Law ‘isn’t an easy career’

QLS President Rebecca Fogerty thanked and presented pins to more than 20 practitioners at the recent Brisbane CRS event. Photos: Event Photos

An achievement of 25 and 50 years in the profession “is made more profound when we remember that law isn’t an easy career”, Queensland Law Society President Rebecca Fogerty said to senior lawyers attending this month’s Brisbane Celebrate Recognise Socialise event.

Since the 1950s, QLS has honoured the contributions of practitioners who have achieved 25 and 50 years of cumulative membership. On 6 November, 85 solicitors were acknowledged for reaching these milestones at Customs House in Brisbane.

As for those who attended this year’s CRS event, Rebecca spoke of the admiration she felt them as they faced a “barrage of stressors” during their careers.

“But despite all of the challenges associated with contemporary lawyering, and a chronically underfunded justice system, the longevity of some of the practitioners in this room clearly suggests that its not all bad,” she said.

“I think that part of that must be because, despite all the challenges, law is a career capable of bringing depth and richness and purpose to those who practice it. 

“It is partly borne of the fact that we are a profession, and that one of our finest traditions is that we are a collective and we have a public role that is crystalised by our duty to serve the courts and justice. 

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“Regardless of the precise differences in the contours of our careers, or practice areas, or aspirations, we can take pride in the fact that we are part of a collective endeavour, a project of justice, that is the sum of individual contributions. 

“Thank you for your precious contributions which extend well beyond the day job of law – as active contributors in your communities, serving in school, sporting organisations, charities, promoting events, volunteering – giving back in ways that have a profound impact.  By engaging with your community, meaningfully and joyfully, you stand as a pillar, and through that justice become accessible to all.

“Tonight I want to honour all of you, with your resilience, skill, professionalism, commitment to ethics and heart. I want to thank you all for upholding the values of our profession, and participating in our local community, and fundamentally, for making a difference.”

Twenty-five-year memberships pin were awarded in person to the following practitioners (as well as Peter Shields, Yvonne Day and Alison Ross as previously reported in Proctor):


Kate Avery

Kate has been the Legal Practitioner Director at Kare Lawyers in Brisbane for the past eight years. She has been an Accredited Specialist in Personal Injuries Law since 2005 and has been a member of the Personal Injuries Specialist Accreditation Advisory Committee since 2013. Kate is also a member of the Queensland Law Society’s Innovation Committee.


Sonya Black

Sonya is the Legal Team Manager, Workplace Law at Avant Law. Sonya has been with Avant since 2012.

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Sonya advises members and medical practices across Australia about a broad range of employment and workplace issues in the public and private sectors. She provides practical and common-sense solutions to workplace concerns to minimise disputes.


Peta Collins

Admitted as a solicitor in 1999, Peta is currently Special Counsel at HBM Layers and holds a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Laws.

She joined HBM Lawyers in 2008. Before joining, Peta spent 10 years in personal injury litigation.

Peta served as Treasurer for the Association for Women in Insurance (Qld) Inc. from 2002 to 2005, supporting the professional development of women in the insurance industry.


Ben Coogan       

Ben is a Partner at Thomson Geer and leads the Intellectual Property and Technology team. He holds a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws (Hons) as well as a Master of Laws (LLM) in Intellectual Property Law from QUT. Ben serves on the AFL Queensland Tribunal, volunteering as a tribunal member.

Ben is an active volunteer with MultiLink Community Services Inc., currently serving as board secretary and previously a committee member.

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He has also been involved with Queensland Law Society, previously serving on the Privacy, Data, Technology, and Intellectual Property Committee, and as Deputy Chair of the Technology and Intellectual Property Committee.


Phillip Dare

Philip completed a Bachelor of Economics in 1984 and a Bachelor of Arts in 1988, both from the University of Queensland. Before entering the legal profession, Philip worked for a bank, an insurance company, as a journalist, and spent two years on a working holiday in London.

In 1997, he graduated with a Bachelor of Laws and a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice from QUT. Philip is the Principal of Dare Lawyers working in the area of wills, estates and family law.


Lachlan Davidson

Lachlan joined Garda Property Group in January 2014 as General Counsel and Company Secretary.

Before joining Garda, he served as General Counsel at Golding Contractors from 2011 to 2013, where he led the legal team for one of Australia’s largest civil and mining contractors.

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Lachlan began his legal career at Minter Ellison in Brisbane, where he worked as a lawyer from 1994 to 1998 before relocating to London until 2004.

In addition to his law degree, Lachlan has a Bachelor of Science in Genetics and Biochemistry, and an MBA.


Rhys Evans

Rhys earned his LLB in Law from Bond University and has been Principal at Real Time Law since 2012. He has worked in a variety of in-house and private practice roles including at CSG Limited, Bank of Queensland and Minter Ellison.

Rhys also serves as an Honorary Solicitor for the Coomera Cutters Junior Rugby League Club.


Sarah Flower

Sarah completed her Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts at the University of Queensland and holds a Master of Applied Law (Family Law) from the College of Law.

She is an Accredited Specialist in Family Law.


Samantha Hall       

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Samantha completed her Bachelor of Laws with Honours at QUT in 1996 and a Masters in Environmental Resources Law in 1999.

She began her career in private practice at Corrs Chambers Westgarth and Herbert Geer making Partner before joining Colin Biggers & Paisley in 2013 as Partner.

In 2016, she moved in-house to become the General Counsel for Ausbuild Pty Ltd.


