A Hunter-based legal practice is celebrating its fifth year in business with a move into its own premises and being nominated for a national award.

Keystone Lawyers is relocating from its offices in Harbour Pier on Wharf Road to a newly refurbished office building at 86 Darby Street on Monday.

Founder and sole director, Lou Stojanovski, hopes to be celebrating a win in the new office, with the firm a finalist in the State/Regional Firm of the Year category for the Australasian Law Awards being held in Sydney in May.

Lou says, in the five years since he established it, the firm has grown to employ 11 staff. The commercial law firm specialises in the fields of construction, engineering, mining, commercial, development and property law.

He says although Hunter-based, the firm’s work has been in most states in Australia, New Zealand, South East Asia and China, including construction projects worth up to $750 million.

“My passion for people and seeing my clients succeed has been key to our business success,” Lou said.

“My background has made me a recognised specialist in construction, mining and infrastructure law.”

Lou said Keystone’s new offices had been tenanted by award winning architects Schreiber Hamilton Architecture (SHA). That firm was involved in the extensive renovation of the building’s grand terrace.

Newcastle born, Lou commenced his legal career in 1995 after working for a large building company. He holds a Bachelor of Construction Management (Building) from Newcastle University, is a member of both the Law Society of NSW and Master Builders Association. He is also a NSW Law Society accredited specialist in commercial litigation and has extensive experience in dispute resolution, appearing in the Federal, Supreme, District and Local courts. He is admitted to the High Court of Australia and is also an adjudicator under the Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act.