Thomas (Tom) Beale
Principal
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Tom became the principal of Beale Lawyers (formerly Beverley Foster & Associates) in October 2010. He is a very experienced lawyer, having been in legal practice for more than 25 years.
Tom obtained an Arts/Law degree (BA LLB) from Sydney University and spent around 10 years with the Australian Government Solicitor’s office in Sydney where he worked in the Commercial Law Branch, being principally involved in large property transactions for government departments and agencies. For the 10 or so years prior to taking over the practice here in Drummoyne, Tom has worked in private practice, mainly in a small Sydney CBD firm where he gained experience in a wide range of areas typically dealt with in general practice.
With particular expertise in property and general commercial law, Tom has in recent years become more involved in the estate planning area, and can provide expert advice on wills, the administration of estates and estate disputes. He has recently obtained a Graduate Diploma in Applied Laws (Wills and Estates) from the College of Law and is continuing his studies in this area with a view to obtaining a Master’s degree.
Tom lives with his family in Sydney’s inner west. He is involved in a range of cultural and sporting activities in the local community. He is a keen soccer player and has been heavily involved as a player and administrator with the Sydney University Soccer Football Club for the last 20 years. He has also assisted as on the judiciary committees with the Canterbury District Soccer Football Association and was Chairman of the Association’s Appeals Committee for a number of years.
A keen amateur musician, Tom has been involved in community orchestras as a clarinet player for many years, and in an administrative capacity as President of the Waverley Philharmonic Orchestra in the early 1990s and as co-founder of the Woollahra Philharmonic Orchestra in 1996 and its Secretary for the following 15 years.
Beverley Foster
Consultant Lawyer and Mediator
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Beverley Foster was the founder of Beverley Foster & Associates, having commenced the practice in 1999. Originally based in Narellan, in the south west of Sydney, the firm was relocated to Drummoyne in 2003.
In October 2010 Beverley became a Consultant Lawyer to the firm. With over 20 years experience as a lawyer in private practice, including many years as the managing partner in a medium-sized firm, she has gained a wealth of experience in all facets of legal practice.
Beverley’s particular focus over recent years has been employment law, family law and other general litigation. In her role as Consultant Lawyer she will continue to provide her expert service in these areas for the firm’s clients. Beverley’s high-level expertise has helped many clients through difficult disputes, particularly those relating to family law.
Beverley became a Mediator and Conciliator in 2002 and in 2006 became an accredited Mediator with the Institute of Arbitrators and Mediators Australia. She is accredited under the National Standards and mediates regularly. Beverley’s approach is to discuss in the first consultation all available options with her clients involved in disputes, and then to formulate together with them a strategy for achieving a good, cost effective and timely outcome.
David Beale
Consultant Lawyer and Accredited Business Law Specialist
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David joined Beale Lawyers in 2019. Before then he was for 30 years a principal in the North Sydney firm RBHM Commercial Lawyers. Prior to that he gained experience in city firms, both small and large, and as an in-house corporate Counsel for an ASX listed company. David has arts and law degrees from the University of Sydney. He is an accredited business law specialist and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
David practices in three main areas of law:
1. Business and Commercial
David acts for businesses in various industries and professions. He enjoys getting to know the owners and managers of businesses and gaining an in depth understanding of their operation. He often acts as a quasi in-house counsel. He has experience in the buying and selling of businesses and companies, shareholder agreements, business structuring, advising on as well as drafting and negotiating commercial agreements, intellectual property, franchising, employment, non-litigious dispute resolution and restraint of trade issues.
2. Property
David has a large property practice and acts for both private and institutional owners in the buying, selling and leasing of commercial and industrial property. David also has assisted many clients with their personal conveyancing needs, particularly the sale and purchase of their homes and investment properties. He also advises clients when they, or their parents, are planning to move into a residential aged care facility/ retirement village and when they are lending funds (acting as the so called “Bank of Mum and Dad”) to their children to assist in the buying of property.
3. Estate Planning, Wills & Probate & Asset Protection
In more recent years David has developed an interest in Estate Planning and Asset Protection and has assisted many clients with their Wills, Powers of Attorney and Appointments of Enduring Guardian. He also assists Executors of Estates in the process of obtaining probate and the administration of the estate.
David is married with three children and is an enthusiastic sportsman, both as a participant (cycling, swimming, kayaking and bush walking) and as a spectator, enjoys going to films and concerts and has a keen interest in politics and current affairs.
David has been the President of the School Council of the Manly West Public School, the Vice President of the North Sydney Chamber of Commerce and the Chairman and Secretary of the Owners Corporation of his block of town houses.
Gai Cullen
Legal Secretary
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Gai Cullen works as a part-time legal secretary with the firm.
She has over 30 years experience as a legal secretary having worked in both city and suburban law firms.
She has an excellent understanding of the processes in conveyancing, probate and litigation matters and provides valuable assistance to our professional staff.
Gai has a very warm and helpful personality, and deals well with our wide range of clients.
She enjoys travel, bushwalking, and spending time with her family.
Soon Young Lee
Accounts Manager
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Soon Young Lee is our administrative assistant. She looks after our accounts and other general administrative tasks.
Born in Korea, she worked as a journalist for one of Seoul’s leading newspapers and then ran a small commercial publishing business.
She moved to Australia in 2001 and became an Australian citizen in 2006.
Soon Young studied art at university in Korea and tries to pursue her painting when she finds time in her work and family life.
Rebekah Salkeld
Paralegal
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Rebekah is a paralegal within the firm.
Before joining Beale Lawyers in 2019, she had acquired over 10 years’ experience as a legal secretary and a secretary in other general administrative roles, working in both small and large legal firms across Sydney as well as a short stint in Armidale NSW. Prior to joining the firm, Rebekah was David Beale’s secretary at RBHM Commercial Lawyers and transitioned with David when he joined Beale Lawyers in 2019 and is an integral part of David’s practice.
Given her passion for law Rebekah undertook the Associate Degree in Law (Paralegal Studies) through Southern Cross University in 2014 and is on her way (albeit slow) to completing her Bachelor of Legal Studies.
Rebekah is married and has a daughter in primary school. In her spare time, she is usually busy taking her daughter to after-school extracurricular activities and attending regular birthday parties. She is also an RSPCA emergency carer for kittens and cats and often has 3 or 5 four-legged beings running amok in her house. She mostly enjoys a quiet weekend at home to catch her breath, reading a book or gardening, and loves a cruise holiday when she gets the chance.