est. 1983
About McGuinness Legal
McGuinness Legal has been supporting individuals, families and businesses across the Mornington Peninsula since 1983. Based in Rosebud, our firm has built a strong reputation as a trusted local adviser, combining decades of legal experience with a genuine understanding of the community we serve.
Led by founding director Paul McGuinness, our team brings over 120 years of combined experience across a wide range of practice areas, including conveyancing, wills and estates, family law, business and commercial law, and personal injury.
As a close-knit team, McGuinness Legal takes a personal approach to every matter. Whether you’re planning ahead or dealing with a challenging situation, we’re here to guide you with care, clarity and confidence.
Meet Our Team
At McGuinness Legal, our strength lies in our people. Meet the team who are here to stand by your side.
Paul McGuinness
Founding Director & Principal Solicitor
Trusted adviser to local businesses and private clients.
Michelle Warner
Lawyer
Experienced lawyer in Victoria, having worked with local and corporate law firms, and government.
Paul McGuinness
Founding Director & Principal Solicitor
Paul is the principal solicitor and founding director of McGuinness Legal and has been serving the Mornington Peninsula since 1983. He is a trusted adviser to local businesses and individual private clients, and can provide advice in relation to a broad range of legal issues.
Paul was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for services to the Mornington Peninsula community in 2022.
Paul’s practice focuses on business contracts and transactions, commercial law, dispute resolution, mediation, litigation, building developments and planning, conveyancing, seniors law, wills, estate planning, probate and will disputes.
Paul is based in Rosebud and is available for appointments in Mt Eliza and South Yarra.
Professional Memberships: Law Institute of Victoria
Michelle Warner
Lawyer
Shelley has practiced as a lawyer in Victoria since 2010 and has experience working in local and corporate law firms and for government.
She provides tailored, comprehensive and context-sensitive advice, often in what are novel legal situations.
She provides legal services relating to:
Planning law; environment and heritage
Advises clients in relation to a wide range of matters including Council Planning Permit Applications and VCAT applications for review of planning decisions; existing use rights, heritage, water, covenants, subdivisions, EPA and GED matters and interpreting the Victorian Planning Provisions.
Family law; children, property and family violence (IVO matters)
Provides comprehensive end to end legal representation to clients in family law matters, including divorce, children and property, family violence, child protection and quasi criminal law, appearing at the Federal Circuit Court and Family Court of Australia and has also trained as a Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner.
Testamentary law; wills, probate, family provision claims and living estates
Focuses on providing practical and compassionate advice, drafting wills and powers of attorney, navigating probate, and handling complex estate administration, family provision claims, contested probate, and executor disputes.
Employment and workplace law
Advise on a wide range of issues, including workplace disputes, and discrimination claims to help ensure workplaces are fair and compliant with employment laws.
Shelley assists and advises clients towards negotiating just, sustainable and efficient outcomes.
Having worked in the law, policy and education spaces over the last 30 years, Shelley offers a wealth of experience and capacity to understand the unique legal issues faced by members of the community. Shelley is also a skilled Japanese speaker.
Shelley is a member of the following organisations:
- Law Institute of Victoria
- Mornington Peninsula Lawyers Association
- Victorian Family Law Pathways Network- Greater Melbourne
- Victorian Planning and Environment Law Association (VPELA)