Surveying his career options

The saying “mother knows best” rang true for Steindls Lawyers and Notary Partner Warren Boston.

The Gold Coast solicitor was one of three solicitors recognised for 50 years in the profession at the Queensland Law Society Celebrate Recognise Socialise Event last night.

However it was not his idea to enter the law, he’s owes that career decision to a declaration by his late mother.

“Unfortunately, I can’t take any credit for the decision to practise law,” Warren said. “I had been thinking of becoming a surveyor, a role I was somewhat familiar with as both my father and uncle were in the building trade.

“My dear late mother however, had other ideas and announced I would become the first solicitor in the family, despite the fact I had absolutely no knowledge of just what a solicitor did.”

Warren was duly admitted on 5 February 1974, after serving articles under Clarence Pattison of Pattison and Barry, and Clive Wyman of Wyman and Cummings.

“Just before admission, I joined the firm Wilson Taylor and Bradley, on the proviso I was allowed to go on a European holiday I had already booked for a few months hence,” he said.

“On my return, I was informed we were to merge with Steindl and Company. Tony Steindl was the founder of that firm and had been pressuring Tony Bradley, who was his son-in-law, to join for some time. In reality therefore, I have only been with the one firm since admission.

“After only months in the Brisbane office, I was asked to move to the Gold Coast office on the basis of being appointed a junior partner. This entailed me having a close professional relationship with my mentor Tony Steindl until his retirement in his eighties.

“Ultimately, in December 1979, I took on an articled clerk, Gerry Epstein, and in late 1980 my younger brother Robert as a solicitor, both of whom became partners in the firm.

“We must have been doing something right, as Gerry is still practising with me after 44 years, and my brother retired in 2022 after 42 years to a hobby farm at Mt Warning, where he says he is working harder than ever.”

That successful partnership and family love of the law has kept Warren going over the decades.

“I’m often asked when I will retire, but I always respond that while I still enjoy the practice of law, I will continue.

“I take comfort and cite as an example, one of my major clients who is still actively running his property development and shopping centre business at 89 years of age. We have a pact that one of us will inform the other if we begin to show signs of ‘losing it’.

“I’m proud to have achieved this milestone relatively unscathed, so to speak, and still with soundness of mind (even if I do say so myself) and health.”

Fifty-year membership pins are also being awarded to sole practitioner William “Bill” Millican and Collas Moro Ross consultant Gino Moro.

Gino also received honorary QLS membership in March this year with more than 40 years of experience as a legal practitioner on the Gold Coast. He is also an Accredited Property Law Specialist.

Gino has expertise in business law, commercial litigation, property, and land law including town planning, subdivisions, and developments.​

He completed his Bachelor of Laws at Queensland University and joined Collas Moro Ross soon after in 1973. He became a partner in 1977.

​Gino is a past President of the Gold Coast Law Association and Member of the Law Council of Australia.

Business and sports consultant, Bill is a racing enthusiast and has extensive racing appeals tribunal experience. His firm is based at Varsity Lakes.