Barristers – Administrative & Public Law

Zoë Brereton was called to the Queensland Bar in October 2021. Zoë has over 24 years’ experience as a lawyer, having previously practiced as a solicitor being first admitted in England and Wales in 1997 and then in Australia in 2006, including as principal of her own private practice.

Zoë practises in a broad range of commercial matters, family law, domestic violence, estate litigation and immigration law.

Zoë is also a nationally accredited mediator (NMAS).

In addition to Zoë’s undergraduate qualifications in Law, she holds a Post Graduate qualification in Australian Migration Law and Practice from the Australian National University.

Other relevant affiliations and positions held by Zoë are:

Member of the Queensland Bar Association

Member of the Family Law Practitioners’ Association

Treasurer of the Gold Coast Bar Association

Member of Gold Coast District Law Association

Member of LawRight

Judy was admitted to practice as a barrister and commenced at the private Queensland Bar based in Brisbane in January 2003. Prior to this she practised as a solicitor in Brisbane from the mid 1990’s. In addition Judy is a Nationally Accredited mediator.

Judy’s practice is diverse. It spans a broad range of areas including planning and environment, judicial review, mining, environmental authorities and enforcement, native title, local government, determination of compensation for land, infrastructure and general litigation.

She has advised or acted in proceedings for and against the Commonwealth and State of Queensland, Ministers and related entities, various local governments, indigenous representative bodies, companies and private individuals.

During her time at the bar Judy has appeared in the High Court (special leave), Full Federal Court, Federal Court, Queensland Court of Appeal, Supreme Court of Queensland, District Court, Planning and Environment Court, Land Court, both in the Queensland and Grantham Flood Commissions of Inquiry and the Magistrates Court.

A significant number of matters have proceeded to full hearing with decisions published on the relevant court websites, a list of which can be seen by accessing the link to Judy’s CV, located on this page.

Mr Douglas Campbell KC was called to the Queensland Bar in 1982 and appointed Silk in November 2004.

Douglas has broad practice encompassing:

• Appellate
• Commercial Law
• Common law/Personal Injuries
• Equity
• Inquests and Inquiries
• Public Administration

Douglas has a particular interest and substantial experience in Class Actions and was recognised as a leading class action barrister – Australia in 2023.

Stephen is a specialist advocate in the areas of insolvency law, commercial litigation and arbitrations, and administrative law.

He is a trusted advisor to small and medium enterprises and their solicitors.

In insolvency law, his experience covers:

• statutory demand and winding up applications (notably SGR Pastoral Ltd v Christensen [2019] 2 QR 334);
• public examinations, recovery proceedings, and applications for directions under the Insolvency Practice Schedule (Corporations); and
• disputes concerning different entities to which insolvency practitioners are appointed within trust, partnership, and corporate group structures (notably Eltanba Pty Ltd & Anor v Flexitel Pty Ltd & Ors and its related proceedings, including Supreme Court of Queensland proceedings 2267/2011 and 12931/17).

In commercial litigation and arbitrations, his experience features:

• proceedings to set aside arbitral awards concerning the construction of a CSG pipeline system (Mitchel Water Australia Pty Ltd v McConnell Dowell Constructions (Aust) Pty Ltd, Supreme Court of Queensland proceedings 7092/2018 and 6270/2018);
• expert determinations and their contractual validity (Bagata Pty Ltd & Anor v Sunstorm Pty Ltd [2023] QSC 104); [2024] QCA 17);
• appearing for Woolworths Ltd and a subsidiary in a construction contract dispute concerning Woolworth’s distribution centre at Larapinta, one of the largest industrial facilities in Queensland (Nalos Pty Ltd & Anor v Robert Bird Group Pty Ltd & Ors, Supreme Court of Queensland proceeding 11451/12;
• the suite of contract and arbitration-related proceedings between BMD Holdings Pty Ltd and Mio Art Pty Ltd and their related parties concerning the development of a master planned community at Mango Hill (see [2018] 1 Qd R 245; [2018] QCA 39; [2018] QSC 31; [2018] FCA 399; and [2019] FCA 490); and
• resisting the referral of a construction dispute to arbitration (One Sector Pty Ltd v Panel Concepts Pty Ltd [2021] QDC 54).

In administrative law, his experience features:

• urgent applications to stay the operation of government decisions (notably TRAC Construction (Qld) Pty Ltd v Queensland Building and Construction Commission, Supreme Court of Queensland proceeding 1670/16), a topic on which he presented a paper at the Australian Institute of Administrative Law’s 2016 national conference;
• successful appeals (Acuna Plaza v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs (No 2) [2019] FCA 424);
• ongoing retainers to provide regulatory compliance opinions to well-known companies in the healthcare sector; and
• inquests involving the responsibilities of Queensland Health and Queensland Police Service.

Stephen is an accredited mediator and a Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.

Dr Pip Coore practices predominately in the areas of equity, trusts and succession law.

Pip regularly advises on a range of estate matters, including:

• lost and informal will applications;
• the interpretation and administration of wills and trusts;
• applications by personal representatives and trustees for judicial advice and directions;
• the removal of personal representatives;
• solemn form probate proceedings; and
• family provision applications.

She also appears at mediations in succession law matters.

Pip has been recognised in Doyle’s Guide as a Leading Wills and Estates Litigation Junior Counsel in Queensland.

While Pip specialises in equity, trusts and estate law, she has also appeared in taxation appeals and administrative law matters.

