Our Team

Nick Hitchens is the Founder and Managing Principal of Hitch Advisory.

He is an expert in business structuring, mergers and  acquisitions and employee equity solutions.

Nick founded Hitch Advisory to ensure legal advice is proactive, practical and precise. He believes that lawyers should facilitate and add value to personal and business relationships.

Nick is now responsible for growing and managing the Hitch Advisory team.

He makes time to ensure that client relationships are maintained and clients are achieving their goals with the assistance of the Hitch team.

In his spare time, Nick enjoys spending time with his two daughters, travelling, running, Muay Thai and anything ocean related.

Paul Henry leads the Hitch Advisory Mergers and Acquisitions team.  He has circa 15 years’ of corporate and commercial experience advising clients across a variety of industries and deal sizes.  His transaction highlights include acting for Kids Club in the sale of 18 of its childcare centres to Affinity Education Group, acting for the founders of BodyScience on their sale to Humble Group, and for Link in the acquisition of PEXA by a consortium comprising Link, CBA and Morgan Stanley Infrastructure.  

 Paul also has an Executive MBA (AGSM) and experience working in-house (Qantas and Metcash) so he prides himself on understanding each business he works with to ensure that advice is both legally sound and commercially pragmatic. 

Away from work, Paul can usually be found playing soccer or running around with his kids.

Joel Marshall leads the Hitch Advisory Franchising team at Hitch Advisory.

Having commenced his practice in New Zealand, Joel is well versed in assisting businesses with international expansion, structuring and strategic business advice. 

In his down time Joel likes surfing, fishing and exploring the great outdoors.

Tim McGrath leads the Hitch Advisory Litigation and Disputes team. Tim advises and acts on a range of disputes and litigated matters with particular expertise in insolvency and bankruptcy, complex corporate disputes, shareholder/partnership conflicts, taxation and revenue matters. 

Tim also regularly advises high-net-worth individuals and families on disputed matters relating to estate and trust arrangements and trust administration.

Whilst Tim’s practice often sees him act for clients in large scale litigation, his focus is on seeking to achieve early commercial resolution of matters where possible.

Outside of work, Tim enjoys running, cycling and ocean swimming.

Lazar Krstic is a Principal in our Corporate and Commercial Law team. Lazar advises and acts on a range of matters, with a keen focus on mergers and acquisitions, childcare and retail law.

 Lazar also leads the Hitch Advisory Employment Law team and advises and acts on behalf of our clients on contentious and non-contentions matters in that area.

 In his downtime, you will find Lazar training Muay Thai, waking up in the wee hours to watch his beloved Chelsea FC or travelling the world.

Christian has extensive experience in all areas of business law. Christian advises both SME and large clients from a range of industries including health and wellness, hospitality, retail and trade related businesses, further specialising in franchising clients.

Christian prides himself on providing effective and practical advice to his clients day-to day and guiding his clients for sustainable and long-term growth.

In his spare time Christian enjoys adventuring with his wife and four children, whether it’s on the water, in the red desert or on a beach somewhere!

Hayley Hewitt leads the Hitch Advisory Property team.   She acts for a diverse client base in a range of industries, including advising Australia’s largest travel retailers, childcare operators, and property developers.

Hayley has extensive experience advising clients in a range of commercial transactions and is an expert in property related transactions including the sale and purchase of both residential and commercial properties, development projects, and commercial and retail leasing.

Hayley prides herself on being practical, down-to-earth, and detail-oriented. She is committed to developing and maintaining strong relationships with her clients to understand and achieve their legal needs.

Outside of work, Hayley enjoys relaxing at the beach, socialising, and spending time with her young family.

Maryanne Pollifrone leads the Hitch Advisory Wills, Estates & Succession Planning team. Maryanne has worked with many high-net-worth clients to establish or update their succession plans and adopts a pragmatic approach to assisting clients with their estate and succession planning needs. Maryanne breaks down legal concepts into plain English and gains an understanding of family dynamics adopting practical solutions to often sensitive scenarios. Maryanne also manages deceased estate matters and has experience in contested estates.

Outside of work Maryanne enjoys socialising, consuming baked-goods, travel and coastal walks.

Hayden is a Senior Associate in the Hitch Advisory litigation team. While Hayden has a broad practice across commercial, corporate, property and employment disputes and litigation, he has a particular interest in Wills and Estate disputes (including Family Provision Applications).

