Long-time Toowoomba solicitor Tom Sullivan says he is “not easily shocked”, but he was “blown away” when presented with life membership to the Downs and South West Queensland Law Association last week.
Also, a former Queensland Law Society President, Tom was honoured at the annual DSWQLA Cocktail Party, also attended by His Honour Chief Judge Devereaux SC, His Honour Judge Power KC, Acting Magistrate Ryan, QLS President Genevieve Dee and QLS Vice President Peter Jolly on 27 March.
Tom during his QLS presidency (2002-2003).
“I am greatly honoured by the life membership, and it was very special to celebrate what I have achieved,” he said, noting his wife had quickly posted the achievement on Facebook.
“I was quite blown away with such a big, fancy show and having the Chief Judge and QLS President there.
“Law has been my whole life and I’ve made the best of it.”
Tom’s commitment to the Downs started back on 1 August 1979, when he joined Lionel Davidson and established Davidson & Sullivan in Toowoomba. He recalled that Lionel, a more senior practitioner, approached him to establish the partnership and his first client remained with him until he retired in 2021.
“The Monday after I retired on 30 June 2021, a client of mine for the past 30 to 40 years, approached me on a matter and I said they would have to find somebody else as I had retired,” Tom said. “And they might be better than me, so give it a go!”
Not only was Tom committed to his clients and the partnership but also to the DSWQLA committee and QLS committee for many years. He recalls the DSWQLA being a small group back in the nineties and is most impressed by the current committee and President Alysha Jacobsen who Tom describes as “a real dynamo”.
Tom is one of only a handful regional practitioners from the region to have held the QLS presidency as well, along with his predecessor George Fox and Dalby practitioner Justin O’Sullivan.
“A few of my mates have been very taken with that,” he said. “It is a big thing and the greatest honour of my life. At Past President Dinners, I have a great time and say that this honour will live with them all their lives.”
He jokes that he was a “hand-me-down” QLS president as his partner Lionel was approached to run for the position.
“Lionel told George ‘Get Tom, he’s younger than me’.” Tom ran unopposed in 2002 and travelled to Brisbane regularly. He is proud of the fact that the firm has always been a Society member.
Genevieve said it was a pleasure to be able to attend the cocktail party and celebrate Tom’s achievements through his lengthy career in law.
“The importance of Tom’s leadership through the difficult days of legal profession reform in the early 2000s, cannot be overstated,” she said.
“His efforts with government and a hostile media demonstrated a deep connection and care for our profession. As a result of Tom’s efforts, we are stronger today and critically, still set our own professional standards.
“Tom also launched Lawlink in 2003, to unite First Nations students and practice in law. This was an important initiative to enable Indigenous students to gain an insight into the work of solicitors, and to build safe spaces for mob to learn about a career in law.
“Tom could be described as ‘larger than life’; it was wonderful to be able to celebrate this milestone with him and the local profession.”
In his retirement, Tom still enjoys travel along with golf and fundraising for the Carbine Club, which assists young athletes.
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