Pip holds a DPhil in Law and a Master of Studies in Legal Research from the University of Oxford.  She also holds a Bachelor of Laws (Graduate Entry) (Hons) from Queensland University of Technology and a Bachelor of Journalism and a Bachelor of Communication, majoring in Public Relations, from the University of Queensland.

Prior to being called to the Bar, Pip was the Senior Associate to the Honourable Justice Edelman of the High Court of Australia.

Pip is a member of the STEP Queensland Committee, the Fellowship Fund Inc. Committee and the Graduate Women Queensland Committee.

Simon was called to the Queensland Bar in 1983.  He was made King’s Counsel in 1993.

He is a member of North Quarter Lane Chambers, one of Queensland’s preeminent Commercial Barristers Chambers.  Simon also has chambers in Sydney.

Simon has a wide ranging commercial practice spanning diverse areas such as:

• Competition Law (and is regularly briefed by the ACCC)
• Contract Disputes
• Corporate Law
• Insurance and Professional Indemnity (including acting for lawyers, engineers, builders, surveyors and architects).

He appears regularly in complex commercial proceedings in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia and in the Federal Court of Australia.

Simon also has a substantial appellate practice, including in the High Court of Australia.

Simon is renowned for his cross-examination skills, earning him, most recently, recognition in the following Doyle’s Guide categories:

• Leading Professional Indemnity Senior Counsel QLD 2023
• Leading Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution Section Counsel QLD 2023
• Leading Insolvency & Restructuring Senior Counsel 2023

Marjorie was called to the Bar in 2021, following more than 10 years’ practice as a senior lawyer at a national law firm in which she worked in its Canberra, Melbourne and Brisbane offices.  Marjorie also worked for three years in Oxford, England, in a boutique professional indemnity law firm.

Marjorie has broad experience acting for government and private sector clients and their insurers as well as a extensive general commercial litigation practice.

In insurance law her experience includes:

• acting for the Legal Practitioners’ Liability Committee and its insured legal practitioners and barristers in the defence of negligence claims
• acting for Australian and international insurers in the defence of all financial lines negligence claims (architects, legal practitioners, accountants and other construction professionals)
• Supreme Court multi party litigation arising from declinature of insurance cover
• providing coverage advice on a broad range of policies of insurance (D&O, public and products liability, professional indemnity and project specific construction insurance)
• acting for the Victorian Managed Insurance Authority (VMIA)  in the defence of civil claims commenced against Victorian government departments and statutory agencies
• providing legal liability advice to Australian government departments and agencies and their insurer, Comcover, in respect of civil claims and advising them in respect of their obligations under the Legal Services Directions 2017 (Cth)
• providing insurance related due diligence advice in mergers and acquisition transactions, particularly in the field of construction

In commercial litigation her experience includes:

• acting for a building construction contractor in the Supreme Court of Queensland alleging breach of contract and negligence by its sub-contractor in respect of the use of aluminium composite panel cladding on a multi-story commercial building
• advising liquidators on the formulation of a claim against a firm of auditors alleging negligence, breach of contract and breach of statutory duties under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) in respect of a failed managed investment scheme
• acting for a company in the defence of preference claims brought by the liquidator of Gunns Limited (Tasmanian sawmill)
• acting for a Commonwealth Government department in the defence of a high value loss of opportunity claim arising from a dispute over the Commonwealth’s obligations in a deed of grant. This required qualifying experts in forensic accounting, market share economics and geospatial surveying

Marjorie holds a Bachelor of Arts (History) and a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) from the University of Queensland.

Marjorie’s curriculum vitae is available on request.

Geoffrey Diehm KC commenced practice as a barrister at the Brisbane bar in 1991. He took silk in 2008.

He holds an LLB and an LLM from the Queensland University of Technology.

He practices in health law, insurance and personal injuries law, public and administrative law, commercial law and succession law. He has regularly appeared in Federal and State superior courts as well as the Land Court, the Coroners Court and various tribunals.

He has extensive experience representing hospitals, medical practitioners and other health care providers in civil proceedings, administrative proceedings including disciplinary proceedings, and in inquests. He has appeared for a variety of clients in a number of Commissions of Inquiry. He regularly acts for and advises governments and agencies of government, corporations, insurers and individuals in a wide range of matters.

He is an experienced trial and appellate counsel and has been involved in very many mediations, as well as having acted as a mediator and an arbitrator.

Richard specialises in insurance, common law and statutory liability, commercial law, real property and confiscation of criminal profits. He is a nationally accredited mediator and has mediated over 700 disputes in all spheres of the law.

He has been in private practice as a barrister in Brisbane since 1982 and took silk in 1998.

He has appeared in many leading cases construing the pre-procedural and civil liability legislation of Queensland and was co-Senior Counsel assisting the Queensland Public Hospitals Commission of Inquiry conducted by the Honourable Geoffrey Davies AO.

Richard is Chair of the Bar Association of Queensland’s General Litigation Committee. From 2009 to 2011, he was President of the Bar Association of Queensland, a Director of the Law Council of Australia and Member of the Board of the Australian Bar Association. Prior appointments also include Chair of a stakeholder reference group appointed by the Queensland Attorney General, which reported to the Queensland Government as to options available to homogenise Queensland pre-proceeding personal injury process regimes.

