Kitto & Kitto Barristers and Solicitors has been helping West Australians with a wide variety of legal problems for over 25 years.

We pride ourselves on delivering pragmatic, high-quality and direct advice to clients regardless of the ‘size’ of the matter. We strive to avoid litigation where possible and are committed to providing a personable and cost-effective service.

Please get in touch to arrange an initial consultation.

PRACTICE AREAS

Family Law

The breakdown of a marriage or de facto relationship can be challenging and stressful for those involved.

Obtaining sensible advice upfront can help to avoid (or bring to an end) the costs, stress and delay of family court proceedings.

Civil & Commercial Litigation

Commercial and civil disputes are an unfortunate reality for many individuals and small businesses. Sometimes disputes can be resolved without court proceedings, but on other occasions litigation is unavoidable.

Commercial Law

Clients can often avoid commercial headaches down the line by obtaining legal advice before they sign off on an important document or enter into a commercial transaction or relationship.

Criminal and Traffic Law, and Restraining Orders

Dealing with a criminal charge can be a confronting and life-changing experience and it is imperative that you get legal advice as soon as possible. We encourage you to get in touch before you speak with police, and before you've been charged.

Probate, Wills and Estate Litigation

Estate litigation is becoming increasingly common in WA, particularly with claims made under the Family Provision Act.

The risks of estate disputes can be reduced by carefully drafted wills, together with considered estate planning.

Conveyancing

Our experienced settlement agents efficiently handle both residential and commercial property settlements within Western Australia. Our team has over 20 years' of experience with property settlements and conveyancing.

OUR TEAM

Partners

Johnson
Johnson Kitto
Grantham
Grantham Kitto
Craig
Craig Hershowitz

Solicitors and Conveyancers

Sasha
Sasha Epps
Jacqui
Jacqui Alexander
Untitled Design (10)
Nicola Miller-Davie
Untitled Design (10)
Nikki Lapsley

Paralegals and Administration

Untitled Design (10)
Taylor Farmer
Untitled Design (10)
Brooklyn Barrett

CONTACT US

Office hours: Monday – Friday 8.30am-5.30pm

Our solicitors travel to our Esperance office on a regular basis. We can conduct initial consultations by Zoom or telephone during office hours, but if you’d prefer to meet in person we can book you in for the next occasion when one of our solicitors is in Esperance.

We’ll get back to you in 1-2 business days.

Family Law

Our family lawyers have extensive experience in representing clients in all types of family court proceedings, including property and child proceedings, disputes involving trusts and bankrupt estates, urgent recovery order applications and other complex family law litigation.

We are focussed on taking the emotion out of the dispute and delivering outcomes for clients in a timely fashion.

Family court proceedings can be drawn out and we aim to guide you through the process with compassion, strong advocacy and a focus on achieving finality and certainty.

Civil & Commercial Litigation

The civil and commercial litigation lawyers at Kitto & Kitto adopt a pragmatic and cost-effective approach to commercial and civil disputes. We endeavor to avoid court proceedings where possible and encourage commercial resolutions to legal problems.

We have considerable experience in all WA courts and have the ability to appear both as counsel and instructing solicitors.

Kitto & Kitto can assist you with claims in contract, negligence, Australian Consumer Law, property rights, equity, trusts and many other areas.

Commercial Law

Our commercial lawyers can advise you on a range of business transactions and prepare or review commercial documents. We can help you with a wide variety of matters including:

– Business acquisition and sales, including due diligence
– Retail and commercial leasing
– Company structuring and restructuring
– Business terms and conditions of sale
– Partnerships and joint ventures
– Business succession planning
– Trusts
– Supply, manufacturing, agency, licensing and distribution contracts
– Franchise agreements

Criminal and Traffic Law, and Restraining Orders

Our criminal lawyers have decades of experience in defending all types of criminal charges in the Magistrates, District and Supreme Court. We can help with:

– bail applications
– indictable charges, including murder, burglary, drug offences and serious assaults
– summary offences, including disorderly conduct , common assault and breaches of VRO
– regulatory prosecutions, including prosecutions under the Building Act, Planning and
Development Act, and Food Act
– all traffic offences, including drink-driving offences, dangerous/reckless driving and driving while under disqualification.

We advocate strongly for our clients and provide realistic advice about likely outcomes for trial and sentencing.

We can also assist with restraining order matters, including applications for an FVRO, VRO and Misconduct Restraining Orders. Restraining orders have become a regular feature of Family Court disputes, and can also arise in personal, business and other relationships. We will endeavor to resolve your dispute efficiently and, if possible, without you having to incur the stress and cost of a hearing.

Probate, Wills and Estate Litigation

Our estate planning lawyers will help you plan for the future, having regard to your personal and financial circumstances. We offer a fixed-price will service for simple wills, and can also assist with preparing applications for probate and letters of administration.

We have considerable experience in estate litigation and can assist with:

– Claims under the Family Provision Act
– Contentious probate litigation (including testamentary capacity cases and informal wills)
– Claims against executors for breach of trust
– Other claims against executors

We can also assist with any guardianship and administration disputes, including proceedings before the State Administrative Tribunal.

