From a space lawyer to sole practitioners, 34 Brisbane-based practitioners were acknowledged for 25 years in the profession at the recent Queensland Law Society Celebrate Recognise Socialise event.
The CRS function was held in Brisbane on 26 February to recognise those members who had contributed to the legal community, including QLS committee members, with silver pins.
QLS President Peter Jolly said each pin recipient had shaped the profession through their service to the Court, clients, colleagues and communities.
“Your leadership continues to set the standard for all who follow,” he told the lawyers and their special guests.
“The QLS is committed to standing beside you as you pursue your professional goals. Our role is to support your individual journey while championing good law, good lawyers, for the public good.
“Gatherings like this remind us why the profession endures. They reconnect us, strengthen shared purpose, and highlight the collective wisdom that builds a stronger legal community across generations
“When we come together, we reinforce the idea that this profession is not just about the work we do, but the community we create. Moments like tonight reaffirm that sense of belonging.”
Mr Jolly acknowledged the contribution many had made to the Society’s work over many years, in particular Senior Counsellors, Accredited Specialists, Committee Members and Professional Development presenters.
“However, each and every one of you is here this evening in recognition and acknowledgement of a contribution which you have made over many years, in truly leading the profession, by your resilience, skill, professionalism, commitment to ethics and heart,” the President said.
“I want to thank you all for upholding the values of our profession and for making a difference.
“Your contributions across many diverse areas of practice strengthen QLS’s ability to support members right across Queensland.
“Every effort you make is genuinely valued and tonight gives us the chance to publicly recognise and express our appreciation for the significant and selfless work you do.”
Practitioners marking 25 years at the Brisbane Celebrate Recognise Socialise event:
Reece Allen – A graduate of UQ, Reece started his legal career with Gadens, before moving onto PJ Little, and ultimately sole practice specialising in legal services for major projects. As Principal of Project Legal, Reece advises throughout a project’s life cycle, from pre-feasibility to production including drafting and negotiation of project contracts, advice and claim preparation and determination or settlement of disputes.
Mark Brookes – Qualified in England, Mark has more than 30 years of legal expertise in Australia and England, with a specialisation in insurance, professional liability, and claims involving fraud and contractual disputes. Mark is a Partner at Carter Newell, a Nationally Accredited Mediator, and last year joined the QLS Dispute Resolution Committee.
Zayd Chothia – A graduate of Bond University, Zayd completed articles before being admitted in 2000. Zayd is a commercial litigation lawyer specialising in general commercial dispute resolution, commercial debt management and recovery, and insolvency in both the corporate and private sectors.
Kristan Conlon – Kristan is a real estate lawyer and Partner at McCullough Robertson, where her career began after graduating from UQ. Kristan leads a team that advises on the leasing, acquisition and sale of commercial, retail and industrial properties, and has been a member of the QLS Property and Development Committee since 2021.
Malisa Craig – A graduate of QUT, Malisa has specialised in commercial litigation and insolvency, advising on large and complex matters with multiple parties, in the superior Courts across Australia. A Partner with Russells, Malisa joined the QLS Litigation Rules Committee in 2025.
Tracey De Semone – Graduating from UQ with a Bachelor of Laws and Griffith University with a Master, Tracey has more than 25 years post admission experience in public interest law. She is now an Executive Director and Principal Registrar at QCAT. Tracey has been a member of the QLS Domestic and Family Violence Committee since 2016.
Rod George – Principal Sole Practitioner of George Lawyers since 2005, Rod specialises in personal legal matters including wills and estates, commercial law and conveyancing, from his two Brisbane offices in Browns Plains and Newstead.
Darren Guppy – A graduate of QUT, Darren is a Queensland Law Society Accredited Specialist in Personal Injury Law and has more than 20 years’ experience in litigation. In recent years, Darren has broadened his experience and skills with an appointment as a Panel Member on the Racing Appeals Panel. He currently holds the position of Director of Litigation at the Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission.
