Fifty years ago, Toowoomba lawyer Kerry Shine decided to stand up “for the little guy” and give a voice to the voiceless.
He hung his shingle, KG Shine & Co, on a traditional Queenslander with its decorative portico and front veranda in 1976.
Five years later, KG Shine & Dean was joined by Stephen Roche as an articled clerk. Another seven years down the track, the firm was renamed Shine Roche.
The firm continued to evolve, merging with Murdoch Philips & McVeigh in 1990 to become Shine Murdoch. Four years later, the firm continued to expand, opening a Brisbane office with Simon Morrison at the lead.
In 1995, Shine Roche McGowan set its strategic focus to specialise in personal injuries litigation. By 1999, it had launched its first class action.
Shine made headlines in 2008 after aligning with famous American paralegal and environmental crusader Erin Brockovich.
The firm’s next evolution was to diversify into new areas of law including superannuation, travel and transport, and commercial litigation. In 2013, Shine Lawyers was listed on the Australian Stock Exchange.
Fast forward to 2026, the firm has offices across Australia and more than 1000 team members.
Shine Lawyers decided to celebrate five decades of serving the community with a gala evening in April at Brisbane City Hall.
At the function, Mr Shine said he was blessed with very good employees.
“People who had a great deal of talent and loyalty and application. That’s why I think the firm is where it is today,” he said in a celebratory video post.
One of those good people is Chief Legal Officer Lisa Flynn who has been at the firm for more than 20 years. She has worked in a variety of different legal roles “helping many clients right wrongs in their lives”.
Ms Flynn took time out to talk to Proctor about the important milestone.
What do you attribute the success of the firm to?
“Having been part of Shine’s journey since 1999, I believe our success comes from a clear sense of purpose, and a willingness to act on it. This commitment doesn’t waver for our people.
We started as a humble, regional practice in Toowoomba and have grown to become a recognised force in plaintiff litigation nationally, and increasingly internationally. It has been inspiring to see success follow our commitment to walk the road less travelled.
The firm has always been willing to make courageous choices about the matters we take on, the positions we advocate and the people we stand beside, even when those choices have been challenging or unpopular.
That readiness to question assumptions and challenge the status quo has been instrumental to Shine’s growth and evolution. We have never shied away from hard cases or difficult conversations if doing so meant progressing a case or giving a voice to those who might otherwise go unheard.
At the heart of Shine’s longevity are its values and purpose, shining a light on injustice and making the world a better place, one client at a time.
Those principles are part of our DNA; they have shaped our strategy, our culture and our decision‑making over five decades, and they continue to anchor the firm as it grows.
Importantly, Shine has always held a genuine belief that access to justice should not depend on who you are, where you live or how powerful your voice is. That belief is renewed every time we act for a client or challenge an injustice. In my view, it is this alignment between purpose, principle and people that has sustained Shine for 50 years, and that will continue to guide us into our next chapter.”
What changes has the firm seen or experienced over 50 years?
“Over the past five decades, Shine has grown from a small regional practice into a national firm with an increasingly international reach. Alongside that growth, the firm has operated through significant change, not only in the law, but in how legal services are delivered, communicated and experienced.
The nature of litigation has become more complex and demanding over time. Matters are often larger in scale, more procedurally intricate and more prolonged. At the same time, the expectations of clients have evolved. Communication is faster, more transparent and more continuous than it once was, and technology now plays a central role in how lawyers engage with clients, courts and each other.
Technology has transformed the profession. From file management and evidence handling to communication and collaboration, the way legal work is conducted today looks very different to even a decade ago. Like the rest of the profession, Shine is now navigating an unprecedented rate of change, particularly with the emergence of artificial intelligence and other new technologies that are reshaping how legal services can be delivered.
Through all of this, Shine has had to be resilient and agile, adapting its approach, investing in capability and remaining steady through periods of uncertainty and change. What has distinguished the firm is a willingness to engage with it thoughtfully and responsibly, always with a focus on outcomes for clients.
While much has changed over 50 years, Shine’s capacity to evolve while remaining committed to its core values, has been one of its enduring strengths.”
What challenges lie ahead?
“The future for Shine is both exciting and demanding. As we continue to expand into new global markets, particularly through our international and mass tort work, we will increasingly operate across different legal systems, regulatory frameworks and adapt to communicating in culturally sensitive ways wherever we practice. Perfecting this requires sensitivity and social smarts, which I believe our people have.
At the same time, Shine continues to be a law firm with a strong heart for community. One of the ongoing challenges will be maintaining the depth of our connection to clients and communities while extending our reach into emerging class action and global litigation markets.
Balancing growth with purpose, scale with authenticity, and innovation with integrity will be critical. The challenge is not growth itself, but ensuring that growth never dilutes who we are or why we exist. Success at both micro and macro levels will define the next phase of Shine’s story.”
What have been the benefits of starting small in Toowoomba and growing from there?
“Starting in Toowoomba shaped Shine in ways that continue to define the firm today. Being a regional practice fostered a deep sense of connection to clients, to community and to the very real impact legal outcomes have on people’s lives.
That people-centric foundation has carried through as the firm has grown. Shine now has offices across Australia, many of them in regional centres, staffed by people who live and work in the communities they serve. That local presence is not an accident; it reflects a genuine belief in the importance of connection, trust and accessibility. We don’t just work in communities, we are part of them.
Operating outside major metropolitan centres in the early years also required resilience, creativity and an unwavering people‑first mindset. You couldn’t rely on scale or profile; trust had to be earned matter by matter, through empathy, consistency and results. Those experiences shaped how the firm approaches its work to this day.
As Shine has expanded nationally and internationally, that regional DNA has remained the lifeblood of this place. It keeps the firm grounded, reinforces the importance of service and ensures that, no matter how complex or far‑reaching the work becomes, the focus remains firmly on the people and communities at the heart of each matter.”
What does the next chapter hold?
“As Shine Lawyers enters its next chapter, the focus is firmly on building upon 50 years of courage, purpose and impact. The future will bring continued innovation, broader international reach and new opportunities to challenge injustice on an even larger scale.
But at its core, Shine’s mission remains unchanged. This next chapter is about honouring where we’ve come from, while being confident and courageous about where we are heading.
It is about continuing to stand alongside those who need a voice, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in plaintiff litigation, and ensuring that Shine remains a force for justice, not just for the next decade, but for generations to come.”
Share this article