Our People

Our senior staff are experienced solicitors and business managers with a commitment to quality service.

Our National Management Team

   

Ralph Galilee

Managing Partner

Ashley Simpson

National Manager – Finance and Administration

   

Our Office Managers

   

Adelaide

Mark Lumley

Brisbane

Brad Booth - Partner

Hobart

Imogen Dineen

Melbourne

Ian Jackson - Partner

Perth

Brent Scafidas

Sydney

Jim Crawford



Ralph Galilee - Managing Partner - Sydney

Ralph established Galilee & Associates in Sydney over a decade ago to provide high quality legal services to the mortgage industry. In May 2005 the firm changed its name to Galilee Solicitors.

Under his stewardship the firm has undertaken a national expansion programme in recent years underpinned by strong business growth.

Ralph has extensive and substantial commercial experience having prior to commencement of Galilee & Associates in 1994 managed the Legal Divisions of The National Mutual Life Association (now AXA) in Victoria and separately in New South Wales over a total period of 16 years.

Ralph has been particularly involved since 1977 in lending and conveyancing areas covering purchase and mortgage and recovery actions affecting residential properties, international hotels, retail and industrial complexes and nursing homes.

Ralph Galilee was admitted to practise in 1975. He has been admitted to practise in NSW, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and the ACT.


Ashley Simpson - National Manager, Finance and Administration - Sydney

Ashley holds diplomas in Commerce and Information Technology and is a qualified accountant and chartered company secretary.

Ashley was employed by Ampol for a total of fifteen (15) years from April 1972 until 1987 and held a variety of positions ranging from Accounts Supervisor to Group Cost Accountant managing a budget in excess of 900m.

After leaving Ampol he joined Hoyts in 1987 until 2000, once again in a number of positions, ranging from overseeing the private companies of the Fink family to the last being Financial Controller of Global Television Studios, a subsidiary of the Hoyts Group.

He left the Hoyts Group in 2000 to join Galilee Solicitors where he has worked since.

Ashley has been responsible for a range of improvements to our operations, perhaps the most significant of these being the development and introduction of our centralised electronic business system ‘GOLD’, the establishment of our branch offices and the formalisation of our accounts and accounting arrangements.


Mark Lumley - Solicitor, Manager - Adelaide

Mark joined our Adelaide office in May 2004.

He was admitted as a solicitor in New South Wales in December 1994 and admitted as a solicitor in the Supreme Court of South Australia in April 2004.

Mark’s background includes a wide range of commercial experience. Of particular interest is the 8 years Mark spent in Broken Hill working as a commercial lawyer for a local legal firm.

In his role as commercial solicitor, Mark has acted for clients in conveyancing, commercial leasing, commercial litigation, wills/ probate and mortgage preparation matters.

Mark’s previous employers were panel solicitors for a large local Credit Union. In that role Mark was responsible for quality control of mortgage documentation, as well as settlement and registration processes.

In addition he has had experience in acting for mortgagees in regard to mortgagee sales where the mortgagor has defaulted on the mortgage.

As well as managing our Adelaide office, Mark provides legal support for the loan documentation aspect of the business and is also available to apply his expertise in the commercial field


Brad Booth - Partner - Manager - Brisbane

Brad is a native Queenslander.

Brad was initially admitted as a Solicitor in New South Wales and subsequently returned to Queensland in 1999. Brad was appointed Manager of our Brisbane office upon establishment of the office on 1 September 2003.

Brad has gained considerable experience in Banking & Finance, Property Law, Insurance and Risk Management both in New South Wales and Queensland. Under Brad’s management the Brisbane office has grown to become one of the most respected specialist banking and finance firms in Queensland.

Brad is an active member of the Queensland Mortgage Industry Association and provides a broad range of advice to Lenders, Mortgage Managers and brokers. Consistent with the firm’s strong focus on Client Service, Brad has strong business development and relationship management skills.


Imogen Dineen - Solicitor, Manager - Hobart

Imogen obtained a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Tasmania in 1998 and was admitted to practise in 1999

She has over five years experience in property related matters primarily involving conveyancing transactions of both residential and business properties, acting for both vendors and purchasers, leasing of both commercial and residential premises, acting on behalf of both Lessee and Lessor, and general property law related transactions.

Imogen gained extensive experience in Tasmania working for a well respected Tasmanian firm as a panel solicitor for a substantial National Lender prior to living, working and travelling overseas.

On her return to Tasmania Imogen joined Galilee Solicitors as a Solicitor in our Hobart office in February 2005. Imogen was appointed as Manager of our Hobart office in February 2006.


Ian Jackson - Partner - Manager - Melbourne

Ian joined the Firm in 2002 as Manager of our Melbourne office.

Ian has had 28 years experience in legal Practice, 14 Years at Darvall McCutcheon (Melbourne), 8 years as Partner and 3 years as head of litigation for the firm.

Ian’s practice has always been a mixture of commercial and general litigation, commercial and domestic conveyancing, and he is comfortable dealing with corporations, statutory authorities and trustee companies as well as private clients.

Ian is involved in ongoing commercial and property transactions including subdivision, preparation of sale of business agreements, supporting loan documentation, domestic conveyancing and probate matters.


Brent Scafidas - Manager WA - Perth

Brent holds a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Laws and a Diploma in Legal Practice and was admitted as a Solicitor and Conveyancer of the High Court in South Africa in 1999 and admitted to practice in NSW and WA in 2005.

Prior to immigrating to Perth Brent was employed for 4 years in the Property Department of a prominent South African law firm who were panel solicitors for all the major banks. He then opened his own law firm retaining his previous employers as one of his clients.

Brent joined us as the manager of the Perth Office in August 2005. He has experience in Employment Law, Family Law, Civil Litigation, general Commercial Law and Banking & Finance, with his prime areas of expertise being in Property Law and Conveyancing.

Brent is committed to the firm’s strong focus on Client Service and believes in a proactive approach to management and business relationships.

© Galilee Solicitors 2008
ABN 66 934 245 822