Parveen Gupta – Admitted as an Advocate of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, India, Parveen worked in a senior managerial/legal position for seven years in East Africa, before moving to Brisbane. Parveen has gained his LLB from QUT, PLT from QUT, and has practised as a registered migration agent since 1995. Parveen is the Principal Solicitor of River City Lawyers.
John Harvey – John started his career with Bennett & Philip. Now with Gouldsen Legal, he has dedicated his career to personal injuries law, with particular expertise in complex medical negligence and TPD/Insurance dispute claims. John has been fighting for compensation on behalf of injured Queenslanders for more than 20 years.
Frank Higginson – Frank started his legal journey straight out of high school as a “spritely 17-year-old articled clerk” in a property law firm on the Gold Coast. Throughout his career, Frank has practised across a broad spectrum of the law. Now part of Redchip Strata Law, Frank’s sole focus is the complex area of management rights and body corporate law. Frank has been on the QLS Property Law Conference Planning Committee since 2015.
Ashley Hill – A graduate of UNE, Ashley is a specialist commercial litigator and arbitration practitioner and Partner at Mullins. With 25 years’ experience in law practice, Ashley has worked at two top-tier law firms in Australia, lived in the Middle East and South-East Asia working at international law firms, and dealing with disputes nationally and internationally across six continents.
Karl Hill – A graduate of JCU with Law and Economics, Karl is the Founding Director of Results Legal which he started almost 19 years ago. Karl’s legal expertise falls in the areas of commercial litigation, insolvency and legal recovery. Karl regularly delivers presentations and contributes articles on legal developments which impact on the rights of creditors.
Selina Hunt – A graduate of Law and Business from QUT, Selina has practised solely in professional indemnity insurance litigation, specialising in defending claims and complaints against a wide range of health and other professionals. Selina leads the Queensland and South Australian Medical Indemnity teams at Avant Law. Selina was previously a member of the QLS Elder Law Committee.
Fiona Kennedy – After graduating Law at UQ, Fiona completed articles with Delaney & Delaney and worked as an solicitor in another CBD firm and at a legal advisory service, before returning to Delaney & Delaney as Principal Solicitor in 2001. Fiona has also completed the Barristers’ Practice Course and in 2005, became an Accredited Family Law Specialist. Fiona has previously served on the QLS Health and Disability Law Committee.
Damon King – Damon is a QUT graduate with a Masters from the University of Melbourne and is now Special Counsel with Hopgood Ganim after almost 16 years’ of service. Damon advises clients on all issues associated with industrial and employment law.
Brian Lambert – Graduating with a dual degree in Arts and Law from QUT, Brian has practised with Birch and Co since his admission. While Brian’s focus is on property and commercial matters, and civil disputes and insolvency issues arising from them, he has a wide interest in all areas of law. Brian is the Legal Practice Director of Birch and Co.
Yen Lim – Starting her studies in the Northern Territory, Yen graduated Law from UQ before gaining her Masters in law from QUT. Yen’s experience, across private practice and the government sector, has included property, commercial, wills and estates law. Yen is currently a senior Associate with Birch & Co.
Sue Maxwell – A graduate of QUT with a dual degree in Law/Accountancy, Sue is a Partner in Thynne + Macartney’s Business Advisory group. Sue has more than 20 years’ experience in commercial law and property development and provides advice and assistance to developers.
Sue McDonald – A graduate of QUT, Sue is an experienced General Counsel, Executive and Non-Executive Director within state and local government as well as the not-for-profit sector. Sue is skilled in strategic leadership and management, strategic planning, corporate governance, compliance and risk management, privacy, integrity, ethics, litigation and alternative dispute resolution.
Robert Milne – Graduating with Law from UQ, Robert’s practice has focused primarily on the planning and environment law sector and specialises in town planning law, environmental law and local government law. Robert is owner and Principal Solicitor of Milne Legal.
James Minchinton – a UQ graduate with more than 20 years of experience in mining, petroleum and gas, energy and resources law, James is now applying those skills to the space sector, both in practice and as a lecturer. He is the former chair and deputy chair of both Energy and Resources and Mining and Resources Law Committees.
