Our company

Founded in 1979, Jessop & Komesaroff has established itself as one of Melbourne’s most reputable law firms. We provide a full range of legal services, with an emphasis on Small Business, Commercial & Property Law, Wills & Estates and Family Law. Our lawyers are highly skilled, accessible and experienced in servicing clients of all sizes. Our boutique size enables us to provide personal attention to every matter, a claim we are proud of as it enables us to service our clients holistically and achieve the best commercial outcome possible.

Our clients

Our client base consists of a mix of individuals, families, local residents, corporations and businesses. Our practice has been solely referral based since its establishment in 1979. Our reputation depends on providing a consistently valuable service to every one of our clients, many of whom are third generation. We are also proud to claim that we service a loyal client base consisting of a number of high net worth individuals and their families with whom we have worked with for many years.

We have been extremely happy with the service over the years and how J&K understood exactly what our issues were and how to resolve them quickly and efficiently. Howard and Bev are almost part of the family.

JT, client of 30 years.

J&K assisted me after the untimely death of my partner. They were sensitive to my needs. They lifted the burden off my shoulders at this very difficult and stressful time.

NM, client of 20 years.

Our Team

Howard Komesaroff LL.B, B. Ec

Principal

Howard began practising law in 1981 and joined founding partner Beverley Jessop in 1984. Taking an active and commercially pragmatic, no-nonsense approach to all matters, Howard has extensive experience in all aspects of commercial law. His expertise includes litigation, commercial leasing wills and probate and sale and purchase of businesses. He has acted for a wide variety of clients including individuals, businesses and recreational associations.

  • Commercial litigation and related negotiations
  • Sale of business agreements
  • Leases
  • Wills and probate
  • Contractual disputes
  • Trade practices

Howard’s membership of the Law Institute of Victoria keeps him fully informed of changes and developing issues in the law.

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Josh Martyn LL.B (Hons), B.A.

Principal

Josh has been part of the J&K team since 2010. Josh initially started as a law clerk and during his employment was admitted to legal practice by the Supreme Court of Victoria in 2013. Josh has a broad base practice which includes civil litigation, commercial transactions and criminal law.

Josh has advised on a diverse range of matters including:

  • Property disputes
  • Adverse possession
  • Employment disputes
  • Bankruptcy and winding up procedures
  • Serious criminal conduct including matters dealing with illicit drugs, driving offences and assault.

Josh’s approach is measured and he is driven to achieve for his clients commercially sensible outcomes. He stays informed of recent developments in the law through his membership and continuing participation at the Law Institute of Victoria (young lawyers and litigation lawyers section).

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Julie Sillato LL.B (Hons)

Principal

Julie joined the J&K team shortly after finishing university in 2016. She worked as a trainee lawyer while studying her Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice, and was admitted to practice in 2017.

Since joining the firm, Julie has worked on a range of matters including civil litigation across the Magistrates’ Court, County Court and Supreme Court, commercial transactions including sale and purchase of business, leasing and shareholders agreements as well as estate matters including wills and probate.

Having studied International Alternative Dispute Resolution in New York City during her degree, Julie always seeks to achieve practical outcomes for her clients whilst ensuring that they are informed and at ease throughout whichever legal process she is assisting with.

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Beverley Jessop LL.B, B.A.

Consultant

Prior to practicing law, Beverley worked as a trained nurse for 20 years and assisted as a theatre sister in intensive care. She studied her LL.B at the University of Melbourne and soon after completing her accreditation at Leo Cussen Institute, she founded the firm in 1979.

Beverley has been managing a diverse general practice including property, wills and estates and family law for over 35 years. She has built close relationships with her clients, providing her services to some families for over 3 generations. She has also vast experience in commercial and litigation work.

Beverley adopts a caring and understanding approach while putting her clients’ issues into perspective. She is proud to deliver pragmatic outcomes endowed with common sense.

