Our goal is to help people in the best way possible. this is a basic principle in every case and cause for success. contact us today for a free consultation.
Practice Areas
Newsletter
Sign up to our newsletter
NSW · Northern Beaches
When a professional you trusted gets it wrong — badly wrong — the fallout can be hard to make sense of. Maybe you’re dealing with a property dispute that shouldn’t have happened, a medical condition that was caught too late, or a financial loss you couldn’t afford. Whatever the situation, you didn’t cause it. A professional did. And you have the right to hold them to account.
Fair Go Australia works with people across Sydney’s Northern Beaches who’ve been let down by lawyers, doctors, financial advisers, accountants, builders, and other professionals. We handle professional negligence claims Australia-wide, and our service is entirely remote — no need to travel into the city for a consultation.
Local Context
The Northern Beaches corridor — from Manly and Dee Why up through Narrabeen, Mona Vale, and Avalon — is home to a large, professionally active community. There are a significant number of property transactions, a substantial healthcare presence, and many residents managing complex financial affairs. That professional density is generally a good thing. But when something goes wrong, the consequences can be serious.
We regularly assist Northern Beaches residents with claims arising from:
If your situation doesn’t fit neatly into one of those categories, that’s fine. Professional negligence covers any licensed or regulated professional who failed to meet the standard of care their role requires. If you’ve suffered a quantifiable loss because of it, the claim type matters less than the facts.
What We Handle
Your lawyer missed a court deadline, gave you incorrect legal advice, or handled a property transaction poorly. The consequences are often irreversible, and the financial losses are typically significant.
A GP, specialist, or surgeon failed to diagnose a condition, delayed treatment, or didn't explain the risks of a procedure. In NSW, the duty to inform is shaped by the High Court's decision in Rogers v Whitaker (1992) 175 CLR 479, which established that patients must be warned of all material risks.
You were placed in inappropriate investments, churned through products for commission, or charged advice fees for a service that was never actually provided.
A tax error, incorrect business structuring advice, or a failure to lodge returns on time led to penalties, lost entitlements, or unwanted ATO scrutiny.
An engineer, certifier, or building consultant signed off on work that didn't meet the required standard — affecting safety, liveability, or the resale value of your home.
A conveyancer or solicitor handled a property transaction negligently, leaving you with title issues, undisclosed encumbrances, or a settlement that fell through due to entirely avoidable errors.
NSW Law
Professional negligence claims in New South Wales are primarily governed by the Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), alongside the common law principles that Australian courts have developed over many decades.
To succeed in a professional negligence claim, four elements generally need to be established:
NSW courts apply an objective standard when assessing breach — not whether the professional made their best effort, but whether their conduct measured up against what a competent peer would have done in the same circumstances.
The High Court’s decision in Rogers v Whitaker (1992) 175 CLR 479 remains a foundational authority, particularly for medical negligence and the professional obligation to disclose material risks to clients and patients. Your claim would be heard in the Supreme Court of New South Wales for higher-value matters, with oversight of legal professionals sitting with the Law Society of NSW and the NSW Legal Services Commissioner.
In NSW, professional negligence claims must generally be commenced within three years of the date you became aware — or should reasonably have become aware — of the negligence, under the Limitation Act 1969 (NSW). Missing this deadline can permanently extinguish your right to claim. If you have any doubt about where your time stands, contact our team for a free assessment as soon as possible.
Time Limits
In New South Wales, you generally have three years from the date you became aware — or reasonably should have become aware — of the negligence to commence a claim. This is the discovery rule under the Limitation Act 1969 (NSW).
Three years can feel like a long time until you realise you’re already two years into it. Life gets in the way. People try to resolve things directly. They wait to see if it gets better. By the time they seek proper legal advice, the clock is often closer to expiry than they realised.
If you’re unsure whether your limitation period is still open, the only safe move is to get advice now.
Why Fair Go Australia
We specialise exclusively in professional negligence. It’s all we do — which means we know the claims process thoroughly, understand how to assess a case quickly, and don’t waste your time on a referral cycle.
Our service is entirely remote. Northern Beaches residents don’t need to travel into the CBD for a consultation. Everything is handled by phone, email, and secure document upload. The process is straightforward, and we respond to all enquiries within one business day.
If your claim proceeds, we work on a no-win, no-fee basis — meaning there are no upfront legal costs. If the claim doesn’t succeed, you don’t owe us anything. We carry the financial risk so you don’t have to.
The first step is a free case evaluation. We’ll review your situation honestly, tell you whether we believe you have a viable claim, and explain what the process would look like. There’s no obligation to proceed.
Take the First Step
If a professional has let you down, you deserve a straight answer about where you stand. Our team will review your situation at no cost and no obligation — and we’ll tell you honestly what we think.
We respond to all enquiries within 1 business day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes — location is not a barrier. We work with clients across NSW and Australia-wide, and the location of the professional’s office has no bearing on your ability to bring a claim. Your case would be subject to NSW law regardless of where either party is located within the state.
Any licensed or regulated professional who owes clients a duty of care can be the subject of a negligence claim. This includes solicitors, barristers, medical practitioners, financial advisers, accountants, engineers, architects, building certifiers, and conveyancers, among others.
Generally three years from the date you discovered — or reasonably should have discovered — the negligence, under the Limitation Act 1969 (NSW). Some circumstances can affect how that period runs, but waiting to find out is a risk not worth taking. If you’re uncertain, get advice now.
Not necessarily. Many professional negligence claims resolve through negotiation or mediation before reaching a courtroom. If the matter does proceed to hearing, it would typically be before the Supreme Court of New South Wales. Our team will explain what’s involved at each stage when we assess your claim.
It means you pay no upfront legal costs to pursue your claim. If the claim succeeds, our fees are recovered from the compensation awarded. If it doesn’t succeed, you don’t owe us anything. The initial evaluation is always free.
Our goal is to help people in the best way possible. this is a basic principle in every case and cause for success. contact us today for a free consultation.
Sign up to our newsletter