Daniel Smedley
Principal
Accredited Specialist in Tax Law
+61 411 319 327
+61 3 9611 0105
dsmedley@sladen.com.au
LinkedIn: /danielsmedley
Daniel enjoys solving complex taxation and trust law issues for private enterprises who share his entrepreneurial spirit. He is a trusted confidant in designing and implementing robust personal and business succession plans. Daniel’s commitment to protecting and enhancing the commercial and personal interests of his clients consistently delivers great outcomes.
He is a regular presenter at state and national industry conventions, conferences and workshops.
Daniel is a Chartered Tax Advisor with The Tax Institute, accredited as a specialist in Taxation Law with the Law Institute of Victoria, and the principal author of the Trust Structures Guide, recognised by The Tax Institute as "the leading resource for anyone advising on trusts, structuring and planning issues".
In 2025, Daniel was recognised as "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® in Melbourne, Australia for Trusts and Estates (2026). Lawyer of the Year is awarded to the lawyer with the highest overall peer feedback for a specific practice area and geographic region. This is the tenth consecutive year that Daniel has been listed in the publication in Tax Law, Trusts and Estates and Wealth Management / Succession Planning Practice.
Always keen to explore new opportunities, Daniel is driven by the belief that "a lot of the things that seem ridiculously small and inconsequential right now, will eventually cast a shadow that people will be chasing for decades".
Daniel’s areas of practice include:
Federal and State tax law advice and dispute management
Tax efficient commercial contracts and transactions
Design and implementation of tax sensitive business and personal succession plans
Design and implementation of tax sensitive business and investment structures
Trust law advice and structuring
Wealth preservation advice
Intellectual property identification and protection
Professional associations and awards:
Chartered Tax Adviser - The Tax Institute
Named “Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers for Trusts and Estates, Melbourne, Australia (2024),
Named “Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers for Wealth Management / Succession Planning Practice, Melbourne, Australia (2024)
Named “Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers for Tax Law, Melbourne, Australia (2022).
Recognised in The Best Lawyers in Australia 2024 for work in Tax Law for six consecutive years.
Listed in Doyles Guide, Leading Tax Lawyers, Victoria from 2016 - 2023
Member of the Law Institute of Victoria’s Taxation and Revenue Law Committee
Member of the Program Committee for The Tax Institute’s National Convention
Download a PDF version of Daniel Smedley's Professional Profile
“But, to the extent that your sanity can bear it, always keep an eye on the corners, the edges, and especially learn to watch for those infinitesimally tiny figures starting to shuffle around near the horizon. Because a lot of the things that seem ridiculously small and inconsequential right now will eventually cast a shadow that people will be chasing for decades. It’s just that we’re never sure which tiny figure that will turn out to be.”
Daniel's Latest Updates
Daniel Smedley has been awarded the prestigious accolade of Lawyer of the year in the area of Trusts and Estates. Daniel has been recognised in The Best Lawyers in Australia since 2017. He has also been included in the 2026 edition in three areas - Tax Law, Trusts and Estates and Wealth Management / Succession Planning Practice.
Daniel was listed as Leading in the 2024 listing of Leading Victorian Tax Lawyers. This list identifies Leading Victorian Tax Law Firms excelling in taxation advisory and dispute resolution, with selections based on feedback from clients and peers.
