Dylan joined our commercial law team in August 2020. In 2019 he graduated with a combined Bachelor of Arts and Laws majoring in French from the University of Tasmania. He was admitted to the Supreme Court of Tasmania after completing the Tasmanian Legal Practice Course in 2020.
During his studies, Dylan was lucky enough attend Sciences Po in Paris for twelve months and the University of Sheffield in the north of England for six months, where he spent the holiday months tramping from country inn to country inn across the dales and lakes. Recently “retired” from rugby and sailing, Dylan still dabbles in these sports from time to time.
Dylan is passionate about sustainable land-management, small-scale enterprise and grass-roots co-operation for conservation and resilience.
He is the person to see for help making your wills and estate planning.
Anthony conducts a wide ranging dispute resolution and court/tribunal advocacy practice, and is active in the legal profession and the local community.
Since 2004, Anthony has helped our clients avoid and resolve disputes of all kinds. He has wide experience representing them in the Supreme Court, Magistrates Court and various tribunals.
He helps his clients enforce contracts, protect their rights in property transactions, collect debts, appeal decisions of government, defend claims, protect workplace rights, claim compensation when they’re injured at work or because of someone else’s wrong doing, defend wills, make claims against deceased estates and more. He protects the rights of children in child protection proceedings and also helps parents. He defends those charged with a criminal offence.
Anthony aims to try and help everyone who walks in our door because he believes that access to justice is important and enjoys having a diverse law practice.
Anthony became a director of the law practice in 2007. He was a member of the Law Society of Tasmania’s governing Council between 2008 and 2015. He had the privilege to be elected as President in 2013/14 to lead the Society and represent the legal profession in this State. He raised the profile and influence of the Society by publicly advocating for the Law Society’s position on rule of law issues like access to justice, mandatory sentencing, court resources and proposed legislation that had the potential to criminalise benign conduct. He made submissions to government and appeared regularly in the media.
Anthony is currently a member of the Legal Profession Board of Tasmania. The Board receives and investigates complaints about the conduct of legal practitioners. It hears and determines certain matters that arise during its investigations, and refers certain complaints to the Disciplinary Tribunal and Supreme Court. He has also been appointed by the Minister for Local Government as a member of the Local Government Code of Conduct Panel, which hears and determines complaints about councillors.
He is a sessional member of the Tasmainan Civil and Administrative Tribunal in the Guardianship Stream thats jurisdiction includes appointing alternative decision makers for people with a disability who are unable to make reasonable judgements about lifestyle and financial matters.
Anthony has served on the boards of several organisations including Royal Guide Dogs Tasmania, Law Foundation of Tasmania, North West Community Legal Centre, North West Environment Centre Public Fund, Slip Stream Circus and Roland View Trust Estate. He is an active member of the Association of Ukrainians in Tasmania and the Apex Club of Ulverstone.
Eleanor commenced practice in 2001 and she has been a director of Walsh Day James Mihal since 2004. She is currently taking time away from her work as the leader of our non-litigious section.
She worked in the areas of conveyancing, sale and purchase of businesses and franchises, leases, subdivisions, succession planning, wills and estates. She is experienced in property development, possessory title applications, contested will proceedings, and complex farm transfers. Eleanor has an excellent relationship with other local professionals, and worked well with accountants to assist in planning clients’ transition to retirement and with surveyors and the town planners to finalise subdivisions in record time.
Eleanor was able to assist her clients on the basis of real life experience, as she is a small business owner and operator. As well as being a director of the law practice, Eleanor is a farmer and Equestrian Centre Manager for her family’s business Junction Farm Equestrian Centre in Hadspen. The Mason family is involved in many Tasmanian primary industries, including sheep and cattle production and abalone fishing.
Eleanor is a graduate of the Tasmanian Leaders’ Program and through this connection has a good understanding of Tasmanian issues and how our state works. She also has boardroom experience, and currently holds the volunteer role of Vice President of Lifeline Tasmania.
Eleanor was a long serving member of the Law Society of Tasmania’s Solicitors’ Accounts Rules Committee which provides advice and assistance to the Law Society as regulator of trust accounts operated by Tasmanian law practices. Over 7.5 billion dollars was receipted into 120 such trust accounts last financial year.
Eleanor is the mother of three children, including baby Adelaide and she frequently works from her home on Junction Farm so she can be available to her children between work sessions.
Terri Hyland has a background in conveyancing and general administration, and joined our practice in June 2015 as a conveyancing clerk. Terri now assists in the field of Family Law to achieve great results for our family law clients.
Outside of work, Terri enjoys spending time with her young family, exploring Tasmania’s nature walks and scenery, and web development.
Admitted in 1989, Ann has had a long and varied career. Starting her professional life as a social worker, Ann embraced law as her second career and she says it is by far her favourite. She conducted her own busy law practice in Queensland for many years.
Ann currently works in the area of family law. As a multi-skilled practitioner however she is also able to turn her hand to commercial and civil litigation; areas she worked in previously over many years.
When not in the office, Ann loves travelling, speaking French and talking with others about both of these things!