Conveyancing

Our experienced conveyancers provide a comprehensive range of real estate transactions and conveyancing services to our clients across Western Australia, including:

– Residential Property Settlements
– Commercial Property Settlements
– Industrial Property Settlements
– Vacant Land Settlements
– Private Sales
– Survey-Strata Plans
– Family and Related Party Transfers
– Change of Name on Certificate of Title
– Deceased Estate
– Transfers
– Certificate of Title Searches
– Company Searches

Johnson Kitto

Partner

Johnson has been helping sort out difficult legal problems for West Australians since 1989. He is a straight talker and can tell you upfront what your legal outcomes are likely to be. The best part is he usually works on a fixed upfront price basis.

He is very good at sorting out complex legal disputes so his clients can understand exactly what’s happening, and he tells it like it is – no lawyer language or wishy washy jargon about the law or what it costs.

He has represented clients in every West Australian court and in the Commonwealth family and federal courts. Johnson provides a weekly legal advice talk-back segment on ABC radio and is a sought after speaker for community and not-for-profit groups. He is also a farmer, pilot and assessor for the Recreational Skippers Ticket. He loves the bush and has many clients who are farmers, station owners and fellow pilots.

Grantham Kitto

Partner

Grantham studied Law at the University of Western Australia, and was admitted to the Supreme Court of Western Australia and the High Court of Australia in 1992.

Grantham specialises in Commercial Law, Conveyancing, Estate Matters and Family Law.

Away from the office he enjoys sailing and farming and is the President of the West Australian Yachting Foundation.

Craig Hershowitz​

Partner

Craig graduated from the University of Western Australia in 2013.

He regularly appears as counsel in a range of courts and tribunals and adopts a pragmatic and outcome-focussed approach to litigation.

Away from work, Craig can be found on the golf course, watching Liverpool FC or spending time with family.

Craig provides pro bono advice as a volunteer solicitor with the Subiaco Justice Centre.

Craig practices in the following areas:
– Commercial and civil litigation
– Probate and estate litigation
– Criminal law and restraining orders

Sasha Epps

Solicitor

Sasha graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a Bachelor of Laws in 2017. Prior to this she completed a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Western Australia, majoring in Political Science & International Relations.

Sasha was admitted to practice in 2019, after completing a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice at the College of Law (WA).

Prior to joining our team, Sasha worked at several boutique and mid-tier law firms working in a wide range of practice areas.

Since commencing at Kitto & Kitto, Sasha works primarily in the areas of Family Law and Civil Litigation.

Away from work, Sasha enjoys cooking, exercising and spending time with her family.

Jacqui Alexander​

Senior Conveyancer

Jacqui has been employed with Kitto & Kitto since February 2005.

Jacqui is the senior conveyancer at Kitto & Kitto. She also assists with wills and estate matters.

Outside of work Jacqui enjoys netball, and outdoor activities. She has also been a committee member for her local netball club since 2005.

Nicola Miller-Davie​

Solicitor

Nicola commenced her career in the architectural sector after completing a Bachelor of Design and a Master of Architecture at the University of Western Australia.

With a keen interest in dispute resolution, Nicola returned to the University of Western Australia in 2020 to study for a Juris Doctor degree. To complement her studies, she joined Kitto & Kitto in 2021 as a paralegal and now assists senior partners in Civil, Criminal and Family Law matters. Prior to her current role, Nicola volunteered as a law clerk at the not-for-profit Consumer Credit Legal Service WA.

Outside of work, Nicola enjoys practising yoga, watercolour painting and experimenting in the kitchen.

Nikki Lapsley​

Solicitor

Nikki graduated with a Certificate IV in Paralegal Studies in 2001, which was when she first commenced employment with Kitto & Kitto. Whilst working at Kitto & Kitto Nikki commenced her Bachelor of Laws at Charles Darwin University (NT). Nikki was admitted to practice in 2013, after completing a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice at the Australian National University in Canberra.

Nikki left Kitto & Kitto in 2008 and for the last 14 years has been living in regional and remote Western Australia, spending ten years in the Kimberley, where her three sons have grown up camping and swimming in waterfalls.

Nikki and her family have now relocated back to Perth and Nikki has again joined our team. Nikki mainly works in the areas of Criminal Law and Family Law.

Away from work Nikki enjoys reading, camping and spending time with her family.

Taylor Farmer​

Practice Manager

Taylor joined our team in May 2021 as a receptionist and paralegal. She is now the Practice Manager, managing the firm’s operations and accounts while also continuing to assist with paralegal duties.

Outside of work, Taylor enjoys cooking, being outdoors, and spending time with family.

Brooklyn Barrett

Esperance Office Administrator

Brooklyn joined the team in May 2022 as our Esperance office administrator. She also assists with paralegal duties.

Outside of work, Brooklyn is raising her two kids with her husband. Brooklyn also has a jewellery business and provides a graphic design service to the local Speedway.

On the weekends, she enjoys family time, catching up with friends and exploring the beaches in and around Esperance.