Hynes Strata Consulting
Our consultants work with you to achieve the best outcome for your situation
Draw on the expertise of a multi-disciplinary team of consultants and advisers, ready to help you resolve your your strata problems.
Speak to our team today!
About Chris Irons
Get advice directly from the Ex-Commissioner
Chris Irons spent almost six years at the top of body corporate life in Queensland. As Commissioner for Body Corporate and Community Management, Chris has an unequaled understanding of the operations of the Commissioner’s Office. His advice can help you efficiently navigate the legislative maze of strata in Queensland.
Is Mediation for you?
More than one way to resolve your dispute.
Times consuming and costly legal battles can often be avoided with the help of an evaluative mediation session, where parties are encouraged to reach agreement according to their rights and entitlements within the anticipated range of court remedies.
Through the expert guidance of Chris Irons, (former Commissioner for Body Corporate and Community Management) Hynes Mediation offers an alternative to resolving strata disputes, where there is a much better chance of returning to a harmonious body corporate situation after the proceedings.
Seek the right advice
Short-circuiting
a strata dispute
Hynes consulting services give clients access to the best minds in the business to help prevent issues from becoming problems. If an issue is left to simmer in a strata community it can end up causing a lot of cost, stress and lost time.
Seeking advice early can help prevent disputes from escalating. Whether it be a procedural matter for an annual general meeting or how to prepare a case for the Office of the Commissioner for Body Corporate and Community Management, sound advice is invaluable.
Hynes Consultants
Why Choose Hynes Legal
More Choice
Hynes Consultants bring a unique perspective not always found among lawyers. They work with you to ensure you fully understand your options when it comes to resolving a strata dispute. Getting the right advice from the outset can help you choose the best way forward. From mediation sessions to implementing a better communications protocol for dealing with challenging lot owners, our consultants have a range of non-legal options that we can help you with.
Lower Fees
No one enjoys the inevitable costly legal fees involved in resolving a body corporate matter in court. Hynes Consultants look at ways to resolve your body corporate or strata issue, without needing to engage lawyers. From helping you prepare a submission to the Commissioner’s Office, right through to dealing with a challenging person directly on your behalf, Hynes Consultants can help you avoid costly legal battles.
Better Outcome
Feedback from our clients shows that there is value in finding a solution that allows everyone to return to a comfortable and harmonious living situation once a strata dispute has been resolved. Engaging a softer approach through Hynes Consulting avoids the inevitable chance meeting in the lift or a common area with someone you took to court, someone who is not happy with the outcome.
Our Consulting Services
Mediation
Hynes uses mediation, utilising the expertise and experience of former Body Corporate and Community Management Commissioner Chris Irons, to save parties time, stress and money in resolving their problems.
Body Corporate Managers support
Hynes consultants work with Body Corporate Managers to find solutions to difficult legislative and decision-making challenges. Examples of the types of support we offer to Body Corporate Managers include:
Retained services
Under a retainer, body corporate managers gain ongoing access to former Body Corporate and Community Management Commissioner Chris Irons, providing invaluable advice for dealing with Commissioner’s Office matters as well as for difficult buildings, committees and individuals.
Part 5 engagement and administrator appointments
Hynes provides measured guidance to help managers navigate through prescribed legislative processes.
Facilitation
When body corporate problems appear insurmountable, facilitation may be the answer. Facilitation acts as a circuit breaker in disputes and sets a path towards resolution. Facilitation can take many forms including:
Committee conferences
As volunteers, committee members need support to deal with day-to-day challenges. Chris Irons holds conferences with committees to help establish and narrow their concerns, before working with them on practical solutions.
Town hall forums
When there is a contentious motion or other issue to be discussed and decided upon, a town hall style forum can assist in answering questions, addressing concerns and shoring up support before a formal body corporate meeting. Chris Irons is ideally credentialed to facilitate these forums.
Government Advocacy
Chris Irons draws upon his two decades of experience working for the Queensland Government to advocate for your body corporate problem. He speaks the specialised language of government.
Negotiating Challenging People
Hynes have developed a range of consulting services to help resolve the common issue faced by committees: Their time is absorbed by one, or a handful of challenging individuals that raise a high volume of motions or requests or demand a high level of correspondence. To reduce the pressure on volunteer committees, Chris Irons can facilitate committee conferences aimed at:
- Developing a tailored communication plan to deal with challenging people
- Establishing what is and isn’t required by a committee in dealing with a challenging person
- Introducing a protocol that the committee can use in dealing with challenging people moving forward.
Chris can also work directly with the challenging person, to advocate for the committee. This buffers the committee and reduces the pressure on them to resolve conflict. The aim of direct engagement is to emphasise the limits of the committee’s role and powers.
Our Case Studies
Mediation: getting breakthroughs between committee and caretaker
Background: as a precursor to contract renegotiations, a committee engaged Chris to mediate between them and their caretakers. There was a history of negative interactions and communications, as well as mistrust, on both sides. The committee thought mediation, using Chris’s expertise, could help to narrow a long list of problems before the renegotiations.
