Headquarters:

Level 11, 131 York Street, Sydney, NSW 2000

Year founded:

2020

Number of employees:

3 partners and 18 staff

Phone:

02 9056 9998

Email:

admin@kingstonandpartners.com.au

Website:

kingstonandpartners.com

LinkedIn:

linkedin.com/company/kingstonandpartners

“We love to win. We’re tenacious, and we believe in getting results”

Brett Vincent, Vincent Young Lawyers

Phil Hustler

Managing Principal

Kate Reese

Principal and Director

Oliver Small

Head of Litigation and Disputes

Leadership

Admitted in 2006, Phil Hustler brings a strong track record in advising Australian and international banks, financiers and sophisticated borrowers across construction finance, asset finance, private banking and mezzanine lending. His experience spans both global firms and specialist finance boutiques, giving him a unique depth of insight. Hustler has advised “big four” banks and non-bank lenders, completed a secondment with Westpac’s regulatory team and worked on major construction and project finance transactions. He has also advised on and documented thousands of SME loans across every Australian state and territory, delivering clear, practical advice tailored to complex financial arrangements.

Managing Principal

Phil Hustler

Kate Reese is a dual-qualified Australian and New Zealand lawyer and the principal of Kingston & Partners. With a distinguished career in banking and finance law, she specialises in secured and unsecured lending, as well as debt recovery for private and non-bank lenders. Reese has been instrumental in supporting the growth of some of Australia’s largest private lenders, advising on asset-based lending, loan structuring, syndication, priority disputes and mortgage enforcement. She has also guided clients through major shifts in the financial services landscape, working closely with them to adapt processes and implement best practices that align with evolving industry standards.

Principal and Director

Kate Reese

Oliver Small leads the fast-paced litigation and recovery team at Kingston & Partners, a specialist boutique firm advising clients in the mortgage and secured lending space. He represents lenders facing complex, high-stakes legal matters that demand both technical precision and strategic insight. With over 20 years of experience in commercial litigation, Small brings deep expertise across all Australian jurisdictions. Known for his ability to manage and resolve intricate disputes, he is a trusted advisor who combines legal acumen with commercial pragmatism. Widely respected by peers and clients alike, Small is recognised as a leading authority in loan security recovery and enforcement.

Head of Litigation and Disputes

Oliver Small

Leadership

“A true leader can see potential in different employees, regardless of their position. Listening and recognizing the value of each individual not only inspires them but also makes them grow professionally”

Saray Uribe, CharSan Insurance & Consulting

Leadership

Nava Navaretnarajah

Special Counsel

Nava Navaretnarajah is the firm’s leading special counsel at Kingston & Partners, bringing over a decade of experience across private practice and in-house legal roles. He specialises in front-end transactional work and advises a wide range of lenders on acquisition, asset, construction, debtor and real estate finance transactions. Known for his commercial insight and client-focused approach, Navaretnarajah builds strong relationships to understand each client’s unique goals and risk appetite. His in-house background equips him with the business acumen to deliver strategic, practical advice that aligns legal outcomes with commercial priorities.

Special Counsel

Nava Navaretnarajah

Jacques G. Sarraf

General Manager, Cosmaline

Jacques G. Sarraf brings over a decade of FMCG industry experience to his role as general manager at Cosmaline, a part of Malia Group and a rapidly growing personal care company in the MENA region. Throughout his tenure, Sarraf has adeptly driven growth and profitability, successfully expanding market share and optimizing operational efficiency alongside strategic entries into new markets and product categories. An advocate of sustainability, fitness, and wellness, Sarraf promotes environmentally friendly practices and encourages individuals to adopt healthy and active lifestyles.

General Manager, Cosmaline

Jacques G. Sarraf

For non-bank lenders working under tight deadlines, time is often the most formidable challenge. At Kingston & Partners, speed is about knowing what needs to happen, when and how to make it work. That focus has helped Kingston & Partners stand out from other firms. The firm was built for this kind of work. The team blends technical expertise with practical instincts, providing first-class service tailored to each client’s goals. It is especially known for its work with non-bank lenders navigating complex transactions or unusual legal roadblocks. Unlike many larger firms, Kingston & Partners does not spread itself thin. Its dedicated work in the non-bank lending sector has helped the team develop deep knowledge of these businesses’ operations. It quickly adapts and works closely with clients to understand the nuances of each deal. The firm approaches client satisfaction with a clear priority to act early and decisively and stay results-driven. “Achieving the best outcome for a client in a short time frame is key; time is money, certainly in the commercial and legal space,” says Managing Principal Phillip Hustler. “We focus on the desired result early, then develop procedures to identify any obstacles and mitigate risks efficiently.” Leadership has played a vital role in shaping that mindset. The firm’s principals bring experience from major international and mid-tier national firms and smaller, high-performing legal boutiques. Drawing on that experience, Kingston & Partners builds systems that balance consistency with flexibility. There’s a firm commitment to being innovative, but the focus remains on people, both clients and staff. Kingston & Partners tailors its transactional approach to match each lender’s experience, offering more hands-on support where needed and prioritising speed and efficiency for urgent matters. “Our targeted strategies, designed to tailor our service to a client’s business needs, have helped Kingston & Partners become a dynamic and valued partner to a range of financiers. We’ve become integral to many of their business practices,” adds Head of Litigation and Disputes Oliver Small. Litigation is another key area. Kingston & Partners’ recovery team works across all jurisdictions in Australia and handles matters from start to finish. Senior lawyers remain involved, and communication stays responsive throughout. Clients also benefit from a diverse team that includes fluent bilingual speakers and experienced career paralegals. “Being able to draw upon the best experiences from different-sized firms and their respective approaches to culture has helped us identify what works,” explains Hustler. That approach has also influenced the firm’s culture. The internal environment is collaborative, with room for professional growth and day-to-day support. Australasian Lawyer recognised Kingston & Partners as one of Australia’s Top Specialist Firms of 2025. This recognition builds on a steadily growing reputation, client by client, deadline by deadline.