Hayden builds strong relationships with his clients and is focused on delivering holistic, practical, and effective legal advice.

Outside of the office Hayden enjoys golf and spending time with his friends and family.

Jack is a Senior Associate in our Corporate and Commercial team, with a particular focus on healthcare (medical and pharmacy).

Acting for a range of corporate clients, Jack has particular expertise dealing in healthcare (medical and pharmacy), M&A, and franchising.  

Jack acts on both healthcare transactions as well as advising on regulatory matters in the healthcare space (e.g. Pharmacy Council applications).

With extensive experience advising on transactions and general commercial law, Jack’s advice reflects a strong understanding of the commercial needs and realities of his clients.

Out of the office you will often find Jack scuba diving, camping, and spending time with his family.

Benjamin Tran acts for an extensive range of individuals and corporations across different industries, with a particular focus on childcare.

In addition to general commercial law, Benjamin is particularly skilled in facilitating complex commercial and property transactions and takes a pragmatic approach when managing client needs.

In his spare time, Benjamin enjoys traversing around Australia and the rest of the world in search of excellent restaurants and bars and is particularly fond of Japan.

Chloe is a lawyer in our Litigation and Disputes team.

Chloe regularly acts and advises clients in relation to commercial disputes including shareholder and director disputes. However, she has particular interest and experience in trusts and estate litigation (including family provision proceedings) having acted in and advised on litigation involving trust and/or estates worth in excess of $50 million.

Whilst Chloe’s practice involves litigation, she is often called on to advise clients on the options available to prevent litigation and assists clients in reaching commercial outcomes where possible.

Outside of the office, Chloe enjoys travelling, hiking, snowboarding and tennis.

Joss is an Associate on the Hitch Advisory Property team who specialises in acquisitions and disposals, retail leasing, property development and property-related disputes. With a keen understanding of the diverse needs of his clientele, ranging from property trusts to some of Australia’s largest retailers, Joss is dedicated to providing clear, concise and timely legal advice.

Joss is particularly adept at advising clients with real estate portfolios across multiple states and territories. His in-depth knowledge of the legal landscape in various states and territories allows him to provide comprehensive guidance that aligns with the nuanced requirements of his client’s diverse portfolios.

Outside of work, you’ll find Joss freediving, ocean swimming, and generally taking advantage of all the incredible beaches that Sydney has to offer.

Matthew was admitted as a solicitor in the New South Wales Supreme Court in 2015 and is an Associate in the Litigation and Disputes team at Hitch Advisory.

As an ARITA graduate, his areas of expertise are corporate and personal insolvency, and he regularly acts for and advises trustees and external administrators in the conduct of their duties.

His background allows a unique perspective to a whole range of disputes, whether it be a sole trader seeking a commercial resolution or a multinational corporation seeking risk mitigation. Matthew has experience acting for a vast range of clients in all Courts and Tribunals in New South Wales, Victoria and the Federal jurisdictions.

Outside of the office Matthew is the proud father of two children, a motorcycle enthusiast and enjoys watching European football.

Mariah is a dynamic Associate in the Corporate and Commercial team at Hitch Advisory dedicated to assisting clients with all of their commercial needs.

Mariah has a particularly keen interest in navigating the intricate landscapes of mergers and acquisitions and stands out for her enthusiasm, dedication and insight which extends across various sectors, with an emphasis on catering to the intricate needs of pharmacy and healthcare clients.

Mariah has acted on a variety of commercial transactions with deal values of up to $40M+ and provides ongoing legal advice to businesses that range from small enterprises to international retailers.

Beyond her professional commitments, you will usually find Mariah exploring new restaurants and bars with family and friends.

Caitlin is an Associate in the Hitch Advisory Property team. Caitlin brings a wealth of experience in various property-related transactions with a keen focus on commercial and retail leasing, the sale and purchase of residential and commercial properties, off-the-plan development projects and other general property related matters.

In particular, Caitlin has assisted some of Australia’s leading retailers such as Muffin Break, Jamaica Blue, Zeus Street Greek, Anytime Fitness and CUE with a range of leasing matters. From navigating complex deals involving major retailers to facilitating seamless residential transactions, Caitlin consistently delivers excellence that speaks for itself. Her collaborative and practical approach ensures that clients receive comprehensive and timely legal support tailored to their needs.

