Local Newcastle personal injury lawyers, not a national call centre.
Our injury lawyers live and work in Newcastle, and we understand the local workplaces, insurers and courts better than a firm in Sydney or Melbourne.
Compensation Law
Injured at work, on the road, or in a public place? We’re here to make sure you get the compensation you’re entitled to.
Personal Law
Dealing with wills, buying or selling your property, or working through property settlement? Let us take care of your personal matters.
Free claim check
Find out if you have a claim in minutes with our free claim check tool.
We’ve been your local Newcastle lawyers for over 40 years.
If you’re dealing with an injury, you’re probably also dealing with the stress that comes with it – lost income, mounting medical bills, and an insurer who isn’t making the process easy. We see this all the time, and we’re here to help you through it.
Whitelaw McDonald is a team of Newcastle-based compensation and personal injury lawyers. We’re not a national call centre – we’re local. Our lawyers live in this community, and we’ve spent over 40 years building relationships with the people and workplaces of Newcastle, the Hunter, Central Coast, Sydney and Coffs Harbour. We’re familiar with the local courts and a proud partner of choice with local unions.
We take the time to understand your situation properly, so you know exactly what compensation you’re entitled to and get the best possible outcome from your claim. In that time, our lawyers have recovered tens of millions of dollars in compensation for our clients. If you have a personal injury claim, we act on a no win, no fee basis* – if we don’t win your claim, you don’t pay our legal fees.
*Conditions apply – we’ll explain exactly how our no win, no fee arrangement works during your free, no-obligation first consultation.
How It Works
What happens when you contact us:
1
Get in touch
Fill out a form, call our office or fill out our free claim check – it takes a few minutes and there’s no cost or obligation.
2
Talk to a local lawyer
We’ll arrange an obligation-free consultation with one of our compensation lawyers to understand your situation and explain your options clearly.
3
We handle the rest
If you decide to proceed, your lawyer will manage your claim from start to finish – dealing with insurers, gathering evidence, and fighting for the compensation you deserve.
What kind of injury claim do you have?
Whitelaw McDonald’s personal injury lawyers act for people across a wide range of claim types in Newcastle and across NSW. Whatever’s happened, our compensation lawyers can tell you where you stand – for free, with no obligation.
Workers Compensation Lawyers
Injured on the job? Our workers compensation lawyers will help you access the entitlements you’re owed, including weekly payments and medical expenses.
Car Accident Lawyers
Motor vehicle accident claims for drivers, passengers, cyclists and pedestrians injured on Newcastle and NSW roads.
Public Liability Lawyers
Injured in a public place, a shop, or someone else’s property? You may have a compensation claim.
Medical Negligence Lawyers
If negligent treatment has caused you harm, our medical negligence lawyers can assess your case.
Coal Mining Injury Lawyers
Experienced compensation lawyers for underground and open-cut mining injuries and dust disease.
Asbestos & Dust Disease Lawyers
Compensation for asbestos-related illness and industrial dust disease claims.
Industrial Deafness Lawyers
Also known as noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), this refers to hearing loss arising from exposure to loud noise in the workplace.
TPD & Superannuation Lawyers
If injury or illness has stopped you working permanently, we’ll help you claim your super early.
Why choose our team?
No win, no fee.*
You don’t pay our legal fees unless we win your compensation claim. *Conditions apply — ask us for details.
Free, no-obligation first consultation.
There’s no cost and no pressure to find out where you stand. Call our Newcastle office or use our free claim check tool to get started.
We come to you.
Can’t make it to our office? We can arrange to meet you at home or in hospital if that’s easier while you recover.
Most claims don’t end up in court.
The vast majority of the claims our lawyers handle are resolved without the stress of a courtroom and get settled before reaching that stage — though we’re ready to fight for you if it comes to that.
Local Team Credibility
Meet some of our local team.
Craig Stewart
Associate Director – Specialist Personal Injury
Mario Bechelli
Senior Associate – Personal Injury Law
Specialist coal mining injury representation
If you or a family member works in the mining industry, read more about our coal mining injury claims here.
What our clients say
“I cannot recommend Kyah from Whitelaw McDonald property team highly enough. She was prompt, professional, and incredibly thorough. Every step of the was handled efficiently and with great attention to detail, making the experience completely seamless.
Her communication was excellent — always responsive, clear, an proactive in keeping me informed. I truly felt like evrything was taken care of, and I had complete confidence in her work throughout.
If you’re looking for a solicitor who is reliable and genuinely cares about getting things done right, look no further.”
Kiani D.
“I would like to sincerely thank you for all the hard work you put into my compensation claim. With your professional, knowledgeable, caring and ability to explain, whilst keeping me calm has been outstanding. You are a credit to your profession. It has been an absolute pleasure to communicate with both John and Craig. I am now relieved that this is behind me and can really concentrate on getting myself fully recovered. Once again, many thanks.”
John S.
“Very capable firm with a knowledgeable team.”
Naomi S
I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the team at Whitelaw McDonald. From beginning to end you were highly professional, friendly, informative and helpful in getting me a successful outcome.
Darryl B.
Get in touch today
Frequently Asked Questions
Does it cost anything to speak to a lawyer?
No. Your first consultation with our Newcastle lawyers is free and there’s no obligation to proceed.
What does “no win, no fee” mean?
It means if we don’t win your compensation claim, you won’t pay our legal fees. We’ll explain exactly how our no win, no fee arrangement works, including any conditions, before you decide to go ahead.
How long do I have to make a claim in NSW?
Time limits vary depending on your type of claim – workers compensation, motor vehicle accident, medical negligence and public liability claims can each have different notification periods and limitation periods. The safest approach is to speak to one of our lawyers as early as possible so we can tell you exactly where you stand.
Do I have to go to court?
Most personal injury claims settle without going to court. If your personal injury matter does need to go further, our lawyers will guide you through the process and represent you every step of the way.
What areas do you service?
We have offices in Newcastle, Central Coast, Sydney and Coffs Harbour, and our lawyers act for clients across the Hunter region and beyond.