Challenging person facilitation: taking the pressure off committees
Background: a committee saw the bulk of their time being absorbed by dealing with the large volume of complaints, correspondence and requests from a single owner. So much so, it was having an impact on the committee’s ability to move ahead with project works at the building. Committee members were also becoming stressed. They approached Chris for a solution.
Jennie Graham
As a Body Corporate committee member seeking some personal advice, I had no hesitation in selecting Hynes Legal as they are well known, and respected, in their field. They were able to look at the issues presented to them, from all sides, and provide sound advice based on Body Corporate Law. This is the first time that I have had dealings with Frank Higginson and I recommend Frank, and his team, to others.
Simon Batt
Hynes Legal were exemplary. Highly recommend in all aspects of Body Corporate & Management Rights issues. Frank and his team were awesome. They were great to communicate with, gave excellent advice, and very supportive. I have used them several times in the past 15 years and we definitely use them again.
Barry Snashall
Throughout our long participation in the management rights industry (20ys+) we have had Hynes Legal as our representatives in contracts, disputes etc. Through out these years, Frank and his team have always been contactable and have given their time and advice in amanner which has made them easy to deal with. During the last few years in particular we battled with an obstructionist chairman, to get a new agreement which would make our business more attractive to purchasers. In 2016 Frank and his team came up with an original and untried plan of attack. We were delighted when we were successful in obtaining a new agreement. Frank and his team are to be congratulated on "thinking outside the box" and achieving a successful outcome.
Karen Nelson
Brilliant result in getting our Management Agreement topped up thanks to Frank and his team. Making provision for both the financier's and Body Corporate requirements meant engaging a firm that could provide the specialist service we needed knowing that potentially this could have been a particularly difficult exercise. Not only that, the follow-up service and advice ensured the process went smoothly from start to finish. Highly recommended!!!
Peter Eastman
Thanks to Frank and Hayley variation top up of my management rights agreements and the Gallery Vie variation was passed with a majority secret vote at the recent AGM. Nothing like good professional lawyers with great advice and top expertise in management rights. My highest recommendation goes to Frank and Hayley
Michael Toms
Hynes Legal, with Frank Higgins & his Team are second to none when it comes to the Management Rights industry. Hynes Legal are well know in the industry as being the go to people for all your Management Rights support & help. Weather you need to top up your Agreement or seek caretaker advices, don't go anywhere else but straight to the team the Qld Government consults with when they need info or advices on the management rights industry.
Peter Holthouse
Thank you, Frank and team for your assistance and support throughout our recent sale process and the previous work you have undertaken for us. Your steady hand on the tiller charted our way by keeping us focused on the bigger picture. Special mention to your team who went above and beyond to make thing happen. Will always recommend Hynes for your professionalism, patience and outcomes.
Violet Blackstock
I would say that dealing with Hynes has been one of the best experiences I have had with any legal firm ever! Their service is exactly as good as they promise. From the word go they are professional, quick to respond and deliver what they promise. And once the matter has been completed they don't just say good-bye and you don't hear from them again. They follow up constantly with great tips, advice and useful material to help you in your management rights business. I would highly recommend the team and Hynes Legal to anyone looking for great lawyers when purchasing or selling a Management Letting Rights business.
franck bessone
I'd like to share my experience with Hynes. Selling my management rights business I've been all along the process (which has been longer than expected)reassured by all the staff, always reactive, friendly and professional . I'd like especially thanks Holly and Frank who are so efficient . I come from France and I've never knew as much as reactivity, efficiency and availability from a solicitor! thanks both of you and all Hynes staff for your precious advice and your total mastery of the job. I highly recommend this team for your future transaction. Franck Bessone
Noel Sheeran
Once again I have had the pleasure to instruct Hynes Legal and again I was very impressed with the responsiveness, communication and professionalism. Frank Higginson and his team (with particular mention of Hayley Deckert) kept me well informed at all stages and made the process a breeze. Thanks again.
Paul Bolton
Frank and the team are by far the most professional and best equipped strata/management rights legal firm in Australia. Their experience, advice and overall service goes above and beyond what you might expect. Given most legal situations can be quite stressful experiences, its reassuring to know you have Frank and Hynes legal in your corner, its like boxing with Mike Tyson on your team.
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At the outset it is important to understand the distinction between what the management rights industry calls a ‘top up’ and what is the exercise of an option (which is
8 Questions to Ask Your Body Corporate Lawyer
When you need a Body Corporate lawyer for the first time many committee members find themselves in new and unfamiliar territory. When looking for a Body Corporate lawyer (whether it
Coronavirus in strata
If you want to see what Chris Irons and I think about how strata communities should deal with Coronavirus / Covid-19, please watch this facebook live recording.
You won’t find a set of
The (former) Commissioner joins Hynes Legal
Yes – that’s right.Chris Irons is starting with us, as reported in the Courier Mail.
As the Commissioner for Body Corporate and Community Management for the past five years, Chris has been
Body corporate prohibits singing in the shower
No, not really, but this is where some want strata laws to head.
There are many laws that affect community living, but the one that people most often overlook is the