Outside the office, Caitlin indulges in her passion for discovering Sydney’s hidden coffee gems, enjoying quality time with loved ones, and staying active with coastal walks (typically with an iced latte in hand) and Pilates.

Nikola is an Associate in the Corporate and Commercial team, offering a general and comprehensive skill set spanning across mergers & acquisitions, commercial disputes, intellectual property, employment law, and general contractual matters.

Nikola boasts a versatile and comprehensive skill set that encompasses various facets of legal practice. His expertise extends across mergers and acquisitions, where he navigates the complexities of corporate transactions with precision and acumen.

Nikola brings together a range of skills to navigate various legal challenges. Whether it’s working on mergers and acquisitions, resolving commercial disputes, protecting intellectual property, managing employment disputes and issues, or handling general contracts, Nikola strives to provide comprehensive solutions. Nikola aims to provide clients with practical and well-rounded legal support in the diverse aspects of their business dealings.

Beyond the confines of the office, Nikola finds solace in activities such as weightlifting, boxing, and strumming a few tunes on the guitar.

Sitting in our Litigation and Dispute Resolution team, Reba has a broad commercial litigation practice, including regularly advising clients in property disputes, contract disputes, debt recovery and insolvency matters.

Through her experience acting for a range of clients, including individuals, SMEs, large corporations, insolvency practitioners, Owners Corporations and government bodies, Reba has a real understanding of clients’ varying commercial circumstances and needs. Her experience gained from this diverse background informs Reba’s approach to client services, as she believes that effectively communicating to understand clients’ individual contexts and desired outcomes is the key to developing long-standing relationships and providing the best possible advice and guidance.

Outside of work, Reba loves reading, scuba diving and the Sydney Swans.

Ophelia specialises in franchise law while continuing to work across a variety of commercial matters including SME acquisitions, and contract review and drafting.

She works with clients across a range of industries including hospitality, retail, wellness, manufacturing, trade and professional services.

Ophelia appreciates the needs of small business,  having worked in her own family business in hospitality and manufacturing. She prides herself on giving practical advice and working alongside her clients to problem-solve and safeguard their business.

Outside of work, you will either find Ophelia in the Pilates studio or being dragged along on her husbands fishing trips.

Marnie is a lawyer in the Corporate and Commercial team and assists in commercial disputes, terms of trade, corporate structuring, commercial leasing and general contractual matters. 

Marnie has a particular interest in franchising and works with franchisors across various industries to assist with their ongoing legal needs. In particular she has assisted leading businesses clients such as Guzman y Gomez, Toni & Guy, Zeus Street Greek and Anytime Fitness with a broad range of franchising issues and disputes.

Marnie takes a pragmatic approach to commercial matters and strives to achieve the best possible outcome for clients.

In her spare time Marnie likes to knit and walk her greyhound, Peach.

Ruby is a highly motivated, junior lawyer who works across both our litigation and general commercial team. Ruby’s main areas of practice encompass litigation, Wills and Estates and employment law.

Ruby is delivery-focused and detail oriented, providing a broad variety of clients with clear and effective advice.

Outside of the office, Ruby is a keen football player and enjoys skiing with her family.

Harrison is a lawyer in the corporate commercial team. With a broad background in all areas of commercial law, he has developed an affinity for corporate structuring, capital raisings and mergers and acquisitions.

Harrison has provided advice on a wide range of simple and complex transactions as well as the listing of an emerging energy and resources business on the ASX.

Harrison takes pride in analysing the commercial drivers behind each matter and strives to be a problem solver and not a problem creator.

Outside of the office, Harrison enjoys playing and watching rugby, exercise of any form and unwinding with friends over a few drinks.

Emani is a junior lawyer in the Franchising & Retail team. With a keen interest in all things franchising, she assists clients in a variety of franchise transactions – from the preparation and negotiation of franchise documents to the sale of franchised businesses.

Emani boasts an impressive list of noteworthy clients across a wide range of industries.

With a genuine passion to help, Emani is committed to achieving the best possible outcomes for her clients.

Away from her desk, you will likely find Emani on a run whilst blasting Taylor Swift, exploring the newest wine bars, or enjoying time with family and friends.