O'Connell Solicitors
Providing you with legal solutions
Welcome to O’Connell Solicitors – your trusted legal firm providing expert guidance across a wide range of legal services in Inner Sydney and across NSW and Australia. We also collaborate with lawyers
across the world. Whether you’re navigating family breakdown, property transactions, civil disputes or business dealings, we’re here to deliver strategic advice and powerful representation.
Our lawyers have extensive experience and are dedicated in providing expert dispute resolution services in a diverse range of matters, providing advice and assistance with property development and environmental planning needs, while also assisting the vulnerable in the community by providing pro bono services via lengthy engagements with Community Legal Centres. We also collaborate with interstate and overseas lawyers to assist our clients with their legal needs.
Our Services
We provide expert legal services across family, property, development, heritage conservation, construction, migration matters, and business law. Whether you’re navigating divorce, buying property, contemplating a development, protecting your business interests, or seeking migration services, our team offers clear, practical guidance every step of the way.
01.
Family & Personal Law
We assist with divorce, parenting arrangements, division of property, AVOs, wills, estates, powers of attorney and children’s matters. Our team provides clear & empathetic legal guidance.
02.
Property & Conveyancing
Whether you are buying, selling, leasing or resolving disputes, we offer practical advice and dependable legal support for all residential, heritage and commercial property matters.
03.
Migration Services
We provide expert advice on visas, appeals, protection and bridging visas, as well as compliance matters. Our goal is to support individuals and families throughout the migration process.
04.
Public NotaryServices
We offer notarial services including witnessing signatures, administering oaths, certifying documents and preparing documents for international use. Book your notarial service online.
05.
Construction, Planning & Local Government
We manage building disputes, development approvals, council regulatory compliance and planning objections. We compile Development Applications and prepare necessary documents such as Statements of Environmental Effects, Heritage Impact Statements and variations to development standards known as Clause 4.6 variations. Our focus is to help you meet legal requirements and keep your project moving forward.
About O’Connell Solicitors
Specialists in Town Planning Matters, Heritage Conservation Matters, Migration Matters, Public Notary Services, Collaborative Law and Conflict Resolution
Collaborative Practice: Our approach to family and estate matters
At O’Connell Solicitors, we champion a modern, respectful approach to resolving legal matters. As a collaborative legal practice based in Inner Sydney, we help clients achieve efficient, cost-effective, and amicable outcomes—without the stress, delays, or costs of courtroom battles.
Our core approach is Collaborative Practice, a structured method of dispute resolution where both parties work together—guided by legal and subject-matter professionals—to reach fair, mutually beneficial agreements.
Collaborative Practice is a non-adversarial dispute resolution method designed to help clients maintain control, protect their privacy, and preserve meaningful personal or business relationships. Instead of “winning” in court, it’s about working together to find the best possible solution for everyone involved.
Collaborative Practice is a process of resolving legal differences by:
- Achieving win-win solutions without litigation
- Using guided negotiations in a safe and respectful environment
- Aiming to preserve dignity, trust and communication
- Offering a faster, private resolution
- Helping maintain an amicable relationship between parties
Meet Our Team
Mary Nagle
Principal Solicitor and Founder of O’Connell Solicitors
Guiding Clients with Experience, Empathy and Integrity
Mary Nagle is the Principal Solicitor at O’Connell Solicitors with over 20 years of experience in family law, property, estates, local government matters, and heritage and town planning consultancy.
As a qualified collaborative professional, she helps clients resolve disputes respectfully, without going to court. However, Mary works with a team of experts to take your matter to court when this is inevitable.
Mary herself also acts as an expert witness in the Land and Environment Court for planning and heritage matters. Mary is known for her clear advice, empathetic approach, and commitment to practical, long-term solutions.
