About Us

Serving Melbourne’s Southeast with Integrity, Expertise
and Respect Since 1966

More Than a Law Firm – A Legal Legacy

Kelly & Chapman Lawyers has proudly served the people of Melbourne’s southeast for over 50 years.

Established
in 1966,

we have built a reputation as a trusted, professional and approachable law firm that provides clear legal advice and strong courtroom advocacy across a range of legal services.

Our firm combines decades of experience with a modern, client-focused approach. We stand for reliability, transparency and legal excellence. From first-time homebuyers to families, business owners and retirees — our clients come to us not just for legal answers, but for peace of mind.

About Kelly &
Chapman Lawyers

We speak multiple languages to support Melbourne’s multicultural communities.
We are one of Melbourne’s longest-standing suburban law firms, operating continuously since 1966
We prioritise plain English, fair fees and approachable communication in every matter.
We offer a wide range of legal services under one roof — from property law to criminal defence.
We prioritise plain English, fair fees and approachable communication in every matter.

Our Mission:

Legal Help Without the Legal Headache

Many people feel anxious about seeing a lawyer. At Kelly & Chapman, we work hard to change that. Our mission is to provide:

  • Practical legal solutions tailored to your goals
  • A calm, respectful environment where your voice is heard
  • Clarity in communication, not legal jargon
  • Realistic expectations and outcomes are always explained up front
  • Prompt service that values your time and urgency

We know that behind every legal matter is a real life. That’s why our lawyers bring not just knowledge, but empathy and strategy.

Our History:

A Name Clients Have Trusted for Generations

Founded in 1966, Kelly & Chapman was one of the first full-service suburban law firms in Melbourne’s south-east. Over the decades, we’ve helped clients navigate changing laws, industries and life stages — often representing the same families across generations.

While the legal landscape has evolved, our values haven’t. Integrity. Reliability. Community connection.

We remain proudly independent and deeply embedded in the local areas we serve, including East Brighton, Brighton, Cheltenham, Caulfield, Highett, Oakleigh, Chadstone, Clayton, Bentleigh, Carnegie, Hughesdale, and beyond.

Meet Our Team

Our strength is our people. Kelly & Chapman’s team of qualified solicitors, licensed conveyancers, and support staff is known for its professionalism, discretion, and approachability.

MISKO VUJNOVIC

LL.B. (Bosnia) LL.B. (Melb) Principal, Notary Public

Misko Vujnovic obtained his law degree in 1982 and worked as a lawyer in former Yugoslavia until the war broke out in 1992. Misko came to Australia in 1994 as a war refugee. He was then asked to finish…

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VICKI KOUTSANTONIS

LL.B (Hons.)

Vicki is an approachable and empathetic lawyer with a broad range of litigation experience specialising in Wills and Estates, Civil disputes and Alternative dispute resolution…

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LAIANY DOS SANTOS PINTO

Licensed Conveyancer

Laiany is a Licensed Conveyancer with a strong legal background and extensive experience in property transactions across Victoria. ..

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We are:

Lawyers who listen

Problem-solvers who plan ahead

Court advocates who don’t back down when your rights are on the line

Conveyancing and estate specialists who get the details right every time

Multilingual professionals fluent in Greek, Croatian, Bosnian and Serbian

You’ll always know who’s handling your case — and you’ll never feel like just another file.

Rated 4.6 Excellent on Google Reviews

How We Can Help

Powers of Attorney

Powers of attorney are legal documents that let you choose someone who can make decisions for you. Powers of attorney give you choice and control.

Civil and Commercial Litigation

Very few people want to be involved in court proceedings. They can be protracted, stressful, costly and the outcome is not always predictable.

Criminal Law

It is an unfortunate fact of life that ordinary, decent and generally law-abiding people occasionally fall foul of the law. 

VCAT

Many minor and specialised disputes are dealt with at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).

Wills & Probate

Wills & Probate focuses on managing a person’s estate after death, including validating wills, distributing assets, settling debts, and handling inheritance matters to ensure the deceased’s wishes are carried out legally.

Property Law

Property Law deals with the ownership, use, transfer, and protection of real estate and property rights, including buying, selling, leasing, and resolving property disputes.

Notary Public

If you’re sending legal documents overseas, many foreign governments, courts, and institutions will only accept them if they’ve been notarised by an appointed Notary Public. 

What Sets Us Apart

A Holistic Legal Service

We’re not just skilfull in one narrow area. Life doesn’t happen in silos — neither should your legal advice. From marriage to mortgage, from dispute to retirement, we’re there.

