John Armfield
Barrister / Mediator
Admitted to the Bar in 1983 and an accredited mediator with the NSW Bar Association, John is an expert in family provision and estate litigation. A regular legal conference speaker, he has been recognised in Doyle’s Guide in 2015, 2017 – 2020, 2022 and 2023 as a Pre-eminent Leading Wills and Estates Litigation Junior Barrister.
John is a highly sought-after speaker and has appeared at many continuing legal education conferences in relation to estate litigation including family provision law, testamentary capacity, informal wills, estoppel in estate litigation and the rights of beneficiaries to obtain information in relation to the administration of trusts.
He has successfully mediated many estate disputes and enjoys the challenge of assisting parties to arrive at a quick and cost-effective resolution of their disputes.
Practice Areas
Select Cases
- Bowers v Matthews [2024] NSWSC 1353
- Bohen v Mitchelmore [2024] NSWSC 171
- Etherton v Mitchelmore [2024] NSWSC 170
- Estate Ritossa, Deceased [2022] NSWSC 1083
- Re Estate Capelin, deceased [2022] NSWSC 236
- Hibbitt v Ziade [2022] NSWSC 904
- Robertson & Anor v Byrne & Ors [2022] NSWSC 1713
- Finlay v Pereg (No 2) [2022] NSWSC 154
- Finlay v Pereg [2022] NSWSC 32
- Lucas v Salman [2022] NSWSC 1301
- Martin v Matthews [2021] NSWSC 1040
- Ovens v Ovens [2020] NSWSC 568
- Robinson v Robinson [2020] NSWCA 4
- Re Estate Grant, deceased [2018] NSWSC 1031
- Spata v Tumino [2018] NSWCA 17
- Spata v Tumino; Estate of Gina Spata [2017] NSWSC 111
- Re Estate Gowing; Application for Executor’s Commission [2014] NSWSC 247 – application for executor’s commission
- Kastrounis v Foundouradakis [2012] NSWSC 264 – family provision-related property transactions
- Kelly v Deluchi [2012] NSWSC 841
- Hawkins v Barkley-Brown [2010] NSWSC 48 – application for executor’s commission
- Scott v Scott [2009] NSWSC 567 – family provisions case
- Sleboda v Sleboda [2008] NSWCA 122 – unconscionable conduct
Admissions
- Court-appointed Mediator
- Admitted to the Bar (New South Wales): 1983
- Accredited by the NSW Bar Association as a mediator under the National Mediator Accreditation System
Professional Memberships
- Member, New South Wales Bar Association
- Member, Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners
Speaking Engagements
John is always a keynote speaker at the Floor’s annual Succession Conference. He is also an active Succession expert speaker for Ten Education and Legalwise.
- Sir Ninian Stephen Lecture: 2018
- 2014: Professional Negligence and Will Making, Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners
John has also presented numerous papers on the following topics:
- Statutory Wills
- Undue Influence and Coercion in Wills
- Applications for Family Provision Orders
- Judicial Advice in Estate Dispute Matters
- Informal Wills – A Cross-Jurisdictional Companion
- How to Get the Best Results in Inheritance Mediation
- Professional Negligence and Will Making
- Beneficiaries and Estate Administration
- Contested Probate Matters in Practice
- Testamentary Capacity
- Competing Claims
- Establishing Capacity when Capacity is in Issue
- Notional Estate Disputes in current cases
- The Pursuit of Justice
