Nathan Heard Managing Director

As Managing Director at Heard McEwan Legal, Nathan’s legal expertise spans a wide range of areas with his interest and specialist knowledge primarily in commercial and property law. Nathan’s determination and attention-to-detail support his commitment to providing quality commercial advice to his various business and commercial law clients.

Among his many achievements since being admitted as a solicitor in 2000, he has gained much experience in working with one of New South Wales’ largest residential home builders. As a trusted advisor to one of the company directors, he dealt with all aspects of the business and is well placed to assist anyone now involved in the property sector.

With both legal and accounting degree qualifications, he has successfully conducted a number of his own property developments. As well as serving as satisfying personal projects outside of the office, this provides him with valuable first-hand development experience, which sets him apart from other solicitors who can only provide text book advice to their clients.

Among his many interests, Nathan is an avid skier and when time permits can be found seeking out opportunities for snow-related trips in countries around the world. He enjoys almost all things sport, from watching tennis, rugby league and all forms of cricket, to playing weekly competitive tennis. He also enjoys the creativity of landscape design and maintenance, and finds relaxation in the garden.

He has always been mindful of the importance of giving back to his community and is now committed in his co-ordination of the firm’s community engagement activities. These include establishing Friends of the Disability Trust, a local group of business people assisting children’s disability services including raising $1.2 million for the construction of a respite home. He is also on the board of the Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal Business Committee in Wollongong and a former Director of the Wollongong Hawks NBL team.

Malcolm Heard Consultant

Malcolm Heard is a highly regarded and knowledgeable lawyer with more than 45 years of local experience. An Accredited Specialist in Property Law and in Business Law, he has consistently demonstrated his ability in servicing clients particularly in the field of property and regulatory compliance. Many major players in the property market and corporate scene, together with various statutory bodies both in the Illawarra and throughout Sydney, regularly rely on his proven commercial judgement to guide their business success.

Well-respected in the Illawarra area over a long period of time, he is frequently sought out by a diverse range of clients for his expertise and proven results. Valuing the importance of communication, trust and understanding his client’s needs, he has a number of high profile commercial clients who have depended on his advice and professional approach over many years. “Our competitive advantage” he says “is the perception that with so many dominant and successful clients relying on our advice and having visibly done so continuously over many years, we must possess a high level of competence delivered in an enduringly acceptable manner”.

Outside of work Malcolm is a family man who likes cooking and spending time with his children and grandchildren. He particularly enjoys getting away with the family to the South Coast whenever they can find the time.

Throughout his career he has been substantially involved in his local community. He has relationships with Lifeline Illawarra Board, and has twice been President of the Rotary Club of Wollongong, from which he holds a Paul Harris Fellowship. He is a Board member of Property Council Australia Illawarra Chapter, was a founding director of Illawarra Business Chamber, and President of one of its predecessors, Wollongong Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

John McEwan Consultant

An Accredited Specialist in Commercial Litigation and Business Law, John McEwan has rich and extensive experience gained over more than 50 years in practice as a lawyer. As a Consultant to and former Director of Heard McEwan Legal, he is frequently sought out and recommended through referral for his commercial expertise in areas including commercial litigation, equity actions, private company restructuring, contractual disputes, joint ventures and small business advice.

A lateral thinker and skilled negotiator, John has offered superior services and successful outcomes for a diverse array of clients, from handling one-off family matters to long-term advice through to complex corporate concerns. With mediation accreditation and conciliation skills developed over years in practice, he prides himself on offering practical and timely legal advice coupled with high level negotiation techniques, supported by common-sense. Valuing client communication, he consistently seeks to deliver outcomes in line with his clients’ expectations.

Utilising his experience and knowledge, including foresight of possible obstacles, John has frequently delivered significant savings or benefits for clients that might not otherwise be readily identifiable. This includes his meticulous preparation of contract documents for clients which has proven highly valuable in overcoming disputes and protecting the client’s interests from unforeseen circumstances.

A devoted family man with seven children and eleven grandchildren, he is a surfer and a golfer who also finds time to devote to community organisations, being a past director of the Salvation Army Advisory Board, a former Chairman of Illawarra Regional Information Service (IRIS) and Company Secretary of the Illawarra Community Housing Trust.

