Ben Cansdale

Toby is an Accredited Specialist in Commercial Litigation with the Queensland Law Society (QLS) and is former a member of the QLS’ Commercial Litigation Specialist Accreditation Advisory Committee. He is also a National Accredited Mediator and has been acting as a mediator and facilitator for 20 years. At present, Toby is the Chair of the QLS Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee and is a Member of the Law Council’s ADR Committee. Toby is regularly appointed by parties and nomi...

Matt acts for leading domestic and international private equity firms, boards, founders and existing shareholder groups. He advises management teams on buy-out and follow-on transactions and fund governance, and corporates in transport, mining services, pharmaceuticals and childcare industries on commercial contracting. Matt advises on private M&A and strategic investment transactions, structuring and due diligence, acquisitions and divestments, management equity arrangements and fund for...

James undertakes a variety of complex corporate and commercial work in the State and Federal Courts of Australia. He acts for a broad range of domestic and international clients including ASX200-listed companies, high net-worth individuals, directors, shareholders, company liquidators, banks and government entities. James has particular experience in arbitration, contract law, construction litigation, competition and consumer law, insolvency, trusts and administrative law. Before joining Leve...

James Plumb is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Energy Law, Mining Law, Natural Resources Law and Oil and Gas Law. James, who practices law in Brisbane, Australia, has been recognized since 2017. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which James is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Scott is recognised as one of Queensland’s leading and most experienced restructuring and insolvency lawyers. He works with clients, company directors and advisers to analyse the issues and provide a range of options within tight time frames and often under difficult circumstances. An expert in distressed turnarounds and restructures, Scott often works collaboratively with other turnaround and restructuring professionals, assisting with and documenting restructures and advising company ...

Kristy McCluskey is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Law. Kristy, who practices law in Brisbane, Australia, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kristy is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

James Ireland is a lawyer based in Brisbane with HopgoodGanim, where he focuses on government practice, land use and zoning law and planning and environmental law. He advises public and private sector clients on statutory planning frameworks, development approvals and the interaction between government decision-making and property rights. His work regularly involves navigating complex regulatory environments and responding to evolving planning policy. James is known for assisting clients thro...

Richard Cowen is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Insolvency and Reorganization Law and Litigation. Richard, who practices law in Brisbane, Australia, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Richard is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Elizabeth Harvey is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Natural Resources Law and Oil and Gas Law. Elizabeth, who practices law in Brisbane, Australia, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Elizabeth is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Drew has over 20 years’ experience as an insurance and commercial litigation lawyer. His area of focus has been the defence of professional negligence claims, directors' and officers' claims and medical malpractice. His commercial dispute practice includes shareholder, partnership and joint venture disputes, domestic and commercial building disputes, injunctive and declaratory relief and administrative law. Drew advises on risk management for professional service firms. Drew has been re...