OUR TEAM
Insurance Litigation Team
Chris McManus, Principal and Accredited Specialist
Chris is an experienced litigation lawyer and Law Society Accredited Specialist. He has been involved in a wide variety of litigation; from helping settle disputes for clients in smaller property damage matters, to acting in class actions and international claims. He is highly focused on ensuring he achieves the best quality results for his clients as quickly and efficiently as possible. He achieves desired outcomes for clients by working closely working with them to adopt the best strategy possible.
Chris is also a Principal in the firm and leads a large team of well qualified litigation lawyers capable of meeting all your litigation needs.
Peter Seymour, Special Counsel and Accredited Specialist Personal Injury Law
Peter has over 22 years experience in Queensland civil litigation claims. During that time he has built up a reputation for protecting the rights of individuals. Peter holds Bachelor Degrees in both Arts and Laws as well as a Masters of Laws. He is committed and focused on getting the best results for his clients and prides himself on providing straight forward and practical advice.
David Davies, Special Counsel and Accredited Specialist
David was admitted to practice in 1990 and has over 19 years experience in civil and insurance litigation.
David was a Partner with Gilshenan and Luton Lawyers for 10 years before joining McInnes Wilson as Special Counsel in early 2008.
David has represented client's in all Queensland jurisdictions and has taken a number of landmark cases to the High Court of Australia.
David's focus is on achieving the best outcome for client’s combining in-depth legal knowledge with a practical commercial approach.
Chris McMahon, Senior Associate and Accredited Specialist
Chris has been practicing as a solicitor in Queensland since 1992 and specialises in a wide variety of claims. His wealth of experience allows him to deal with all clients and claims in a confident and reassuring manner.
Nick Sullivan, Senior Associate and Accredited Specialist
Nick is an experienced litigation lawyer and Law Society Accredited Specialist. He has been practicing as a solicitor in Queensland since September 1999. During this time, Nick has been involved in all aspects of civil litigation including mass-tort and class actions.
Nick's practice focus at McInnes Wilson Lawyers as a Senior Associate is medical negligence claims. His extensive experience and committed focus ensures that his clients obtain the best result possible.
Jacqui Buckley, Associate
Jacqui commenced working for McInnes Wilson Lawyers in 2005, was admitted as a Solicitor in 2006 and was appointed Associate in our Personal Services division in February 2008.
She is experienced in all aspects of civil litigation and has a special interest in issues arising from unlawful deaths and fatalities. She has a close association with the Queensland Homicide Victims Support Group and assists their members by providing expert legal assistance when required.
Jacqui has developed a reputation as a compassionate and effective advocate for her clients while ensuring that the best quality result is achieved for each client as quickly as possible every time.
Rachel Debenham, Solicitor
Rachel joined McInnes Wilson Lawyers in 2006 and was admitted as a solicitor the same year. Rachel strives for prompt and desirable outcomes for her clients.
Stephanie McConochie, Solicitor
Stephanie commenced employment with McInnes Wilson Lawyers in 2006 and was admitted as a solicitor in 2010.
Stephanie is a hard working lawyer who is not afraid to go the extra mile to get the right result for each of her clients.
Chandelle Whitney, Solicitor
Chandelle has been with McInnes Wilson Lawyers in excess of twelve years. She was admitted as a solicitor in 2010.
Chandelle’s gentle and caring nature allows her to easily identify with her clients’ needs.
Bree MacLeod, Solicitor
Bree is exceptionally hardworking and striving to continually achieve excellent results. She works with our Southport team, who provide for the needs of our Gold Coast and New South Wales clients.
Planning and Environment
Gerard Timbs, Principal
Gerard joined McInnes Wilson in June 2007. Gerard's area of expertise include: Major residential, retail and commercial projects as well as conducting significant planning and environment court litigation.
Gerard also has extensive experience in providing advice and conducting proceedings in respect of investigation and enforcement of breaches of environmental, planning and local law offences. He has conducted investigation and enforcement workshops for a number of local government authorities.
Elizabeth Roubin, Senior Associate
Elizabeth has extensive experience in the regulatory framework and operation of environmental law in Queensland, having served as a lawyer with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) prior to joining McInnes Wilson Lawyers in 2008.
Mitchell Osborne, Solicitor
Wills and Estates
Fred Smith, Principal
Fred is a Principal in the firm. He specialises in personal estate planning and business succession planning.
This specialty demands a broad understanding of issues such as the preparation of wills, powers of attorney, buy/sell agreements, partnership agreements, various types of trusts, corporate structuring and importantly, coordinating the provision of those services with those offered by the client's accountants, financial planners and insurance agents.
A regular contributor to industry publications, Fred also lectures commerce students in commercial law, company law and law of finance at Griffith University.
Caite Brewer, Senior Associate
Caite is a senior associate in the firm's Estate Law team. She specialises in trust and estate litigation, acting for executors and administrators in disputes over wills or people’s estates as well as acting for trustees and/or beneficiaries in relation to trust disputes. In 2009 Caite became one of only 29 Queensland Law Society Accredited Specialists in Succession Law. In addition, she received the award for the highest achievement in her course.
Caite has extensive experience in:
- Acting for executors and disappointed beneficiaries in solemn form proceedings in the Supreme Court to either uphold or challenge a will on grounds of challenge including capacity, undue influence, suspicious circumstances, duress and fraud;
- Acting for applicants and executors in family provision applications;
- Acting for trustees in defending applications to have them removed;
- Acting for executors in applications to remove co-executors; and
- Applications to the Guardianship and Administration Tribunal.
Trina Bucknall, Solicitor
Trina joined McInnes Wilson in September 2008 and has over 9 years experience in commercial and estate litigation.
Trina provides legal advice to and representation for executors, trustees and beneficiaries in relation to estate disputes. She also advises and provides representation to persons excluded from wills.
Previously Trina worked for the Official Solicitor to the Public Trustee of Queensland and also the firm de Groots Wills & Estate Lawyers.
