Krystal Bellamy advises clients in relation to all aspects of Wills, powers of attorney, deceased estates, trusts and superannuation disputes, specialising mainly in estate and trust administration and litigation. In this Q&A, she shares insights into her daily work as a lawyer.
Why do you like working at HopgoodGanim?
Many of our lawyers are recognised by legal publications as leaders in their fields, and the firm houses a leading team of private client lawyers who support family offices, family-owned business and high-profile individuals in the management of their private legal affairs. In addition to offering services for private clients, HopgoodGanim has legal and advisory expertise that covers areas such as dispute resolution, property, corporate advisory and governance, taxation, start-ups and entrepreneurial business.
Can you give some insight into your personal expertise?
I have practised exclusively in the areas of deceased estates and trusts in Queensland since 2012, with a particular focus on, and interest in, complex estate and trust administration, disputes and litigation. I have an eye for detail and particularly enjoy investigating or defending matters involving capacity issues or alleged breaches of fiduciary duties. In the last few years, I have added estate planning work to my practice. My experience in dispute work has given me a sound foundation for providing estate planning advice.
What motivated and inspired you to have the expertise you have today?
From my first introduction to deceased estates and trusts, I was hooked. Being trusted by clients with often deeply private personal information and helping them to work through some of the worst times in their lives brings a personal element to my work that I just wouldn’t have in a purely transactional area of law.
Practising in deceased estates and trusts can otherwise be a vast minefield for the unwary, particularly as these areas traverse many others, such as taxation, property and family law. All these reasons have driven me to keep learning and to acquire the expertise I have today, and they will continue to motivate my ongoing self-development as a practitioner.
What is the best advice or guidance you have ever been given?
1. Talk less, listen more. 2. Write it today, send it tomorrow. 3. Write everything as though it will be read by a Judge one day. (These are all good rules of thumb for life generally.)
This interview includes extracts from an interview with The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (“STEP”)'s Queensland Branch. Krystal is a member of STEP, which is a global association of professionals specialising in estates and trusts. She has also been recognised several times in Doyle's Guide, including for Wills, Estates and Succession Planning; as well as Wills & Estates Litigation Law rankings.
Connect with Krystal
Connect with Krystal today if you would like advice about a dispute concerning a Will, deceased estate, superannuation or a power of attorney, about administering a deceased estate or trust or about your personal estate planning.