Nathan McEwan Director

With more than 25 years of experience with the firm, including 15 years as a partner and director, Nathan McEwan is a highly valued and dedicated member of the Heard McEwan Legal team. He is committed to providing superior service to reach the best possible outcomes for each and every client. An extensive planner with an empathetic approach, Nathan is proactive in driving matters forward, always looking for ways to help and support his clients’ interests.

Nathan has recently completed his Master of Laws (Applied Law) majoring in Commercial Litigation and in Family Law.

Nathan assists clients in the areas of business law, estate planning, business succession planning and risk analysis, general disputes and all Court related matters in the Supreme Court of NSW, Federal Court of Australia, District Court and Local Court of NSW. With highly-developed commercial acumen, Nathan is skilled in interpreting complex business and family matters and taking a holistic approach to minimise disruption to clients and provide them with the maximum protection.

He provides legal advice and representation to clients in all scenarios, including traditional family structures, blended families, de facto and same sex relationships. He provides advice in relation to both large and small asset pools and financial agreements. Nathan’s work extends to matters involving multiple generation property disputes, international assets and complex company/trust structures.

At home he is a dedicated family man. A keen surfer and self-proclaimed rugby tragic, Nathan has a passion for the ocean, in particular the Illawarra and south coast of New South Wales. Nathan is an active member of the Illawarra community & supports many local clubs & organistations, he is a Committee Member and the honorary solicitor for the Woonona Boardriders Club, advisor to Forever Projects & has been a Director of Interchange Illawarra since 2018. Nathan is also a member of the Viking Rugby Club and various Illawarra business networking groups.

Peter Franke Director

Peter is a Director at Heard McEwan Legal and an expert in property law and conveyancing. He is a personable and trusted legal professional with over ten years of experience as a solicitor, providing advice with a focus on client communication and building lasting relationships. Peter’s strengths include excellent problem solving and negotiating skills.

Recognising that a property transaction is often the most significant financial decision in his clients’ lives, which sometimes brings equal levels of stress and excitement, he is very understanding and takes a level-headed and welcoming approach guiding clients throughout the process.

Peter has an extensive network of local real estate contacts and he is sought for his expert advice by a range of clients, from first home-buyers and sellers to investors and property developers. With detailed knowledge of contracts and expertise in the various considerations around the selection of a parcel of land or a property for subdivision, his insight and knowledge have helped numerous clients avoid potential pitfalls and seize valuable opportunities.

Peter is also skilled and available to assist in criminal law matters as part of the firm’s criminal law team in providing representation before the courts.

Outside of work, the father of two young children enjoys an active lifestyle as a surfer, soccer player, touch football player and horse racing enthusiast. He is also comfortable in the kitchen, having previously worked as a barista and cook while undertaking his legal studies. He is active in the community as chairman of the Wollongong Touch Football Association judiciary committee and board member of the Friends of the Disability Trust.

Kurt Topper Director

Kurt is a Director and leads our wills and estates team. He is the youngest lawyer to achieve the rank of Accredited Specialist in Wills and Estates Law, a title bestowed by the Law Society of New South Wales in recognition of superlative expertise. Kurt is the only Accredited Specialist in Wills and Estates Law in the Illawarra and South Coast region. He assists the firm’s clientele in all aspects of estate planning, the administration of deceased estates and contested wills or estate disputes.

An esteemed member of the firm for more than twelve years, Kurt is a knowledgeable and skilled solicitor with extensive experience in not only wills and estates, but also in the broader area of commercial law.

Kurt’s particular focus is on pre-empting and preventing future problems that may arise from family disputes, personal and business risks or vulnerabilities and unexpected taxation implications.

With an appreciation of the increasing diversity of family dynamics and the various ways in which wealth is owned and accumulated, Kurt helps clients navigate through often highly technical matters and provides solutions to ensure the most effective succession of wealth, whilst seeking to balance family interests and promote family harmony.

Naturally empathetic and a stickler for details, Kurt works with clients and their accounting and financial advisors in a collaborative and comprehensive style, focusing on individual needs and objectives to provide considered, tailored advice and representation.

An Honorary Solicitor of the St Vincent De Paul Society, the Salvation Army and Wollongong & South Coast Legacy, Kurt also shares his legal expertise in presentations for local professional networks.

In his remaining time, he is a committed endurance runner. Regularly competing in ultramarathons with distances up to 240km, he enjoys the mental and physical challenges this growing sport presents. A member of local and national running groups, he can often be found training for the demanding sport in the mountainous Illawarra escarpment.