Richard is a joint author of Annotated Civil Liability Legislation Queensland published by LexisNexis and a joint author of and principal contributor to Civil Liability Australia, a national loose-leaf and electronic LexisNexis service, each addressing the Ipp legislation in the states and territories. He is also a member of the editorial board and contributor to the Civil Liability newsletter, also published by LexisNexis.

In 2014, the Australian Insurance Law Association awarded Richard its annual Insurance Law Prize.

Clare was called to the bar in 2024.

Prior to transitioning to the private Bar, Clare practiced in both Australia and the UK, having commenced her legal career in personal injury litigation in 2002 and going on to become admitted as a Solicitor in Queensland in 2010.

Clare has practiced almost exclusively in injury litigation for the duration of her career, specialising in catastrophic injury claims and medical law claims (including claims involving: delay in diagnosis, misdiagnosis, failure to treat, lack of informed consent and failure to warn of treatment risks).

Clare also became a nationally accredited mediator in 2021.

Clare’s practice at the Bar involves all areas of personal injury litigation, medical negligence litigation, coronial inquests and mediation.

After more than 10 years as a solicitor with large national and international firms, Jane commenced practice as a barrister in 2009.  As an advocate she has a broad practice including commercial, insurance, personal injury, professional negligence, medical negligence, building and construction, administrative, estate and family disputes. As a mediator she has worked with public, corporate and private clients involved in a range of family, commercial, personal and interpersonal disputes.

Jane appears alone and as junior counsel in applications, trials, appeals and other hearings in both State and Federal jurisdictions.  She holds degrees in Law and Business (Accounting) from QUT, as well as a Master Advocate Designation from the National Institute of Trial Advocacy in the US.  She is nationally accredited mediator, an accredited farm debt mediator and an FRDP. She has chambers in Brisbane and also on the Gold Coast.

In addition to her practice at the Bar, she has taught advocacy and trial skills to trial lawyers and barristers in Australia, Bhutan and the US since 2010.

As a solicitor, Emma spending 8 years working in Government and Private Practice in defendant insurance litigation representing insurers in both personal injuries and property damage litigation.  She then went on to establish the Financial Abuse Prevention team at a Queensland community legal service.

Emma has been at the bar since April 2021.  She has a broad practice in what she calls ‘human’ law – including personal injuries, insurance, consumer law, abuse law, guardianship, wills & probate, family law and domestic violence.

Emma is regularly briefed to appear both led and unled in State and Federal Courts.

Emma is a proud single mum and mental health advocate and regularly speaks about her experience.

If you believe Emma can assist you or your clients, are interested in coming to the bar, or ever feel the need to phone a friend – Emma warmly welcomes a phone call or a visit to the Hemmant’s List Centre for a cup of tea.

Karen is an accomplished commercial litigator with significant expertise in succession, equity and trusts.  She has a special interest in estate litigation with a commercial aspect, including company, partnership and trust disputes and disputes involving equitable causes of action and remedies.

She accepts briefs in all areas of succession law, including family provision applications, solemn form probate actions, will construction and cy pres applications, statutory wills and proceedings involving enduring powers of attorney.  Karen also accepts briefs which concern superannuation entitlements.

In the conduct of litigation which often involves complex law, and which is factually dense, Karen is known both for her strategic approach and her attention to detail.

Prior to her call to the Bar, Karen was a Queensland Law Society Accredited Specialist in succession law, becoming accredited in 2013.

Doyle’s Guide  ranks Karen as one of only a handful of leading Wills & Estates Litigation Junior Counsel.

Ms Jessica Goldie was first called to the Bar in February 2012.

She practises primarily in criminal law, having appeared in over a hundred serious and complex criminal jury trials primarily in regional Queensland.

Jess’ extensive advocacy and legal experience saw her appointment to the Legal Aid Queensland Complex Criminal Case Panel in 2019.

Jess has also appeared in a range of hearings in both the Supreme and District Courts of Queensland, including sentence hearings, legal applications and bail applications. She also regularly appears in domestic violence matters.

Jess was previously employed with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions from 2009 to 2018 and was commissioned as a permanent Crown Prosecutor in 2011 (being, at the time, one of the youngest Barristers to hold such a commission in Australia).

In 2016, Jess was promoted to the position of Senior Crown Prosecutor and was head of the Toowoomba Chambers of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. She was permanently appointed to the position in 2017, where she remained until her resignation in 2018 to commence her career at the private bar.

In addition to her established criminal law practice, Jess also practices in the areas of:

• Regulatory and Disciplinary matters
• Inquests and Commissions of Inquiry
• Abuse Law

Jess is actively involved in her local Toowoomba community and within the legal community. She previously served on the Board of the Queensland Rural, Regional and Remote Women’s Network and on the committee for the Women Lawyers Association of Queensland as the Southern Regional Representative.

Jess is also regularly involved with the University of Southern Queensland Mooting Competitions and is a member of Zonta Garden City.

Stephen has been practicing since 1990 and was called to the Bar in 2016.

Over more than three decades Stephen has practiced broadly, but his particular areas of interest are:

• Family Law (including Domestic Violence)
• Criminal Law & Professional Discipline
• Administrative & Public Law

Stephen holds a Bachelor of Laws and is also a qualified and experienced costs assessor having been appointed to the Supreme Courts panel in December 2008.

