We are a Melbourne based boutique law firm with expertise in not-for-profit and charity law and are uniquely placed to provide our high level skills direct to you.
Our clients receive dedicated legal services with the firm’s principal, Derek Mortimer, personally handling all matters.
Our clients appreciate our technically excellent, cost effective and timely advice, relevant to their needs.
Our clients include persons wishing to establish charities and not for profit organisations, organisation members and board members, private and public ancillary fund trustees, public museums, welfare funds, religious institutions, and professional associations.
Our areas of practice include:
Derek is recognised as a leader in developing mediation processes to effectively address internal disputes within not for profit and charity type organisations.
LL.B, Grad Dip. Legal Prac, Grad Cert. Dispute Resolution
Derek Mortimer has a reputation for patience, diplomacy and fairness when assisting with the resolution of internal disputes within not for profit organisations and charities. He is valued by his clients for his down to earth, empathetic approach to their needs for legal assistance.
Derek found inspiration to practice charity law from a study tour of community land trusts and revolving loan funds in the USA in 1993. Consequently and at the request of a consortium of landcare groups in Northeast Victoria, Derek developed a micro-finance project (“the landcare loans project”) for Australian rural communities, focussed on sustainable development.
During his time developing the landcare loans project, Derek undertook part time legal studies at the University of New England, writing papers on ‘Corporate governance in the not-for-profit sector’ and ‘Use of the public trust doctrine for environmental management’.
Derek completed his report on the landcare loans project for the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation in 2003. As the project proponent, he was commended by the Australian Landcare Council and subsequently won a place in the Social Ventures Australia National Business Plan Competition.
He was admitted to practice law in 2005.
Derek advised and prepared the public consultation draft code of practice and complaints process for the Fundraising Institute of Australia; a code which is now independently regarded as being a benchmark of not for profit best practice. Derek has also prepared a bequest strategy for the Howard Florey Institute and a “plain English”deed of conservation covenant for Trust for Nature (Victoria).
In 2012 and at the request of a consortium of funding bodies, Derek undertook and completed the first comprehensive legal analysis of community land trusts and their application in Australia. Through this analysis Derek has shown that the affordable housing goals of community land trusts can be achieved in Australia without the need to create a separate title to fixtures.
Board memberships and affiliations
Selected papers and articles published:
Selected submissions:
Seminars:
Associate Diploma of Business (Office Administration), Diploma of Management
Shirley manages the day to day operations including marketing, administration, IT and PA support to DF Mortimer & Associates.
Shirley brings to the firm a comprehensive and empathetic understanding of the challenges faced by individuals and organisations within the NFP and Charity sectors.
Between November 2015 to July 2017 Shirley served as Executive Officer for a small “DGR” endorsed health promotion charity. This position has given Shirley a practical insight into the compliance and governance requirements of small charities. Shirley is the “go to” person at DF Mortimer & Associates for advice on standard reporting to government regulators.
Shirley has also had a long career in community and health administration including PA to department heads and a team leader of clerical teams at a public hospital.
Prior to that, Shirley worked for 15 years nursing in both the public and private hospital system.
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