs free strata mediation, and the Law Society of NSW Solicitor Referral Service on (02) 9926 0333 can give you up to three private firms, which charge their normal fees.
General information only, not legal advice.
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