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Dual accredited specialist solicitor named 2021 outstanding achiever

QLS President Elizabeth Shearer, 2021 Outstanding Accredited Specialist Zinta Harris and Chief Justice Catherine Holmes AC. Photo: Jon / Event Photos Australia.

A leading solicitor accredited to specialise in two separate fields of the law was today announced as Queensland Law Society’s 2021 Outstanding Accredited Specialist.

Brisbane-based boutique Resolve Estate Law owner Zinta Harris was presented with the award by Queensland Chief Justice Catherine Holmes AC during a breakfast attended by about 200 specialist practitioners at Brisbane City Hall.

QLS President Elizabeth Shearer, in announcing the award, said Ms Harris gained her specialisation in business law in 2006 and in succession law in 2007.

“Zinta is the only solicitor in Queensland with a dual specialist accreditation in succession law and business law,” Ms Shearer said.

“Her dedication to specialisation is evident not just from that, but the fact that she sat the exam in succession law when seven months pregnant on her birthday.”

Ms Shearer said Ms Harris’s vision to see collaborative law – a concept known to family lawyers – operating in the succession law space has been realised by her hard work to explain, train and deploy the concept.

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The breakfast also acknowledged the 2021’s class of Specialist Accreditation graduates, with Chief Justice Holmes presenting certificates to 12 Family Law and one Commercial Litigation graduates.


The 2021 class of Specialist Accreditation graduates, with QLS President Elizabeth Shearer and Chief Justice Catherine Holmes AC.

The Family Law graduates are Joanne Bragg, Stephanie Brown, Kate Cherry, Hannah Daley, Asha Egan, Justin Hine, Belinda Jeffrey (unable to attend), Olivia Jennar-Bryant, Jillian Johnstone, Kate Palmer, Emma Williams and Caitlin Wilson (who was also the class highest achiever). The Commercial Litigation graduate and highest achiever was Timothy Edwards.

Ms Shearer said Queensland currently had 498 accredited specialists.

“This represents fewer than four percent of our 13,788 solicitors,” she said. “You are, indeed, an elite group. You demonstrate your ongoing commitment to your specialist practice by meeting your additional professional development requirements each year, and Queensland Law Society is proud to hold you out as specialists accredited in your field.”

The 11 areas of specialist accreditation include business law, commercial litigation, criminal law, family law, immigration law, mediation, personal injuries, property, succession, tax and workplace relations.

Also recognised during the ceremony was the first class to graduate with QLS specialist accreditation 25 years ago, with almost half of that class in attendance at the breakfast.

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The class of 1996 – all family lawyers – to attend included Tony Black, Bruce Doyle, Mike Emerson, Lyn Galvin, Brett Hartley, Malcolm Heading, Trish Keyworth, Stephen Page, Tony Phillips, Stephen Rees, Michele Sheehan and Geoff Wilson.

Ms Shearer also acknowledged those unable to attend, including Shila Batenburg, Julie Harrington, Edward Lago, Wendy Lehmann, Michael Lynch, Don MacPherson, David Mitchell, Terry Newman OAM, Kay Rhodes, Rhonda Sheehy, Mark Shera, Geoff Sinclair and Michael Small.

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