Other relevant affiliations and positions held by Stephen are:

• Member Bar Association of Queensland
• Member of LawRight

His present practice calls for him to appear regularly in the courts of Queensland, N.S.W. and Victoria in matters including:

• The conduct of appeals as sole Counsel (unled) before the Court of Appeal and the Full Court of the Family Court. (These appearances include the following reported cases: Yein & Zihao (2019) FLC ¶ 93-889; Allen v Ruddy Tomlins & Baxter(2019) 1 QR 225; Beckham & Quarrington (2019) FLC ¶93-913; Weng & Wah and Ors (2019) FLC ¶93-933; and McLaren v Wiltshire Lawyers Pty Ltd [2019] 3 QR 158.)
• Complex property and parenting trials in the Family Court and Federal Circuit Courts of Australia.
• Criminal trials (including matters involving allegations of historical sexual abuse and serious assault) in the District Court of Queensland.
• Investigations and reports (briefed by Church body) of allegations of physical and sexual abuse.
• Civil penalty hearings in the Federal Court of Australia.
• Civil trials in the District and Supreme Courts of Queensland.
• Applications for review under the Migration Act 1958(Cth) in the Federal Circuit Court of Australia.

Peter Hastie specialises in litigation, alternative dispute resolution (arbitration, mediation and expert determination) and advice work which has a commercial flavour  particularly in the areas of  administrative law, building and construction, competition and consumer law, constitutional law, contract, corporations law,  insolvency,  intellectual property law, mining law,  partnership, professional liability, insolvency, real property , restraints of trade, securities and torts.

Peter commenced practice as a barrister based in Brisbane in 1986 and took silk in 2013. Peter mainly practices in the Supreme Court of Queensland and the Federal Court of Australia  and is admitted and has practiced in the Supreme Courts of New South Wales and South Australia.

Peter has a Bachelor of Arts (political science), Bachelor of Laws, and Master of Laws from the University of Queensland. He also has a Dispute Resolution Certificate from Bond University.

Rachel was called to the Private Bar in October 2023.

Prior to being called to the bar, Rachel:

• was employed as a solicitor at Legal Aid Queensland for some 7 years (criminal law and child protection);
• was an Associate to His Honour Judge Brendan Butler AM SC in the District Court in 2016; and
• lived in the Hague as part of the prosecution team for the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY).

She holds a Bachelor of Laws with First Class Honours and a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology and Criminology) from the University of Queensland. She was the winner of the University of Queensland Law Society Medal for Outstanding Achievement for her graduating class.

Rachel was also a finalist in the Women Lawyers Association of Queensland (WLAQ) Emergent Woman Lawyer of the Year Award in 2017.

Rachel accepts briefs in all areas of criminal law, domestic violence, family law and child protection as well as personal injuries and coronial inquests.  She also accepts briefs for applications in the Supreme Court pursuant to the Dangerous Prisoners (Sexual Offenders) Act (2003).

Rachel is experienced in representing some of the most vulnerable people in the State. In addition to her courtroom advocacy experience, Rachel has a particular interest in mental health law, having appeared in over one hundred Mental Health Review Tribunal hearings for Forensic Order reviews, treatment authority reviews, fitness for trial applications and electro-convulsive therapy applications, routinely involving the cross-examination of medical experts.

Rachel has also previously worked as a research assistant for the University of Queensland TC Beirne School of Law in the area of immigration and refugee law. Rachel has extensive advocacy experience. As counsel, she regularly runs criminal law jury trials and summary trials (unled) as well as family law trials and defended interim hearings, child protection trials and domestic violence hearings (all unled).

Jennifer was called to the Bar in 2016.

Jennifer has a broad civil practice with an emphasis on insurance and personal injuries law, including claims involving health law and medical negligence, workers’ compensation, historical abuse and dust diseases. She also practises in administrative, public and general commercial law.

Jennifer has appeared, both led and unled, in Federal and State courts (including appellate courts), as well as the Coroner’s Court, the Land Court and a range of tribunals. She has appeared in the High Court on applications for special leave and appeals.

She regularly represents insurers, government and statutory authorities, medical practitioners, allied health practitioners and other professionals in common law claims, as well as investigations and disciplinary proceedings.

Prior to commencing at the Bar, Jennifer was a solicitor at Minter Ellison and was Associate to His Honour Judge Rackemann.

Reimen is a barrister and nationally accredited mediator. He has a broad generalist practice which includes commercial litigation, administrative law, family law, property law, and human rights. He predominantly focuses on commercial and international disputes.

Before being called to the Bar, Reimen worked as an associate at a leading international insurance law firm. He has also worked as a lawyer at a boutique Brisbane commercial litigation firm, as a registrar of the Supreme Court of Tonga, at a top-tier national firm, as a judge’s associate, and as a legal officer at a UN-backed war crimes tribunal in Cambodia.

Reimen is a member of the Bar Association of Queensland’s human rights committee; he also a member of the Australian Lawyers for Human Right’s Queensland committee and Business & Human Rights subcommittee. He was awarded the Australian Young Lawyer of the Year in 2019 by the Law Council of Australia.

Reimen is also a member of the Asian Australian Lawyers Association.

William was called to the Bar in May 2023.

Prior to being called to the Bar, William worked:

• as an Associate at a top tier law firm (focusing on commercial and regulatory work for financial services clients), and
• as a Senior Legal Officer at the Australian Law Reform Commission (working on the Corporations and Financial Services Inquiry).

William has a broad civil practice, with a focus on commercial and regulatory matters. He appears in all State and Federal Courts and Tribunals.