Accessible to All

Everyone should feel comfortable seeing a lawyer. That’s why we offer:
• Plain-English advice
• Fixed-fee options where possible
• Free onsite parking
• Multilingual service
• Appointments by phone, video or in person

Local Knowledge with Broad Capability

We’re embedded in the Bentleigh community but offer complete coverage across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria. We understand:
• Local courts and tribunal preferences
• Real estate zoning in Glen Eira and Monash
• Small business regulations in Southeast corridors
• Cross-cultural family expectations and sensitivities

To better support Melbourne’s multicultural population, our team speaks:

  • GREEK
  • CROATIAN
  • BOSNIAN
  • SERBIAN

We help ensure that you understand your legal situation fully, in a language that feels comfortable and understandable.

Languages We Speak

What Our Clients Say

 

  • We highly recommend Kelly and Chapman Lawyers for legal and conveyancing services provided to us for our recent sale. Susan Gale-Phillips assisted us during our complicated sale process and was very professional, calm, understanding and excellent communicator. Susan is very detailed and advised us through every step of the sale until the day of settlement. The team at Kelly and Chapman was very patient and guided us throughout the process of our sale and legal matter. We are using the services of Susan and K&C team for our next purchase so a big thank you from our end. Highly recommend the services of Susan and rest of the team at Kelly and Chapman.

    Vin Tan Avatar Vin Tan
    April 1, 2023

    Brilliant services for our family and businesses Highly recommend

    Digital Attraction Avatar Digital Attraction
    April 24, 2026

    The work completed on transferring an old title was first rate. Thank you Laiany Pinto.

    John Trotter Avatar John Trotter
    October 7, 2025
  • Nice and friendly service. Always welcoming and they are pretty quick with the process

    Avr Avatar Avr
    April 22, 2025

    Very professional. Thanks.

    fahimeh saleh Avatar fahimeh saleh
    February 17, 2026

    I would like to thank Misko Vujnovic for his assistance. I would definitely recommend him to anyone I know. Kind regards Catriona

    Catriona Gray Bannerman Avatar Catriona Gray Bannerman
    September 2, 2025
  • Title: A Seamless and Stress-Free home buying experience with Kelly & Chapman I recently had the pleasure of working with Susan Gale-Phillips from Kelly & Chapman for the purchase of our property, and I am compelled to share the exceptional experience I had with their services. From the outset, Susan displayed a profound understanding of the intricacies of property transactions. Her expertise and attention to detail were evident as she navigated the complexities of the legal aspects involved in our property transaction. Communication was a standout feature throughout the process. She ensured that I was kept well-informed at every stage, providing timely updates and clarifications whenever necessary. This transparent and proactive approach alleviated much of the stress typically associated with property transactions, and I always felt confident that my interests were being prioritized. One of the most impressive aspects of Susan's service was her responsiveness. Emails and phone calls were promptly returned, and she was readily available to address any concerns or queries I had. This level of accessibility and dedication to client satisfaction set a high standard for professionalism. In conclusion, my experience with Susan (and Kelly & Chapman) was nothing short of outstanding. Their professionalism, expertise, and unwavering dedication to client satisfaction made the entire process seamless and stress-free. I wholeheartedly recommend Susan to anyone in need of a reliable and proficient solicitor/conveyancer for their property transactions. In fact, I have already done so to a friend, and he has benefited from her expertise. Thanks to their efforts, I am now happily settled in my new home, and I am grateful for the excellent service they provided.

    Rami Avatar Rami
    January 9, 2024

    We recently settled on our apartment in Bentleigh and used Laiany's services for the conveyancing. The service was fantastic and she kept us updated the whole way through. She was also available for any of our queries and responded in a very timely manner. We have used other firms previously for conveyancing and the difference between them and Laiany from Kelly & Chapman was chalk and cheese. We don't plan to be moving again anytime soon, but if we were, we will be using Kelly & Chapman Lawyers.

    Chris Clark Avatar Chris Clark
    May 10, 2026

    I recently used the notary public services at Kelly and Chapman Lawyers, and I was very impressed with the experience. The team was professional, efficient, and highly knowledgeable. They took the time to clearly explain each step and ensured all documents were handled with great care and accuracy. The service was prompt, and the staff were friendly and approachable, which made a big difference. I would highly recommend Kelly and Chapman Lawyers to anyone in need of reliable and trustworthy notary public services. Thank you for your excellent support!

    aruna pragash Avatar aruna pragash
    March 20, 2026

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