Qualifications
- Notarial Practice Certificate (Col Law)
- Certificate in Mediation (Bond U)
- Certificate in Dispute Resolution (Bond U)
- Certificate in Collaborative Practice (UTS)
- Master of Law & Legal Practice (UTS)
- Graduate Diploma in Heritage Conservation (U Syd)
- Master of Urban Design (U Syd)
- Bachelor of Architecture (UNSW)
Memberships
- Member Law Society NSW (Principal)
- Member City of Sydney Law Society
- Member Inner West Law Society
- Member of Planning Institute Australia (MPIA)
- Full International Member of Australia ICOMOS (MICOMOS)
- Member Environment and Planning Law Association
- Member International Academy of Collaborative Professionals
- Past Secretary and past Vice President of Collaborative Professionals (NSW) Inc
- Founder Inner West Collaborative Practice
Bimal Bhattarai
Solicitor, Founder and Principal of Naosams Migration Service
Bimal is well-known in the community for his commitment to providing expert immigration advice. He has more than 30 years of experience in migration practice, including MRT/AAT appeals, with particular expertise in retention/compliance, protection visas & bridging visas. Bimal also provides pro bono legal assistance to vulnerable persons in the community. Bimal has been the principal of Naosam’s Migration Service since 1996 and joined O’Connell Solicitors in 2022.
Qualifications
- Master of Law (Graduate Fellow of College of Law) (Col Law)
- Graduate Diploma Legal Practice (LPAB)
- Certificate in Immigration (UNSW)
- Bachelor of Law (Tribhuvan U Nepal)
Dr Debashis Raha
Solicitor, Chemical and Environmental Engineer
Debashis is a qualified scientist, engineer, lead auditor, and lawyer with extensive experience in energy law, emissions regulation, climate policy, and environmental compliance. He has advised on greenhouse gas reduction, renewable energy, carbon accounting, and regulatory frameworks, including the NGER Act and Emissions Reduction Fund.
He has conducted legal analysis of international, federal, and state legislation, including the Paris Agreement, the Climate Change Act, the EP&A Act, and the EPBC Act.
Before joining O’Connell Solicitors, Debashis held senior roles at organisations such as Sydney Water, NSW EPA, the Royal Australian Air Force, Caltex, and Indian Oil. He is recognised for driving safe and sustainable operations, as well as delivering training in compliance, risk, climate change, and the circular economy.
Qualifications
- Doctor of Science and Law (Climate Change Risk, Resilience, Adaptation, Decarbonization, Circular Economy and Net Zero Emissions) (Wollongong U)
- PhD Engineering and Law (Water, HSE and Sustainability) (Wollongong U)
- Master of Law (U Syd)
- Master of Science in Health, Safety, Risk and Environment (W Syd U)
- Master of Science (Hons) Civil and Environmental Engineering (Wollongong U)
- Graduate Diploma in Professional Legal Practice (Col Law)
- Graduate Diploma in TQM (Australian Quality Council, Sydney)
- Master of Business Administration (Project Management, Governance and Accounting) (Wollongong U)
- Bachelor of Law (W Syd U)
- Bachelor Honours in Chemical and Environmental Engineering (Gold Medallist) (Jadavpur U)
Memberships
- Practising Solicitor and Barrister, Supreme Courts and High Court of Australia and New Zealand
- Chartered Professional Chemical and Environmental Engineer, RPEQ and Fellow Engineers Australia
- Lead Auditor in SHEQ, Risk, Energy, Greenhouse Gases, Compliance, Performance (Exemplar)
- Certificate IV Workplace Assessor & Trainer and trained employees and contractors in HSEQ, Risk, Compliance, water, sewerage, procurement, contract, climate-change and circular economy
Christina King
Consultant, Solicitor and Barrister-at-Law
Christina has practised as a Barrister-at-Law for 12 years and as a Principal Solicitor of her practice for 5 years. Christina is an expert litigator and Court Advocate. Her practice areas include Family Law, Property Law, Criminal Law, Commercial Law and Equity. Christina is renowned for her common sense, her cost-saving manner and approachability.
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Economics (Macq U)
- Bachelor of Laws (U Syd)
- Bachelor of Science (U Syd)
- GD Legal Studies (UTS)
- GD Public Health (Flinders U)
Book an Appointment
At O’Connell Solicitors, we pride ourselves on delivering clear, compassionate, and results-driven legal advice. With over 20 years of experience, our team is trusted by individuals, families, and businesses across NSW. Whether you’re facing a complex legal issue or just need some guidance, we’re here to support you with honesty, efficiency, and care.
Ready to take the next step?
Book an appointment today and one of our friendly team members will be in touch within 24 hours to discuss how we can help.