Previously he has served as an Associate to the Hon. Justice Dowsett AM on the Federal Court of Australia, and before that to Commissioner Graeme Neate AM on the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission and Industrial Court of Queensland.

William holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) from the University of Queensland, a LLM in International Financial and Commercial Law from King’s College London, and a PhD in Law from the University of Queensland.

He was the recipient of the Holt Prize in 2021 for his PhD thesis, which has since been published as a book by The Federation Press.

Katrina practices predominantly in the areas of:

• estate and trust litigation (including contested probate, family provision, construction and rectification, statutory wills, informal wills, and breaches of trust);
• professional and medical negligence;
• public and product liability (including related insurance law matters of policy and contract interpretation, indemnity and contribution).

Katrina has been recognised in Doyle’s Guide as a Recommended Wills and Estates Litigation Junior Counsel Queensland in 2019 and 2020, and a Leading Wills and Estates Litigation Junior Counsel in 2021, 2022 and 2023.

She regularly appears in contested applications, trials, mediations and conferences. She is a member of Society for Trust and Estate Practitioners, the Australian Insurance Lawyers Association, and the Australian Society of Legal Philosophy.

Katrina holds undergraduate degrees in Law (Hons) and Psychological Science, an LLM (Applied Law), and a PhD in Law.

David is a commercial silk principally with interests in tax and revenue law as well as an established general Chancery practice.

David also regularly appears for parties in commercial and administrative law disputes involving issues ranging from commercial contracts to professional negligence; and company disputes to reviewing tax posture of large corporations.

David also appears in private client matters, about trusts and estates.

David has increasingly been involved in professional conduct matters, principally as a member of STEP’s disciplinary panel.

Details of the matters David has been involved in can be reviewed on his personal website.

While chambers are in Brisbane, Australia he accepts instructions to appear and acts for clients in all Australian jurisdictions.

Prior to being called to the Bar, David worked at a solicitors’ firm for 10 years in the area of tax law. David was called to the private Bar in 2000 and took silk in 2015.

David has developed a particular practice in accepting instructions for opinion briefs from accountants who are members of the major professional associations.

David has been consistently recognised in Doyle’s Guide as:

• Leading Wills and Estates Litigation Senior Counsel – Australia 2021
• Leading Wills and Estates Litigation Senior Counsel – Queensland 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023
• Leading (Preeminent) Taxation Barrister (Senior Counsel)– Queensland 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023

Kelly is a Barrister and Nationally Accredited Mediator (NMAS) with broad public law and commercial law experience.

Kelly also has attained Member status with the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.

She practices primarily in the areas of energy, resources and environmental law; administrative law; and personal injuries.  Kelly has a particular interest in Arbitration (both International and Domestic).

Prior to her commencing practice as a barrister in Brisbane, Kelly worked in the building and construction team at a well-respected Queensland firm before moving to the energy and resource sections of two national firms.  She has also held a role as in-house legal counsel for a major railway turnkey provider.

Her experience covers both front-end and back-end work, having been involved in every aspect of resource and infrastructure project development from the proposal stage through to funding, development, production, completion and rehabilitation. She has had involvement with contentious and non-contentious carriage matters and advising on continental sea bed issues relating to pipeline construction and off-shore sustainable energy projects. Kelly has also been involved in a number of product liability class actions.

Kelly has a developing insurance and personal injury practice.

She holds undergraduate degrees in Law and Commerce; and a Masters of International Trade Law (Maritime).

She is on the editorial panel of the LexisNexis Australian Alternative Dispute Resolution Law Bulletin and holds a statutory appointment as a General Referee on the Building and Development Dispute Resolution Committee, hearing appeals in respect of the Building Act and the Sustainable Planning Act.

Kelly regularly speaks at conferences and events across Queensland on topics relating to her areas of practice.

Ms Deanna Musumeci was called to the Queensland Bar in October 2021.

Previously, Deanna practiced as a solicitor for 8 years in Townsville with a particular practice interest in Family Law and Commercial Litigation.

Deanna has acted in complex Family Law and Commercial Litigation matters involving:

• The interpretation and enforcement of a Deed of Family Arrangement;
• Acting for third party intervenors in a family law property dispute involving issue of trust, debts and gifts;
• Acting for a legally aid funded respondent mother in relation to parenting and access issues involving complicated social issues such as drugs, alcohol, neglect and abuse.

Deanna, in addition to a busy private practice, is passionate about social justice and volunteers her time to various social justice institutions such as:

• Townsville Community Law; and
• North Queensland Women’s Legal Service.

Other relevant affiliations and positions held by Deanna are:

• Townsville Hospital Ethic Committee;
• Townsville District Law Association Committee Member; and
• North Queensland District Law Association Committee member.

Mr Ryan Nattrass is a barrister first called to the Queensland Bar in May 2022.

Ryan predominantly practises in commercial litigation, insurance, and administrative and public law. Ryan maintains a broad practice but has particular experience in matters relating to judicial and merits review, professional liability (including civil claims, regulatory proceedings, and insurance coverage), and health (including inquests and inquiries, and matters involving the parens patriae jurisdiction).

Prior to coming to the Bar, Ryan practised as a solicitor in national firms in Australia and the United Kingdom, and also as a financial lines claims manager for one of the world’s largest insurance intermediaries. Ryan has a collaborative and pragmatic approach to litigation.

In addition to private work, Ryan is a member of LawRight and the Caxton Legal Centre. Ryan is also a sessional academic at the QUT Law School.

