Accountants and Solicitors – Canberra – comments/recommendations please

Hi all

In my search for a new accountant and solicitor located in Canberra (with knowledge of ACT and NSW and hopefully contacts in other states if need be), I have compiled the following list. As I refine my list of professionals I would like to interview to choose my (hopefully ongoing) accountant and solicitor, I would appreciate any comments (good, bad and ugly) on the suggestions below, or if there are other professionals you think are left off.

I also understand there is an accountant in Fyshwick with investment property knowledge but am not sure of their name – please add if you use them!

(NB: I have compiled this list from other posts and recommendations, the comments below are those provided in other posts that I sourced the information from. I have never met any of these people so can't provide further  comments).

Cheers, 

Accountants

• Kelli Lawton or Anne Rhodes from Cosgrave Soutters – (02) 6272 0900. Recommendation made on forum
  
• Chris Needham, Needhams – (02) 6124 8700. From forum comments, Chris is a property investor himself
• Beverly Alley, Rivett – (02) 6288 2907. From forum comments, Beverly appears to be a no-nonsense accountant
• Paul Glass or Andrew Eggleton from The Firm (http://www.thefirmonline.com.au) – 02 6247 3555. Recommendation made on forum
• Bentleys MRI Accountants. I understand Anne Rhodes used to work for Bentleys but has moved. I have heard that Ingrid Workman may be ok but I am not sure about her experience with investment properties, her summary talks more about business and wealth creation, not about investment properties specifically  
• John Dellavedova – (02) 6248 8500. Recommendation made on forum, no further information provided
• EverallsDFK – (02) 6232 4588. I am not sure who in the firm was recommended as none of the directors or accountants include property investing in their summaries

Solicitors

• Hill and Rummery – (02) 6248 9188. Gordon Duff was recommended in a post although he doesn't appear to work for Hill and Rummery anymore. From Hill and Rummery's website, they seems to be knowledgeable about conveyancing.
• Jan McNutt of Jordan and MacNutt – 02 6288 1821. Forum comments is that she is a no-nonsense solicitor who 'tramples any of the little concerns that pop up when buying or selling'.
• James King, Legitimate Solutions Legal – (02) 6162 3003. From forum comments, James specialises in property transactions.
• Francis Low of National Business Lawyers – 2 6230 5399. Recommendation made on forum
• John de la Torre, Conveyancing Canberra – (02) 6214 8550 Forum comments is that John is the principal conveyancer/solicitor of Conveyancing Canberra and has turned contracts around very quickly. Not sure if he performs other solicitor work or only conveyancing.
• Les Klekner, Tuggeranong Legal – (02) 6293 157. Firm appears to include property transfers in summary of work