DARIAN IACONO

Solicitor/Director

JOHN DENES

Senior Consultant

Michael Dunkel

Senior Consultant

Michael Dunkel established the firm which was later to be known as Denes Ebner in 1969. Michael consults in several areas of the law and provides the firm with in depth knowledge in revenue law, trusts, commercial and international transactions including inward and outward investment.

He advises well-known business figures and companies and he is a Fellow of the Taxation Institute of Australia and a Chartered Tax Adviser. Michael’s experience spans over 50 years of practice in which he has provided clients with professional expertise in acquisition and sales of major ventures of all kinds, structuring business transactions, advising clients in most business areas assisting clients in their on-going commercial activities with matters requiring legal input. Admitted as a solicitor 15 March 1968.

Robert Ebner

Senior Consultant

Robert Ebner, a former partner of Denes Ebner, has extensive experience in the areas of property development, conveyancing (specialising in commercial leasing) joint ventures, wills and commercial law matters.

Robert currently acts as an honorary solicitor for several benevolent organisations and was formerly the Honorary Consul of the United Republic of Tanzania in Sydney. Admitted as a solicitor 12/05/1967. Robert recently celebrated 56 years in practice.

Peter Murphy

Senior Consultant

Peter Murphy’s early educational experience was gained in a military boarding school following which he went to sea as a cadet, eventually forging a path to Master Mariner. Peter studied the law whilst at sea before becoming a corporate lawyer specialising in international maritime and aviation law.

After many years practising as a partner at Norton Smith, which then possessed one of Sydney’s most highly regarded transportation practices, Peter started his own practice (Peter Murphy & Associates) specialising in Strata, Property and Construction Law.

Peter built a successful practice through being client focused, proactive, and dedicated to obtaining positive commercial resolutions wherever possible to solve client’s legal issues. He views litigation as a last resort to be used strategically, after all other avenues have been exhausted.

Admitted to practice in New South Wales (1986) and the High Court of Australia, Peter holds a Master of Laws degree from the University of Sydney, is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators of London and is currently a Notary Public.

Leon Ratner

Senior Consultant

After graduating from Sydney and admitted in 1968, Leon Ratner had conducted his legal training with a well-known commercial firm (Hickson Lakeman & Holcombe).  Leon practised as a sole practitioner for 34 years before partnering with Darian Iacono reflecting a fusion between the old and the new.  Leon’s talents lie in his vast knowledge of property law including in depth old system title and contract law. Quite simply, he has been practising long enough that he has seen it all before.

Norman Sarajinsky

Senior Consultant

Norman Sarajinsky has been guiding clients through legal issues around small business, conveyancing, probate law and any issues requiring legal assistance for almost 50 years. After graduating from the Faculty of Law of Sydney University, he joined the Australian Legal Aid office in 1974. Following several years work dealing with family and criminal law, Norman joined private practice in Hurstville.

Building on a reputation for precision and finding solutions, Norman went into private practice as a sole practitioner. He assumed responsibility for Emery Berg and Co. in 1988, continuing to practise across commercial, corporate, and real estate law matters.

In 1997 this firm formally became Sarajinsky & Co. Now sensing the benefits of alignment with a similar but larger commercial firm, Norman has chosen to integrate his practice with & Legal from 1 December 2022.

KENDELL FAIRLEY

Senior Solicitor

Kendell has been practising as a solicitor for over 20 years (admitted on 6 June 1997), predominantly in smaller general practice firms where she has gained extensive experience in a broad range of areas across the legal landscape.  For the last 10 years Kendell has focused on property, commercial and estate matters offering advice and assistance to clients on the purchase and sale of residential and commercial property, development of property, commercial and retail leasing, purchase and sale of business, mortgages, probate and estate litigation matters.  Kendell is client service oriented with attention to detail and efficient advice, her goal in every transaction.

Daniel Watts

Solicitor

Daniel joined & Legal in 2024 as a Junior Solicitor. He has a Bachelor of Laws and Communications (majoring in Journalism) from University of Technology, Sydney.

Daniel was admitted as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of NSW in March 2024.

Although only in the early stages of his legal career Daniel has developed an interest in practising predominantly across transactional matters with a specific interest in property law.

Jacqui Levene

Solicitor

Jacqui joined & Legal in 2025 as a Junior Solicitor. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce and a Juris Doctor from the University of Sydney.

Jacqui was admitted as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of NSW in March 2024.
In the early stages of her legal career, Jacqui is gaining experience across a broad range of practice areas as she explores and develops her professional interests.

JAN ROSS

Senior Paralegal

Jan is a skilled and dedicated Senior Paralegal. Jan, who has worked with John Denes for over 30 years, joined & Legal with John and the Denes Ebner team in July 2013. Jan supports John in his practice, specialising in all facets of Property and, Wills and Estates matters.

Michelle Rosengarten

Senior Secretary/Paralegal

Michelle has worked as a Legal Secretary/Paralegal for approximately 30 years and has developed expertise across conveyancing, Wills & estates, probate and general administration.