Shane was called to the Bar in May 2023.

Prior to coming to the Bar, Shane practiced as a Commerical Law solicitor in top tier firms in Australia and the United Kingdom.

Shane has a broad commercial practice and accepts briefs in number of sectors including:

• Mining
• Gas
• Defence
• Government
• Banking
• Energy
• Telecommunications
• Manufacturing and
• Professional Services

He also has Class Action, International Arbitration, Expert Determination, and Royal Commission experience.

Shane also has experience in professional negligence, historical sexual abuse claims, and succession.

More details are available on Shane’s own website.

Joshua was called to the Bar in 2020, following more than eight years practice as a lawyer in senior positions (including Principal) in the Litigation Branch of the Queensland Department of Environment and Science.

Joshua has a keen interest in the areas of white-collar and regulatory crime and administrative law, specifically judicial and merits review, having developed significant expertise in these areas throughout his career.  In this space, Joshua’s deep insight into in-house Government regulatory authorities, and their processes, places him in a unique position to achieve successful outcomes, both negotiated and in Court, for government and private clients.

Since coming to the Bar, Joshua has maintained a broad Public Law and Commercial practice as well as regularly taking briefs in Judicial and Merits reviews, Criminal & Quasi-Criminal, Planning and Environment, Land and Property, and Commercial matters, often with a significant Public Law aspect.  Joshua regularly advises and appears for government and private sector clients across all Queensland and Federal jurisdictions.

In Public law recent experience includes:

• Acting for the former Public Trustee of Queensland against the Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission in a successful appeal in the Queensland Court of Appeal and the High Court of Australia.
• Acting for Agforce Queensland in a Judicial review against a decision by the Federal Minister for the Environment.
• Acting for the State of Queensland in Judicial review proceedings that sought to challenge the Covid-19 ‘High-risk setting’ directive.
• Advising the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation on matters involving the recent inquiry into the Star Casino operations in Queensland.
• Acting for private clients challenging a directive under the National Health Act 1953 (Cth) in the Federal Court (now the subject of a Full Federal Court Appeal).
• Acting for private clients in disciplinary matters against the QBCC in the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
• Acting for private and government clients in the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal in human rights, anti-discrimination, and merit review of administrative decisions, including state taxation, firearms, and building certification matters.
• Acting for Government clients in the Queensland Civil and Administrative Appeal Tribunal in appeals against merits review decisions.
• Acting for and advising Government Departments and private clients in the Land Court in relation to valuation disputes, mining objections, and merits reviews under the Environmental Protection Act 1994 (Qld).
• Acting for and advising Government Departments and private clients in the Planning and Environment Court in relation to merits reviews under the Environmental Protection Act 1994 (Qld).
• Advising a statutory authority on specific questions arising from the interaction between its licensing regime and the Human Rights Act 2019 (Qld).
• Advising Local Councils in relation to Native Title Claims.
• Advising a private client on options for challenging a development approval under a local planning scheme in circumstances where the matter of the approval was attended with an error of law.
• Advising various State Government Departments, Agencies, and private clients on statutory construction emanating from various Queensland and Federal enactments.

In Civil disputes recent experience includes:

• Acting for and advising a large pastoral client in a successful Supreme Court application regarding the interpretation of a ‘give and take’ agreement and ss 53 and 55 of the Property Law Act 1975 (Qld) and successfully resisting an Appeal to the Queensland Court of Appeal.
• Acting for a private client in a large civil action regarding building certification works undertaken on a childcare centre.
• Acting for the State of Queensland in a malicious prosecution and misfeasance in public office action against the State of Queensland and others.
• Acting for and advised private clients in property matters involving beneficial equitable interests in property including seeking declarations for constructive trusts.
• Acting for a private client in a simple private nuisance and trespass to land claim involving over-excavating land.
• Acting for a de facto partner of a deceased in a family provision application in the Supreme Court of Queensland.
• Acting for a private client in a complicated failed joint venture claim involving the operation of a regional hotel.

In Criminal and Quasi-Criminal Law recent experience includes:

• Acting as a prosecutor for the Crown in a large complex indictable prosecution for offences under the Environmental Protection Act 1994 (Qld).
• Acting as a prosecutor for the Queensland Fire and Emergency Service (QFES) in a summary trial for 19 offences under the Fire and Emergency Services Act 1990 (Qld) and the Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008 (Qld).
• Acting for police officer defendants against private prosecutions brought under the Justices Act 1886 (Qld), successfully having those matters struck out or permanently stayed.
• Acting for police officer defendants in an appeal to the Supreme Court from the decisions of the Magistrates Court to strike out complaints and successfully resisting that appeal.
• Acting for QFES as the respondent to an appeal against conviction under s 222 of the Justices Act 1886 (Qld) in the District Court and successfully resisting the appeal.
• Advised government and private clients on matters of regulatory compliance in relation to the Planning Act 2016 (Qld), Environmental Protection Act 1994 (Qld), and Building Act 1975 (Qld).
• Acting for a private client in negotiating a successful outcome regarding significant environmental non-compliance to avoid prosecution.
• Acting for a private commercial entity defending a development offence under the Planning Act.

Caitlin was called to the bar in 2023.

