Prakash Raniga

FOUNDING PARTNER

Prakash is a Principal of the firm and has been in practice in Melbourne since 1986 for over 32 years. He is a well-established Melbourne lawyer.

A graduate of Arts and Law from Melbourne University in 1983, Prakash was admitted as a lawyer in Victoria in 1984 after undertaking his PLT at Leo Cussens. Following this, Prakash gained admission in Fiji and practiced in Fiji for a brief period before returning to Melbourne in 1986. Upon his return, Prakash practiced with a Melbourne law firm for a brief period before joining Rossi, Ryan and Collins. In 1998, Prakash became a partner of that firm and took over the interest of Mr Collins, the firm then became known as Rossi Ryan & Raniga.

As Prakash has been in practice for more than 32 years, the scope of work he undertakes includes a vast number of matters in the Family Court and Federal Circuit Court ranging from complex children’s disputes to multimillion-dollar property cases.

In addition to family law matters, Prakash has been involved in civil cases in the Magistrates’ Court, County Court, Supreme Court, Federal Court, and VCAT. The cases range from commercial disputes, debt collection, building disputes, unfair dismissal, employment disputes, and the Fair Work Commission. Prakash also has extensive experience including successful appeals from VCAT proceedings in the Building List as well as the General Civil List.

Apart from litigation work, Prakash has also been involved in sale and purchase of businesses, conveyancing, and provides advice in relation to commercial contracts. During his time as a Partner and Principal Lawyer, he employed, trained, and supervised many junior lawyers. This has enabled Prakash to be able to take a wide range of work. Prakash and his team have built a good relationship with a number of barristers in various areas of law to complement and provide a successful outcome for his clients.

The firm has also undertaken criminal law work, restricted to summary charges in the Magistrates’ Court, including but not limited to negotiating with the police prosecution to reduce charges and securing diversions or withdrawal of charges.

Ishan Patel

Senior Associate

Ishan Mihir Patel is a lawyer with more than 15 years’ experience across India and Australia, advising clients in complex personal, commercial and regulatory disputes, including both litigated and non-litigated matters.

Ishan graduated from a prestigious National Law University with Honours and later completed his Master’s degree in Business Laws. Before relocating to Australia, he practised in India and represented a diverse client base, including state and central government authorities and listed corporations. His practice included property and real estate disputes, administrative law, insurance law, contractual disputes, family law, constitutional law and criminal law.

In India, Ishan appeared in more than 700 matters before the High Court of Gujarat, subordinate courts, tribunals and quasi-judicial bodies. He conducted more than 40 trials and developed significant experience in pleadings, discovery, evidence, witness examination, litigation strategy, contractual rights and dispute prevention.

Ishan has secured 9 reportable judgments across a broad range of practice areas, including constitutional law, stamp duty, property disputes, family law, debt recovery, banking and financial regulation.

His reported matters in India include proceedings concerning the constitutional validity and vires of statutory provisions, including challenges involving the SARFAESI Act (Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act), the National Green Tribunal Act and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. He has also appeared in reported matters concerning debt recovery, stamp duty and property rights, including complex issues relating to whether unpaid deficit stamp duty could operate as an encumbrance on property, and secured favourable judgments.

In family law, Ishan appeared in a reported Gujarat High Court decision concerning the rights of grandparents to seek custody, access or visitation orders in respect of grandchildren, securing a landmark favourable judgment.

These reported judgments reflect Ishan’s depth of experience in statutory interpretation, constitutional principles, court craft, pleadings, evidence, appellate advocacy and complex litigation strategy.

Ishan also served on the Legal Aid Services panel of the Gujarat High Court and undertook both litigation and advisory work. He is the author of Hindu Law of Divorce, Maintenance & Child Custody: A Holistic Guide for Litigants and Legal Professionals, an authoritative legal text dealing with matrimonial disputes, maintenance, child custody and related proceedings.

After relocating to Australia in 2022, Ishan completed bridging studies at the University of Melbourne as part of his pathway to admission to legal practice in Australia. He was admitted to practise as an Australian lawyer in April 2024. During his transition to Australian practice, he gained experience in Australian disputes, regulatory work and immigration compliance, including through roles with a multinational consultancy and a national disputes practice.

Ishan then worked with leading Australian law firms, acting in complex insurance, claims administration, VCAT and broader dispute matters.

At Rossi Ryan Raniga Lawyers, Ishan practises in family law, general commercial law, and building and construction disputes. He advises clients on building contracts, commercial issues, dispute resolution strategy, and court and tribunal proceedings, with a practical focus on achieving timely and commercially sensible outcomes.

Our Team