Clients consistently commend us for delivering outstanding legal services. With value to their business.
We specialise in helping businesses navigate complex disputes and streamline corporate decision-making with clarity and confidence.
With a proven track record of successfully resolving over 2,000 disputes—ranging from high-stakes, billion-dollar claims to matters of deep personal and business importance—we deliver outcomes that make a meaningful difference.
Our expertise spans hundreds of commercial transactions within the finance, insurance, and compliance sectors. Industry leaders rely on us to provide strategic, efficient, and value-driven legal solutions tailored to their needs.
Clients include finance institutions, SaaS providers and fintechs, insurance entities, and employer organisations. These businesses trust us to quickly and effectively resolve their issues with value.
Nick Maley is our founder and leader. Nick has learned and honed his skills in large firms, at Thomson Geer, Gilchrist Connell and Holman Webb.
Nick is suported by a group of skilled solicitors and paralegals.
What our clients say about us
I wanted to introduce my legal adviser (and good bloke) Nick to you. Nick will be able to bring value to the Group given his knowledge of the finance industry in general and aggregation in particular. Clive Kirkpatrick
We needed someone we could afford who could be available on short notice, could work efficiently and effectively as part of the team, and who had a broad range of legal skills and experience across the business spectrum. Nick was the perfect fit for us. Peter Smyth - Hound Group Pty Limited
I have had the privilege of working with Nick Maley on several legal matters, and I can say without hesitation that he is one of the most outstanding legal professionals I have ever dealt with.
His technical ability and deep legal knowledge are exceptional, and he applies these skills with precision, clarity, and sound judgment. No matter how complex the issue, Nick has always provided clear, practical advice and effective solutions tailored to my specific needs.
What stands out most about Nick, however, is who he is as a person. He approaches his work with unwavering integrity, empathy, and genuine understanding. He listens deeply, communicates honestly, and treats every matter with respect and sensitivity. It is rare to find someone with such a balance of professional excellence and human decency. Sean Preece - Archie Preece Group Pty Limited
Nick made what can be a complex process, relatively straightforward and stress-free. His attention to detail and genuine care for his clients truly sets him apart from other legal professionals that I have dealt with. Harry Carr - Access Consulting Pty Limited
Disputes
We have successfully handled more than 2,000 litigated cases in every single court and tribunal in New South Wales, Victoria, ACT and Federal Courts, closing the disputes at the earliest opportunity for the least costs, financial and emotionally, to give you certainty and peace of mind.
Our philosophy is early analysis of the technical aspects a claim carefully to develop a clear strategy for the most important outcome, striving to pursue all reasonable opportunities to advance your case and your interests.
We can help your business in the following areas:
- Insurance
- Employment and Compensation
- Commercial
Insurance
Advising and representing businesses, brokers, and companies on one side, and underwriters, insurers, and self-insurers on the other, in relation to insurance issues. Managing and resolving hundreds of instructions in:
- Coverage disputes, including policy meaning and interpretation, particularly in claims-made policies across various types including professional indemnity, directors and officers (D&O), management liability, public liability, and travel exposure.
- Advice on exclusions, prejudice, and the application of provisions of the Insurance Contracts Act 1984, including matters involving insolvent insureds and liquidators.
- Drafting, including policy terms, Product Disclosure Statements (PDS), and Target Market Determinations (TMD), as well as advice and refinements related to compliance and claims handling obligations under the Corporations Act 2001.
- First-party disputes between insureds and insurers, including the application of principles of discrimination and other legislative rights, with a focus on perfecting insurance cover.
Employment and Compensation
Be it employees, contractors, or brokers, we help manage disputes in these relationships to protect your interests.
When things don’t go as expected, we assist with disputes to minimise the financial and emotional impact on your business.
We appear and advise on claims for unfair dismissal, general protect, underpayments, discrimination, human rights and bullying. We also carry out workplace investigations. We advise on restraints and statutory compliance.
We guide you through the difficult territory for employers and self-insurers of the Workers' compensation legislation in NSW – it is elemental, complex and nuanced. It requires a thorough analysis of each of the many steps to be satisfied. There are the elements of injury, including disease, of main contributing factor, and of significant contributing factor. There are also other aspects that are relevant for different types of claims, such as claims for psychiatric injury, deafness claims and work injury damages claims. We also advise on premium disputes with SIRA and uninsured claim exposure.
Commercial Litigation
We have litigated over 2,000 cases in all Federal, NSW, Victorian, and ACT courts and tribunals.
From small disputes, where principles matter more than money, to managing class actions and multi-million dollar claims with significant business risks.
Our clietns tell us that our focus on the financial, reputational and human costs of litigation for business owners, executives, and company officers is second to none.
Proactive, cost, and strategy are our drivers. Nothing is left to drift and control is maintained, not lost to the opponent.
Corporate Advisory
Our litigation experience gives us an insight into doing commercial arrangements properly, to provide you certainty and minimise later disputes. Since the stafrtof COVID we have managed negiotiated and docuemnted over 200 commercial transactions.
We can help your business in the following areas.
- Agreement Documentation
- Compliance – finance and privacy
- Employment
Agreement Documentation
We have a depth of knowledge to prepare and mould to your needs all types of commercial arrangements and documents – shareholder agreements, trust deeds, sale agreements, share subscriptions and sales, SaaS agreements, loan agreements and general commercial advisory.
We have assisted lenders, aggregators, brokers, insurance companies and employers in the financial sector, and now fintechs and SaaS providers
Compliance
We advise on government regulatory impact, ASIC licensing compliance, privacy, and OAIC requirements. We have helped clients obtain AFSLs and ACLs and navigate banking licenses and corporate guidance from ASIC and APRA.
We manage privacy disputes and advise on statutory compliance, commercial arrangements, and contract documents within the financial system. We also assist with insurance disputes and compliance for businesses and insurers.
Employment Agreements
We prepare all types of contracts and agreements documenting business interactions, whether with other businesses, staff, or contractors.
ELF Legal Pty Limited
Level 5, 20 Bond Street
Sydney
GPO Box 827 Sydney NSW 2001
ABN 76 676 317 356
02 7232 1225
Email: nmaley@elflegal.com.au
Liability Limited by a scheme approved under professional standards legislation.