Prior to coming to the bar, Caitlin worked as a solicitor in private practice and held various government positions including:

• General Counsel, Queensland Ombudsman
• Senior Lawyer, Crime and Corruption Commission
• Legal Officer/Solicitor, Tenants’ Union of Queensland

Caitlin also has an interest in Sports Law and holds the following external positions:

• Member of the Selection Committee for Athletics Australia – National Teams
• Panel Member for the AFL Queensland Tribunal
• Listed on the National Sports Tribunal Legal Assistance Panel

She has a unique perspective as a sports lawyer having previously pursued a career in athletics.

Andrew conducts a diverse practice as a barrister with his base in Brisbane.  He was admitted to the bar on 15 May 1989 and has advised or acted in proceedings on behalf of and against the Commonwealth, the State of Queensland and its executive arms, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representative bodies, corporations and individuals.  He has appeared in the High Court, Full Federal Court, Federal Court, Federal Circuit Court, Queensland Court of Appeal, Supreme Court of Queensland, District Court, Land Court, Magistrates Court and in the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

Andrew has previously worked, in his capacity as a barrister, in various areas of the Crown Solicitors Office working in the Crown Law Office in various areas including general litigation and general advocacy appearing for the Crown in a range of matters including coronial inquiries, statutory compliance and enforcement prosecutions across a range of legislation, mental health appeals, professional disciplinary proceedings and child protection.

During this time he was seconded to the Commission of Inquiry into Possible Illegal activities and Associated Police Misconduct (Fitzgerald Inquiry).  Andrew also worked in the Policy and Legislation arm of the Department of Justice and Attorney-General as a Ministerial adviser and then on various amendments to the Criminal Code and Serious Violent Offenders legislation. He became the Executive Legal Consultant of the Native Title Law Branch before departing to work as the Principal Legal Officer for an Aboriginal Land Council.  He commenced practice at the private Bar in 2000.

Between February 2014 and March 2016, Andrew was admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Solomon Islands and appeared at trial and on appeal for the tribal groups of Isabel successfully overturning a the registration of Torrens system title in a large mining corporation and having the land back placed in the hands of its traditional owners.

Andrew has been consistently recognised in Doyles Guide as a leading Native Title Junior Counsel – Australiawide since 2012.  Most recently he has been recognised in the 2022 rankings.

Peter was admitted to the profession in 2014 and called to the bar in 2020. He has a broad practice with a focus on commercial and civil matters. His primary practice areas include commercial litigation, contract, building and construction, property, insolvency, corporations, trade practices, estates and trusts, regulatory, professional negligence and insurance.

Prior to being called to the Bar, Peter worked in a boutique commercial litigation firm and in a national insurance litigation firm. He was also an Associate to the Honourable Justice Debra A Mullins of the Supreme Court of Queensland and was the research assistant to the Dean of the Griffith Law School.

Peter holds a Bachelor of Laws with Honours and a Bachelor of Psychological Science.

Peter accepts briefs as a mediator.

He is also a member of Hemmant’s List and the Hellenic Australian Lawyers Association.

David Schneidewin commenced private practice as a barrister in Brisbane in 2003.

Prior to that he was a solicitor for 8 years and a partner of a leading boutique insurance practice in Brisbane.

He holds an LLB from the University of Queensland.

He practices predominately in health law (litigation, regulatory and advisory), general insurance (including other professional indemnity matters) and has a comprehensive background in all personal injuries litigation. He also practices in administrative law.

He regularly and usually appears without leaders in the State District and Supreme Courts as well as the Coroners Court and other tribunals (QCAT).

In the health law area he has comprehensive experience in representing hospitals (including public and private hospitals throughout the State , as well as an international hospital), medical practitioners (general and specialists) on instructions through most medical defence organisations (MDOs), nursing homes and community nursing organisations, as well as other health care providers (for example radiologists) and allied health care providers (including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, chiropractors, podiatrists, pharmacists and paramedics) in a variety of civil proceedings, administrative proceedings including disciplinary proceedings (QCAT), as well as at coronial inquests.

David has significant experience in cases investigating the causes of and contributing factors to incidents of Stroke.

In the general insurance area, he has consistently maintained a solid practice acting for a variety of private insurers in public liability and professional indemnity matters. His general insurance practice also has a particular focus on matters involving local government and public authorities.

He is experienced in trial advocacy and appellate advocacy and regularly appears at mediations.

He has also acted as mediator in health law and general insurance matters.

David regularly acts for clients in the Northern Territory and he is Visiting Counsel at William Forster Chambers, NT.

Richard has more than 23 years experience as a commercial barrister and specialises in administrative law, corporations law, superannuation, and tax.

He is highly experienced in tax and superannuation litigation and regularly appears in the Federal Court and AAT.

In tax, he advises and litigates in respect of all aspects of revenue law (including income tax, capital gains, GST, and judicial review of decisions).  Richard acts for taxpayers in respect of “front end” tax advice, advising in respect of audits, interviews, negotiations, and to advise and settling tax objections and private ruling applications through to litigious matters. Increasingly, he appears and advises with the assistance of a junior.

Richard also accepts direct briefs from accounting firms.

In superannuation, he advises and litigates on behalf of fund trustees and members in respect of regulatory matters and appeals, which includes the performance or discharge of obligations and powers and the conduct of investigations by or proceedings initiated by a regulator.

Richard advises trustees and investors of the legal issues confronting the SMSF market and its funding.