Jennifer Hetherington

Jennifer obtained her Bachelor of Laws from The University of Queensland, graduating in 1997 and completed Master of Laws in Family Law Mediation at La Trobe University in 2014.

She is currently the Managing Director and an Accredited Specialist in Family Law at Divorce Hub.

She began her career as a solicitor in Family Law at Hartley Family Law Services and later worked at Emerson Black and Robbins Watson Solicitors.

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Jennifer has also held positions such as former Councillor of the Queensland Law Society, former committee member of the Family Law Practitioners Association, and former member of the Queensland Law Society Specialist Accreditation Board.

In terms of volunteering and charity work, she served as the past Chair of Mummy’s Wish, a charity providing practical support to mothers undergoing cancer treatment, and has volunteered with the Women’s Legal Service.


Tim Jones

Tim earnt his law degree from Bond University, graduating in 1996.

He began his legal career at Clayton Utz, before a stint in New York working as an Associate at Shearman & Sterling.

Tim returned to Clayton Utz in 2002, serving as a Senior Associate and later as Special Counsel until 2007.

He then took on a General Counsel role at Parmac Property Group before returning to Clayton Utz again in 2010, when he was appointed Partner.


Michael Kleinschmidt

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Michael has specialised in strata law for over 20 years, having been admitted in 1999. 

He established his own firm, Stratum Legal on the Sunshine Coast, and in 2023, joined with Bugden Allen, bringing his team on board as part of the Queensland team.

He is a Fellow of the Australian College of Strata Lawyers and currently serves on the Council of the ACSL.

Additionally, Michael is a member of the Legal Panel of the Australian Resident Accommodation Managers Association in Queensland.

He has been a long-time member of Strata Community Australia (Queensland) and is presently a member of the Professional Standards Committee.

Michael holds both a Bachelor and Master of Laws from the University of Queensland, as well as a Graduate Diploma in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of New England.


Peter Kuskie

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Peter completed his Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws at The University of Queensland, graduating in 1993.

He is currently Partner at Rostron Carlyle Rojas Lawyers. Before his current role he held the position of Director at Kuskie Legal, between 2010 and 2018.


Nicole Lloyd

Nicole was admitted as a solicitor in 1998, following the completion of her Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice from Queensland University of Technology.

She began her career at Fox & Thomas in 1999, before joining Nicol Robinson Halletts in March 2000, where she continued until July 2003.

From September 2003 to August 2009, she worked with Blair Group. In September 2009, Nicole started with Reds Legal, where she remains a current Legal Practitioner Director.


David Madsen       

David holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from The University of Auckland, where he completed his studies in 1987. In 2005, he founded Madsen Law Solicitors and continues to be the  Principal Solicitor.

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David is also a Queensland Law Society Accredited Specialist in Family Law.


David Rodighiero

David is Partner at Carter Newell and was admitted in 1996.

He is a registered Adjudicator and an accredited Mediator In addition to his Law degree, David has a Masters of Law (Commercial) and a Bachelor of Information Technology.


Ganesh Selva

Ganesh is Special Counsel at Sciaccas Lawyers having joined the form as an articled clerk in 1998 and was admitted to practice in Queensland in 1999.

He holds a Bachelor of Business and Bachelor of Laws. Ganesh is a member of the Australian Lawyers’ Alliance.


Ernest van Buuren

Ernest completed his law degree at QUT and holds a Master of Laws in Admiralty from Tulane University Law School. He began his career at BHP and ASP Ship Management before transitioning into law.

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Ernest served as a Solicitor at King & Wood Mallesons from 1993 to 1996 and then as a Senior Associate until 1998.

He spent seven years at Blake Dawson, first as a Senior Associate and then as a Partner from 2005 to 2011. Before his current role, Ernest was a Partner at Norton Rose Fulbright from 2011 to 2019.

He joined Clyde & Co as a Partner in December 2019, focusing on Transport and Shipping.


Peter Vilaysack

Peter has a Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws from James Cook University graduating in 1997.

He is currently Director at PV Legal. Before his most recent appointment in 2023, he was Director of Law in Private Client Services at EY from 2013 to 2022.

Before joining EY, Peter worked as a Senior Associate at McCullough Robertson from 2004 to 2012.

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In addition to his legal qualifications, he also has a Post Graduate Diploma in Advanced Taxation from UNSW. He is recognised as an Accredited Specialist by the SMSF Association and holds the designation of Chartered Tax Advisor from The Tax Institute.


Troy Webb   

Troy completed a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Commerce at James Cook University, graduating in 1997. He then furthered his education with a Master of Laws from Queensland University of Technology, completing it in 2002.

He commenced his legal career at MacDonnells Law in 1999 as a solicitor, before moving to McCullough Robertson.

Troy joined McCullough Robertson in 2002, where he has since held various positions including Senior Associate, Special Counsel, and is now a Partner in the Planning and Environment Group.

He has been a member of the Management Committee of the Queensland Environmental Law Association since 2007 and served as President from 2012 to 2014.


Susan Woolley

Susan was admitted in 1997 after completing her Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Science at the University of Queensland, followed by a Master of Laws from Queensland University of Technology.

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She started her career at Attwood Marshall in 1995, where she worked in multiple roles until 2004.

Susan joined Small Myers Hughes as a Senior Associate in January 2005, continuing until September 2018. In May 2021, she joined Avant Law as Senior Associate.

Peter Sheehy received a gold pin for 50 years’ membership on the night.

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