APAC Insider- Legal Awards 2025 | 5 Working exclusively within the field of Wills and Estate Law, Emma Rowles, from Winter Legal, focuses primarily on the areas of Estate Administration and Will Disputes. Emma’s dedication to client satisfaction and to achieving the best possible outcomes for her clients has resulted in her being recognised as the Wills & Estates Lawyer of the Year 2025 (NSW).We spoke with Emma to find out more. Beginning her professional career in 2007, Emma Rowles worked at a law firm practising predominantly in Wills and Estates law as she completed her Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting). In the years that followed, she held positions at the NSW Supreme Court – working under five different Judges, two of which were responsible for cases relating to Wills and Estates Law – as well as working as a solicitor for KPMG, Speed & Stracey Lawyers, and Teece Hodgson & Ward (the latter being regarded as the leading Wills and Estates Law firm in Australia). With these roles having allowed Emma to sharpen her skills across areas such as Tax Law, Estate Planning, Probate, Letters of Administration, and Will Disputes, she was more than well enough equipped to join Winter Legal in 2018. Becoming the firm’s director the following year, a testament to her skillset, Emma found the perfect combination: blending her love of law with her love of running a business – an entrepreneurial spirit that can be traced back to her always having her own businesses running alongside full-time employment. Having found what works for her, Emma told us how she wakes up genuinely excited for the start of every day. “My biggest motivator is client feedback”, she explained. “I receive numerous reviews and have a five-star rating on both Google and Facebook.” These distinguishing factors stem from her client-focused nature, which sees Emma offer free consultations, no upfront fees, and a No Win No Fee guarantee in Will Disputes. This relentless client focus is something Emma has built her reputation atop of and is reinforced on a daily basis through initiatives including making herself personally contactable by mobile phone, holding meetings between 6am and 9pm (including on weekends and public holidays) at a location that works for the client, and also doing pro bono work. All of these areas are frequently covered in the outstanding feedback she receives. Emma is so passionate about the client experience in fact that when she was a finalist in the Law Society Golden Gavel Speaking Competition in 2020, she spoke about the public perception of lawyers and the widely upheld ‘negative lawyer’ trope. The accolade of reaching the final in the aforementioned contest is one of many Emma enjoys, as her clients will often nominate her for awards, resulting in numerous wins – such as this one in our APAC Legal Awards 2025 – and finalist places across her career. Awards are far from the most rewarding thing about this work for Emma, who instead cherishes being able to help her clients, who are often grieving and daunted by the process before they meet her. However, Emma told us: “By the end of the matter, my clients always tell me how happy and relieved they are. I enjoy being able to do this for my clients. I work diligently to help my clients achieve the best possible outcomes.” One example of this includes Emma’s 100% Will Dispute success rate, with most of these matters being settled before reaching court. Emma told us: “I always prioritise the just, quick and cheap resolution.” Even those that do go further are handled expertly, including in one case where Emma acted for the estate against a person who applied for a Family Provision Claim in the NSW Supreme Court. Not only was Emma’s client successful in the Supreme Court proceedings, they also triumphed in the subsequent Appeal in the NSW Court of Appeal. Finally, it is also worth mentioning the fantastic work Emma does for both the community and the environment, with the latter even seeing her utilise her legal skills to make some positive changes, particularly regarding plastics. Emma also delivers free seminars about Wills and Estates Law at local community events and for business groups. From her position at the helm of an Award-Winning Wills and Estates Law firm, Emma Rowles of Winter Legal, has solidified her position as a leading figure in this field, with her five-star ratings and 100% success rate in Will Disputes more than setting her apart from the competition. Contact: Emma Rowles Company: Winter Legal Web Address: https://www. winterlegal.com.au/ Wills & Estates Lawyer of the Year 2025 (NSW): Emma Rowles AIS-Jun25218
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