The Team

Vanessa Bleyer

Bleyer Lawyers is led by Vanessa Bleyer.

Ms Bleyer holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Arts (politics).  She has practised for many years in well-established Victorian firms undertaking both transactional and litigation work prior to starting Bleyer Lawyers in 2007.  She developed an interest in commercial and intellectual property law during a period from 1998 to 2001 successfully running Internet companies.  She specialises in resolving disputes, negotiating and settling commercial transactions and drafting all types of commercial contracts.

Ms Bleyer has also had a deep interest in conservation issues since the earliest years of her legal practice.  She has made a consistent effort to acquire and develop particular expertise in conservation law, including as it applies in a commercial context.  She continues to develop that combination of commercial and conservation law at a time when economic and environmental issues are of increasing interest and importance in commercial activities.  She works at every level of government, from local issues affecting municipal bodies to national issues affecting state and federal government, and further to advising international conservation bodies.

Ms Bleyer is a board member of the Architects Registration Board of Victoria and a board member of Environment Tasmania Inc.

 

Sophie Bird

Sophie Bird holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of International Relations.  She is a second year solicitor at Bleyer Lawyers.  Through her work at Bleyer Lawyers, Sophie has strengthened her commitment to environment protection, her interest in public interest law and has developed as a keen and effective commercial litigator.

Sophie has worked on a number of important environmental law matters including, Environment East Gippsland v VicForests and has carriage of the firm’s criminal law division, which includes acting for individuals charged with protesting in Victoria’s remaining native forests.

Sophie has experience appearing in the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria, Supreme Court of Victoria, Court of Appeal and the Federal Court of Australia.  Sophie has prepared cases and instructed Counsel in a number of commercial, criminal and environmental law matters.

Sophie is the Vice President of Lawyers for Forests.  In her role as Vice President, Sophie regularly meets with key stakeholders in the forest debate, holds information and education sessions on legal rights in Victoria and makes submissions to government on law reform.

 

Sarah Bifano

Sarah Bifano holds a Bachelor of Laws  and Bachelor of Arts (Italian and History).  She also holds a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice from the College of Law.

Ms Bifano has been a member of Bleyer Lawyers since 2007, and was admitted into practice in 2010.  She has experience in a wide range of commercial matters with a focus on getting the best commercial results for her clients.

She specialises in corporate law and has been involved in a wide variety of corporate transactions ranging from private company sales, conveyances, trademarks, franchise agreements, asset restructuring and risk management.

Sarah’s areas of specialisation include banking and finance law, international business transactions and income tax law.  She has a keen interest in issues of human rights with a particular focus in matters of public interest.  She acts for both commercial and not-for-profit organisations where she has been involved with issues of national and international significance.

Ms Bifano is currently the administrator of the environmental alliance group, the No Pulp Mill Alliance, working to stop the proposed pulp mill in the Tamar Valley, Tasmania, where she acts as both co-ordinator and facilitator.

 

Marina Lou

Marina is a first year graduate from Arts (History and Classics)/Law at Melbourne University.  She has a strong devotion to conservation, youth and social justice issues.  She has served on the Committee of Management of Youthlaw and is currently a convenor of Amnesty Legal Group Victoria.

She also has a keen interest in copyright and patent law, constitutional law, international and domestic criminal law.