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Ash Melnacis JP LL.M (JD), B.A.

Australian Lawyer

Ash was admitted to practice in 2019 and joined Jessop & Komesaroff in early 2023. Ash was previously employed in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia. Prior to the merger of the Family Court of Australia and the Federal Circuit Court of Australia, Ash spent a number of years in the Family Court of Australia involved in both interim and final hearings, as well as working for the Full Court of the Family Court of Australia.

Ash was employed in the Federal Circuit Court of Australia as an Associate to Judge Small AM assisting in interim and final hearings in Melbourne, Dandenong and regional areas. Ash also worked as Associate to Senior Judicial Registrar Parker (now Judge Parker), Senior Judicial Registrar Sudholz, Senior Judicial Registrar Kaur and in the National Assessment Team.

Ash has an extensive knowledge of family law and court procedure which gives him the ability to provide practical advice in a timely manner and effectively advocate for his clients to achieve the best outcome.

Ash has extensive experience in complex parenting matters and his time working in the Lighthouse Project has provided him with a deep understanding of the impacts of family violence.

Ash is committed to achieving the best possible outcome for his clients.

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Micah Ramos LL.B (Hons)

Australian Lawyer

Micah brings conveyancing and property law experience to the firm, having years of practice in various firms, including as a sole practitioner. Micah has specialised experience acting on behalf purchasers of off-the-plan vacant land in greenfield developments. Since joining the firm, she gained insight into a broader practice encompassing debt-recovery, commercial litigation, property, and general advisory.

Micah has built a client base in the the Filipino community where she’s establishing a network. Many of her clients place a high value on Micah’s ability to explain things in Tagalog. Micah ensures that clients have peace of mind through fostering goodwill, being accessible, constantly updating her knowledge in relevant areas of law, and connecting with other professionals in property law.  Micah appreciates that her clients are making investments in their property transactions and wishes to grow her practice so that she can grow with her clients’ legal needs. 

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Helen Panna LL.B, B.A.

Australian Lawyer

Helen commenced practising law in 1985 after graduating from the University of Monash. She brings more than 35 years of extensive experience in many areas of civil work and litigation across State and Federal Court jurisdictions including VCAT. Helen’s background includes managing and running her own legal practice as a generalist lawyer and a Manager at the Law Institute of Victoria in regulatory matters specific to the legal profession and legal practice issues.

In recent years Helen worked as an inhouse lawyer for corporate entities mainly focusing on financial services, corporate law and related litigation.

Having experienced varied work environments over previous years Helen has returned to private practice enjoying new challenges and serving client needs with an aim to delivering the best possible outcomes for them.

Helen has practised in the following areas.

  • Civil disputes including Contract and Property
  • Wills and Estate Disputes
  • Financial Services
  • Insolvency and Bankruptcy
  • Professional Negligence
  • Consumer Protection
  • Debt Recovery & Investigation
  • Health Law
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Vicki Jackson

Law Clerk

Vicki joined the J&K team in 2007 as office manager/law clerk. Vicki works closely with solicitors in the firm, primarily in property and wills and estate matters. Her efficient and business like approach ensures that our clients are well looked after in a timely and highly competent manner.

Kylie Farrell

Law Clerk

Kylie commenced her career as a legal secretary in Tasmania nearly 30 years ago.  She moved to Melbourne in 1998 and spent a number of years working in large city firms as a Legal Assistant/Law Clerk in many areas of law including wills and estates, planning, leasing and conveyancing. Kylie joined Roy Jaffit Rochman & Co in 2016 shortly before the practice joined Jessop & Komesaroff in 2017. 

Kylie is an Accounts Manager and Law Clerk and works closely with the Principals in the day to day running of the firm, as well as on complex property and conveyancing matters.  She takes pride in being friendly and approachable while offering an efficient, streamlined service. 

 

 

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Shruti Chaudhry

Conveyancing clerk

Kathryn Burns

Law Clerk