Matthew Dover

Head of Operations

Natalia Child

Head of Broker and Professions CPD

Maxine Owen

Head of Finance

Simon Williams

Chief Strategy & Distribution Officer, Arch Insurance International and Active Underwriter, Syndicate 1955

Matthew Dover worked at Renovation Insurance Brokers with MD Douglas Brown before becoming part of the launch team for Renovation Underwriting in 2018. As head of operations, he works closely with the underwriting team, holds key relationships with all partners across the insurance sector and is integral to the delivery and performance of multiple, transactional policy portals for the sector.

Head of Operations

Matthew Dover

Natalia Child began her career in insurance in 2012 and, since then, has worked in both underwriting and private client broking. She is chartered, has an advanced diploma in insurance and has a law degree. Passionate about education, Child is responsible for delivering the CDP program and the Contract Works Academy, designed to upskill renovation knowledge and increase confidence across the sector.

Head of Broker and Professions CPD

Natalia Child

With over 30 years of experience in the finance and accounting sector, Maxine Owen has worked in a wide variety of industries, including private medical, vehicle, transport and education. When she joined Renovation Underwriting in 2017, Owen brought with her a deep understanding of corporate treasury and the foreign exchange/money market, along with the management of multi-currency exposure with inter-company transactions. She is also an affiliated member of AAT, the professional body for accounting technicians.

Head of Finance

Maxine Owen

Kimi leads the Estate Planning and Wealth Protection team and is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners. She understands the complex and delicate nature of family estate planning, the technical requirements around probate and estate administration, and the importance of preserving wealth for future generations. Her advice is accurate, commercial, strategic and tailored to each situation.

Partner

Kimi Shah

Partner

Kimi Shah

Partner

Kimi Shah

Read on

IB Top Brokerages

Award Winner

Kingston & Partners

SPECIAL REPORT

Home

Bio

Read on

Award Winner

SPECIAL REPORT

Home

Bio

Read on

Award Winner

SPECIAL REPORT

Home

Bio

Medals

BDM support

Brand recognition and reputation

Broker communication, training and development

Commission structure

Online platforms and services

Overall service level

Premium stability

Product innovation

Product range

Medal

Overall service level

Broker communication, training and development

BDM support

Turnaround time – claims

Broker's Pick – Personal Accident and Illness Insurance

Brokers’ Pick – Professional liability

Small business

Medal

Overall service level

Broker communication, training and development

BDM support

Turnaround time – claims

Broker's Pick – Personal Accident and Illness Insurance

Brokers’ Pick – Professional liability

Small business

“We believe in handling our clients’ matters as if they were our own, and with this approach, we seek solutions wherever possible”

Brett Vincent, Vincent Young Lawyers

“Having four insurance designations, and the wealth of knowledge that comes with it, enables me to better counsel customers regarding the importance of having the appropriate insurance coverage”

Saray Uribe, CharSan Insurance & Consulting

employee benefits regional retail P&C specialty P&C underwriting direct-to-consumer programs

Underscoring the value proposition the firm offers, Vincent says, “Our clients get direct access to our partners. We are always available, and we pride ourselves on being highly responsive. We are lean and efficient. Our work is of the quality of larger law firms, without the price tag.” To operate optimally for clients, the firm engaged the founder of a major construction management company to be chairman. Under their guidance, Vincent Young has expanded its practice areas to include property, projects, commercial and insolvency law. Today, Vincent Young is advised by a chairman and two advisors, none of whom are lawyers, resulting in invaluable industry insight and client-side perspective. “The balance between technical legal skills and proactive solutions lies at the heart of our business and our success in legal matters,” says Vincent. “We believe in handling our clients’ matters as if they were our own, and with this approach, we seek solutions wherever possible.”

more than $1 million in funds over $2.3 million in combined monetary and in-kind donations through an annual World Food Derby initiative 2,320 volunteer hours to numerous deserving organizations, making a significant community impact

Alliant’s progress is set to continue, as underlined by Zimmer, who has confidence in the firm’s people to deliver continued excellence. “We believe in our business plan, and it has proven successful. We don’t feel the need to change that. Our core business plan will continue to drive the company forward, complemented by new opportunities that may arise in the future.”

Turnaround time – claims

Turnaround time – new business

Overall

02 9261 5900