Richelle Berman

Richelle Berman serves as the Principal Lawyer at R Berman Lawyers, a distinguished firm she founded in early 2016, located in the heart of Melbourne. With a profound concentration on Owners Corporation Law, she brings an extensive breadth of knowledge to her practice. Her expertise is centred around the complex dynamics of this sector, where she regularly represents clients in the VCAT Owners Corporation List. Richelle's advisory role encompasses guiding owners, committees, and managers on various aspects, such as financial management, property dealings, and asset oversight within Owners Corporations. Her insights are enhanced by her personal engagement as a lot owner and committee member, which equips her with a deep understanding of the challenges and requirements faced by managers, lot owners, and committee members. Richelle's dedication to delivering client-focused solutions is evident in her approach, which blends practicality with ingenuity. Her acumen extends to fee recovery, where she has developed groundbreaking strategies to efficiently recover outstanding Owners Corporation fees from defaulting lot owners, addressing both domestic and international cases. Furthermore, Richelle has created cutting-edge solutions to tackle the significant issue of building defects affecting Owners Corporations and individual lot owners. Her legal repertoire additionally covers commercial law, with particular emphasis on Retail and Commercial Leasing and Insolvency. Richelle adeptly represents both commercial and retail landlords and tenants, handling the drafting, negotiation, and enforcement of lease agreements. She is also an assertive advocate in resolving tenant-landlord disputes, frequently representing parties before the Small Business Commissioner for mediation and at VCAT for retail leasing disagreements. Her comprehensive approach and commitment to her clients underscore her standing as an influential legal practitioner in her chosen fields.