Established in 1949.
Hunter Valley Law Society
Membership to the Hunter Valley Law Society is $60 per year. Included in this fee the society offers the mandatory 10 continuing professional development points to our members throughout the year for free.
Looking to join? Hunter Valley Law Society memberships are open.
Meet the Committee
Nada Vujat
President
Nada Vujat has practised personal injury law and employment law for over 25 years. Nada has been a principal/partner/director of Emery Partners since 2002. Prior to Emery Partners, Nada was awarded the inaugural BHP Newcastle Scholarship which facilitated six years of work at multiple departments within BHP Newcastle including steelmaking, the bloomcaster, public affairs and the training department.
In 1992, she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Newcastle, majoring in psychology. In 1995, she graduated with a Bachelor of Laws from the University of New South Wales. In 2005, she graduated with a Master of Health Law from the University of Sydney.
Nada is committed to collaborative learning, and regularly hosts workshops and presentations for professional organisations, businesses, members of the legal profession and the local community. She has been honoured to have been invited to present at the International Congress on Law and Mental Health on multiple occasions, including in New York, Berlin and Amsterdam. She has presented for Continuing Professional Development Seminars, writing a workshop paper entitled “Personal Injury Damages in NSW”.
Nada is the current President of the Hunter Valley Law Society and the Women’s Network [Hunter]. She is also a member of the Australian Lawyers Alliance, the Women Lawyers Association of NSW and is an approved Independent Legal Assistance and Review Service Lawyer [NSW Workers' Compensation].
Daniel Conway
Vice President
Dan is a dedicated lawyer employed with Julia Clarke Solicitor. He has experience across wills and estate planning, probate and estate litigation, family law, property law, and employment law. He attended the University of Sydney’s Law Extension Committee and graduated with a Diploma in Law in 2021.
Before practicing law, Dan had a successful 20+ year career in Higher Education, where he was a respected technical manager and innovator. In 2021, he won the Australian Financial Review’s ‘Excellence in Education Award’. As President of the National Tertiary Education Union for a number of years, Dan negotiated and advocated for staff, including in the Fair Work Commission. He continues to be heavily involved in the drafting and negotiating of the University of Newcastle’s enterprise agreements, having formerly led such processes from a Union perspective.
Dan is passionate about using his skills to help those in need and make a positive difference in people's lives. To that end, he volunteers with the Far West Community Legal Centre and was the Cooperative Legal Service Delivery Coordinator (Legal Aid Funded role) for the Far West region for a period.
Away from work, Dan is a keen aviator, holding both plane and helicopter licenses. He is also a proud parent to his three young children, whom he loves to travel with alongside his wife.
Michael Nowland
Secretary
Michael Nowland is Secretary of the Hunter Valley Law Society. Michael is a principal solicitor at HCN Law based in Maitland. Michael assists clients with Wills and estate planning, conveyancing and litigation.
Michael holds a JD from the University of NSW.
Outside of the law, Michael was born and raised in Maitland , and in his spare time enjoys spending time with his family, golf and playing the guitar.
Andrew Vile
Committee Member
Andrew Vile is a committee member of the Hunter Valley Law Society, and has been for many years. Andrew was admitted as a Solicitor in 1981 following attaining a Bachelor of Legal Services degree from Macquarie University. Andrew was in partnership with his mother for some years, and became a sole practitioner in 1990, practising mainly in Conveyancing (Property and Businesses); Commercial Law, particularly Leases; Wills and Deceased Estates; and Elder Law (Powers of Attorney, Guardianships etc).
Andrew was raised on a farm at Hillsborough, between Rosebrook and Lambs Valley.
Andrew is currently an Executive Committee member of Maitland Business Chamber; a Board Member of Hunter Region Business Enterprise Centre; and a member of Maitland Rotary Club and West Maitland Centennial Lions Club. He has been actively engaged in the Maitland community since his admission.
The little time that Andrew has to spend away from the Law and his community involvement is enjoyed maintaining his small orchard block, gardening, collecting model vehicles, and spending time with his current wife Jan and chocolate Labrador Millie, and his four children and increasing number of grandchildren.
Renée Newland
Committee Member & Young Lawyer Representative
Renée graduated with Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts (Sociology) from the University of New England. She also holds a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice and a Certificate of Legal Business Skills from the College of Law. Renée is admitted as a lawyer of the Supreme Court of NSW and holds an Australian Practicing Certificate.
Renée’s is proud to be the Young Lawyer representative for the Hunter Valley Law Society. She has a passion for property law and is a member of the Young Lawyers Property Law Committee.
Renée became a member of the professional, friendly, experienced and dedicated team at Julia Clarke Solicitor in 2019. Since admission she has gained a wide range of experience in general practice and in particular, in the areas of property law, wills and estate planning. Renée prides herself on enthusiasm and passion for the law and approachability for clients.
Before joining Julia Clarke Solicitor, Renée was employed as a Law Clerk with O’Brien & O’Brien Solicitors and gained experience working within the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. Renée always welcomes the opportunity to develop and expand upon her current legal knowledge.
Lucy Kelly
Treasurer
Lucy graduated with a Bachelor of Laws/Commerce from the University of New England in Armidale in 2009 and was Admitted to practice in NSW in 2011. Lucy completed her Masters in Wills and Estates through the College of Law in 2014.
Lucy worked in conveyancing in her junior years in regional NSW, before moving to a Sydney Law Firm specialising in wills and estates. Lucy then returned to regional NSW to practice before moving to a firm in Maitland, working in Wills, Estates and Property she now practices in the same areas of law at Braye Cragg Solicitors in Newcastle.
Lucy lives in the Maitland area and outside of the law loves spending time with her family and is kept on her toes by her young son. Lucy and her family love visiting her family farm in North-West NSW.
Robert Reeve
Committee Member
Robert Reeve has extensive experience in practising general commercial, property, entertainment and media law.
Starting out as a solicitor in NSW in 1977, Robert has conducted private practice with top-tier and mid-tier law firms in Sydney CBD for over 40 years. He has also held senior executive positions within the entertainment industry, including General Counsel/Head of Business Affairs of Becker Group Limited and Prime Media Group Limited. A significant part of his career involved representing film and television producers, distributors, industry organisations and government agencies.