Caleb has a background in sales and retail with certificates in both ICT and retail.
Caleb joined our practice in 2017 and works ably as an assistant to Helen Bassett in the fields of family law and criminal.
Outside of work Caleb enjoys renovating his home and spending time with his beloved pooch.
Jude has an experienced and varied background in finance, lending and legal. Jude joined our practice in 2019 as our Probate Clerk. Jude understands that the passing of a loved one can be a difficult time and, working with Eleanor James, Anthony Mihal and Dylan Keegan, aims to make the legal process as uncomplicated as possible at a trying time for our clients.
Kerrie-anne Graham has been working in the legal field since 1991 and joined our practice in August 2012 as our Senior Conveyancing Clerk. Understanding that selling or buying a property can be overwhelming, she works together with Eleanor James and Anthony Mihal to provide a relaxed and positive experience for our clients.
Anna joined us in December 2014 as our friendly receptionist, and has since moved to assisting Eleanor James in her rural and commercial practice. Anna has also completed her Certificate II in Business, and is currently studying accounting and law at University.
Outside of work, Anna enjoys playing Polocrosse.
Jonathan joined our practice as receptionist in 2018. Jonathan has completed certificates in ICT and Business and currently studying accounting and book-keeping.
Outside of work Jonathan is an avid reader and developer of video games.
Kristi began working in the legal field in 2000 and has since completed Certificate III in Business Administration. Kristi joined our practice in 2006 and works assisting Eleanor James in her commerical area of practice, along with assisting Jude Baird in estates management.
Helen obtained her Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Tasmania at the end of 1997 and has spent the majority of her career as a Social Worker working with children and families who have experienced abuse and trauma in their lives. It was through this work that initially led Helen to further her study and career by wanting to be able to assist others when there may be legal issues that arise for children and families, however as a new practitioner is keen to learn about the many different aspects of the law. Whilst working full time and studying part time, Helen was very pleased when she obtained her Bachelor of Laws from Deakin University in 2015. After taking a short break from study, Helen was admitted to practice in 2016.
Helen is assisted by Caleb Campbell and together they work as a great team to achieve favourable outcomes for our family law clients.
Helen is a member of the management committee of the North West Community Legal Service.
Outside of work, Helen enjoys spending time with her husband, family and friends. Helen loves to travel and the favourite places that she has been to so far are England, Argentina and Thailand. Helen is hoping to add Greece to this list sometime in the next few years! Whilst living on the North West Coast for most of her life, Helen’s travels have only confirmed for her that the Coast is the best place to live.
Stephen is a very experienced lawyer, having practised as a barrister at the Queensland and New South Wales separate bar since 2007 in the areas of Family, Child Protection and Criminal Law, and before then as a Solicitor.
He gives advice to clients that is straightforward and direct. He also understands that people lead busy lives and it’s often hard to find time to see a lawyer, which is why he is happy to travel, or take telephone appointments. Stephen works closely with Ann Edwards and is assisted by Terri Baran.
He appears as counsel in Courts including the Family Court and Federal Circuit Court at Burnie, Launceston and Hobart, and accepts briefs from other practitioners to appear in Court and to give advice.
Stephen conducts a free legal advice service for clients of the Number 34 Aboriginal Health Service and Ulverstone Community House.
Alexander was admitted to practice in 2014 and commenced at Walsh Day James Mihal in June 2015 as an associate lawyer. Alexander works with Eleanor James in commercial matters, property law, and wills and estates.
Alexander is very interested in the operation of the law and working with his clients to come to positive legal outcomes tailored to their needs.
When not in the office Alexander has a strong passion for the Australian outdoors and enjoys camping and fishing.
Alison is our Office Manager, handling the business management side of the practice. Alison holds a Diploma in Management and has an extensive background in administration covering areas such as legal, insurance, accounting, veterinary and primary and high schools. Alison considers the legal field her favourite to work in and after starting work with Walsh Day in 1988 and having stints in other work around raising her family, recommenced in 2005. Outside of work, Alison enjoys spending time with her family which includes her beloved horses and dogs.
Melissa began working with our practice in 1997 and has since completed certificates in Business Administration and gained vast experience in a number of areas of law. Melissa currently works as an assistant to Anthony Mihal. Outside of work, Melissa enjoys travelling and spending time with family and friends.
If you’re lucky, you’ll come into our office on a day that Matthew is greeting clients in reception and assisting our hard working administration staff. Seeking legal assistance in a time of stress can be confronting and our clients appreciate seeing Matthew with a reassuring smile and a quick quip.
When Matthew was 19, he survived a crash that nearly took his life. He now shares his story with high school through the Rotary driver education program, RYDA, turning a terrible event into a positive outcome.
In 2012, Matthew was awarded a prestigious Paul Harris Fellow Award by the Rotary Club of Devonport North. Paul Harris Fellowships are rare and especially for non- Rotarians like Matthew.
Matthew is a member of the Apex Club of Ulverstone and participates in the Variety Tash Bash raising money to help children with disability, serious illness or disadvantage.