Tim Quirk – A graduate of QUT, Tim leads Thynne + Macartney’s Planning and Environment team and has extensive experience practising in planning and environment and local government law in Queensland. Tim has experienced success in enforcement and prosecution proceedings for development and environmental offences, infrastructure agreements, compulsory acquisitions, Land Court litigation and compliance with environmental authorities. Since 2020, he has won several landmark planning and environment matters and in 2023 he was a finalist in the Queensland Law Society – Excellence in Law Awards – Queensland Solicitor of the Year category (Large Firm: 20+ PCs.)
Mitchell Read – A graduate of QUT, Mitchell now practises family law and has been the Principal and Director of Read Legal since 2013. Before establishing Read Legal, Mitchell gained a breadth of experience in private, inhouse and government sectors.
Jocelyn Saint-Fryar – A graduate of QUT, Jocelyn has spent the majority of her career proudly supporting Subway. As a Certified Franchising Executive, Jocelyn leads a dedicated legal team to provide corporate legal advice as part of the Asia Pacific region. As Head of Legal, Jocelyn advises on a broad range of matters including commercial contracts, strategic projects and promotions.
Tracy Skellern – A graduate of QUT, Tracy has spent almost 19 years with Lexon Insurance and now holds the position of Legal Risk Counsel. Tracy is a member of the QLS Cybersecurity and Scam Prevention Working Group and supported the Family, Succession and Property Development Committees as a guest.
Maria Skordou – A graduate of QUT, Maria is an experienced plaintiff litigation lawyer. Her early career was with Shine, where she spent 16 years and was appointed to Partnerships in 2009. In 2018, Maria established Restore Legal, where, as Legal Practitioner Director, she provides access to justice to all, conducting compensation claims including but not limited to public liability, motor vehicle, employment and disability insurance and superannuation claims.
Natalie Strijland – A graduate of UQ, Natalie has been Principal and Director of NR Barbi since 2007. Skilled in litigation, mediation, arts music and media law, construction law, corporate governance, appeals, estate law, insurance law, and commercial law, Natalie has a demonstrated history of success in the legal and NFP areas.
Tara Tosh – A graduate of QUT, Tara is a founding Director of Tosh Colls Family Law and in 2025 achieved accreditation as a QLS Family Law Specialist. Tara shares her expertise at legal education events and conferences, presenting on parenting matters, property disputes, child support and best practices in family law.
Stuart Unwin – A graduate of UQ, Stuart’s areas of practice are insurance, personal injuries and worker’s compensation. A Partner at BT Law, Stuart has held roles as a public member with the Dental Board of Australia on the Queensland Registration & Notifications Committee and Immediate Action Committee and volunteered with Caxton Legal Centre for 26 years.
Kirsten Weber – A graduate of UQ, Kirsten has practised predominantly in defendant personal injury claims, including workers compensation, compulsory third party and public liability claims. In addition to her private practice experience, Kirsten has worked in-house for a major Australian insurer in a variety of roles as well as an in-house solicitor for a workers compensation insurer.
Sonia Whitehouse – A Griffith graduate, Sonia has more than 20 years’ experience advising across a broad range of disputes, specialising in environment and planning litigation. Now with Keypoint Law, Sonia was previously Director of Brisbane boutique firm HWS Lawyers, and before that was a Senior Associate at Barry Nilsson.
Emily Yau – A law graduate of QUT, Emily obtained both her Bachelor of Laws and a Master of Laws. She also holds a Graduate Certificate in Digital Law from Monash University. Emily is currently admitted as a Notary Public and practises as a Solicitor and Director of WF YAU Lawyers & Notary. Her practice focuses on commercial and property law, with a particular interest in international law and AI law.
Fiona Yeang – Fiona began her legal career in London before moving to Brisbane in 2000. Now Principal of Yeang Lawyers, specialising in contracts and procurement strategies for infrastructure projects, Fiona is a founding member of the QLS Disability and Accessibility Network.
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