Recent matters that Richard has been involved in include:

• Acting on behalf of taxpayers in tax appeals in the Federal Court and the AAT.
• Advising on the federal and state revenue, Corporations Act, and Superannuation compliance of certain investment products.
• Advising on the interplay between State superannuation products and Federal superannuation.
• Advising on the superannuation law aspects of a Family Law and third party settlement arrangement.
• Advising on objections and appeals in respect of state revenue matters.
• Advising on Federal pension schemes.
• Acting and advising in relation to Part IVA litigation, NALI litigation, and group consolidation.
• Advising on the prospects of success of an objection concerning the interplay between superannuation and income tax.
• Advising on the interplay between superannuation and income tax;
• Advising on stay of review proceedings where the applicant is charged with numerous criminal offences;
• Appearing in interlocutory proceedings (interlocutory injunction, subpoenas, discovery) concerning a large tax liability matter;
• Advising superannuation trustees on and appearing at appeals from the Superannuation Complaints Tribunal;
• Appearing on review and appeal of income tax assessments for self -managed superannuation fund transactions;
• Appearing in judicial review (and subsequent successful summary judgment) of various tax estimates;
• Appearing on review of income tax assessments based on fraud and evasion, involving significant cross-examination (of 32 witnesses);
• Appearing in State court appeals in respect of tax recovery matters.
• Appearing in appeals from the AAT to the Federal Court.

Richard has also been recognised in Doyle’s Guide as a Leading Tax Barrister (Queensland) in 2020, 2021, 2022, and again in 2023.

Richard is also a commercial litigator and mediator.

Richard holds a Bachelor of Laws, a Bachelor of Civil Law, and a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Durham. 

Bianca Stringer is a barrister was called to the Bar in Queensland in October 2022, advancing a career focused in the areas of Health Law, Regulatory Proceedings, and Public and Administration Law.

Prior to coming to the Bar, Bianca:

• Was an Associate in a large National Law Firm (Health Law and Policy and Commercial Litigation divisions);
• Was an Associate (to the Tribunal Deputy Presidents and Senior Members of the General Division) in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal;
• Held senior leadership positions in the Australia Health Practitioner Regulation Agency including in the registration and compliance divisions;
• Was a Senior Registration Officer of the Office of the Medical Board of Queensland; and
• Was a Senior Trust Officer with the Public Trustee of Queensland.

Bianca’s primary areas of interest are:

• Health Law including disciplinary proceedings/regulatory tribunals;
• Inquests & Inquiries;
• Medical Negligence as well as general Personal Injuries;
• Public and Administrative Law;
• Institutional Abuse Claims; and
• Statutory Investigations.

Bianca is also building a practice in Employment and Industrial Law.

Bianca holds a Statutory Board appointment; and undertakes pro bono work, including acting for families in Coronial Inquests through Caxton Legal Centre.

As a solicitor, Jessica gained vast experience working in Brisbane firms representing clients in matters relating to traffic, criminal, child protection, domestic and family violence, parenting, property and divorce.

Prior to her call to the Bar, Jessica was employed by Legal Aid Queensland as a Senior Family Lawyer and Independent Children’s Lawyer.

Jessica is available to be briefed in all matters relating to family breakdown including: representing clients in mediation, parenting arrangements, property settlement, interim and final hearings, advices and contravention proceedings.

Jason was called to the Bar in 2022, having previously held legal and financial roles across Australia, Hong Kong, and the United Kingdom. Jason holds an MSc in Law and Finance from the University of Oxford, where he won the MLF Prize for Best Overall Performance, and a Bachelors of Law and Commerce from The University of Queensland, where he teaches corporate law.

Jason has a broad commercial and civil practice and has represented lenders, private companies, and individuals in the Supreme Court of Queensland and the Federal Court of Australia. He has advised on cases in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and New Zealand, including:

•  Representing a private lender to establish the validity of charging clauses pursuant to a loan agreement, arguing that the clauses were not ‘unfair’ as defined in the 2023 ASIC Act reforms;
• Representing an aggrieved company to obtain a freezing order over the assets of a director who misappropriated funds, arguing that the director’s conduct constituted a breach of directors’ duties in the Corporations Act;
• Representing a building company to obtain an injunction and account of profits for breach of copyright by a former employee;
• Representing a pharmaceutical company to hold an accountancy firm liable for vicarious liability, where the firm’s partner had breached fiduciary duties to the company;
• Representing a judgment creditor to enforce a judgment by way of a charging order over shares;
• Representing a former prisoner subject to supervision under the DPSO Act, arguing that supervision orders imposed were in contravention of the Human Rights Act and that the client was not afforded natural justice.

Jason speaks fluent Mandarin Chinese and is a nationally accredited mediator.

Michael practises nationally in taxation law and related areas including commercial, corporations, public, property, superannuation and trust law.

He has practised in taxation law for 10 years, initially as a solicitor at Allens and Herbert Smith Freehills and then at the Bar.

His practice focuses on the conduct of tax audits and disputes, including advising on the audit process, preparation of position papers, settlement negotiations and the conduct of litigation, as well as providing advice on a broad range of taxation issues. He has appeared in the Federal Court and High Court and has assisted in all aspects of the conduct of disputes.

He is a member of the Bar Association of Queensland’s Taxation Law Committee, the Australian Bar Association’s Taxation Committee and is Deputy Chair of the Tax Institute’s Dispute Resolution Technical Committee.

He has postgraduate qualifications in law, tax and international tax and is currently undertaking a doctorate in corporate and international tax part-time at the University of Melbourne.

He is also a reporter for the Australian Tax Reports and Commonwealth Law Reports.