Our Team
ABW
Tony Ward established Wards in April 1981 and worked continuously with the firm from that time until his retirement in 2022. Tony had over 40 years of experience dealing with all of our practise areas.
Tony was a Senior Partner of the firm and practiced extensively in all areas of the law including Police and criminal matters , Family Law, Wills and Estates. Tony has left a great legacy that will leave a lasting and positive impact on the firm.
Tony is now enjoying retirement and is very pleased that his daughter Jess has joined the firm with she now being a partner and practising with great skill and enthusiasm particularly in relation to Family Law, Wills and Estate matters as well as general practice.
AJR
Andrew Reynolds has a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Arts (Hons), Bachelor of Laws and Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice. Andrew joined the Wards team in 1997 and became a partner of the firm in 2005.
Andrew has decades of experience dealing in all practice areas and now works predominantly in the areas of Property Law, Commercial Law and Wills and Estates.
Andrew grew up in Adelaide where he completed his education before relocating to Bairnsdale in 1997.
Andrew is a long serving volunteer in the local community having been involved with both APEX and East Gippsland Institute of TAFE in the past.
Andrew is also a current board member for Gippsland Grammar.
Andrew, his wife and children enjoy boating and bike riding and generally enjoying the local attractions that East Gippsland has to offer.
JBW
Jessica Ward has a Bachelor of Education and Bachelor of Laws. Jessica studied her Law Degree while working as a Primary School Teacher. Jessica is a local who grew up in Bairnsdale.
Jessica previously worked with Victoria Legal Aid as a Family Law Lawyer and regularly appeared in the Magistrates’ Court in Bairnsdale, Sale and Latrobe Valley assisting clients with Family Violence Intervention Order matters.
Jessica joined the Wards team in 2019 and became a partner in 2022.
Jessica assists our clients with the following matters:
Wills and Powers of Attorney;
Estates and Estate Litigation;
Criminal Law; and
Family Law.
Jessica is thoroughly involved with the Bairnsdale community playing in local sporting teams and being a board member for St Marys Primary School Bairnsdale along with a member of various committees in the area.
PB
Peter joined the Wards team on 10 January 2022 after relocating to East Gippsland in 2020.
Prior to completing his law degree Peter was an IT consultant to many organisations in the financial and government sectors in Australia and overseas. Peter has consulted to organisations in Australia, Norway, Thailand and the United Kingdom. Peter’s entire working career has been client focused.
Peter is passionate about the legal field and studied for his law degree whilst working in the IT sector.
Peter grew up and attended school in Melbourne before graduating from RMIT and later the University of New England.
Peter enjoys camping, caravanning, cooking, gardening and all things do with sport. He is a self-proclaimed terrible golfer and barracks for a terrible football team (Richmond).
Peter has a Bachelor of Applied Science (Computer Science) and a Bachelor of Laws Degree and assists clients in the following areas of law:
Criminal Law;
Intervention Order Matters;
Family Law- Both Parenting and Property Matters;
Wills & Estates;
Civil Law; and
Litigation matters in the Magistrates, County and Supreme Courts along with the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia.
Support Staff
Wards has been blessed with excellent support and administrative staff throughout its entire history. Wards currently greatly benefits from a very experienced, capable and friendly team of 7 who go well out of their way to assist clients with any matters requiring attention or assistance.