Patrick Cavanagh

Annie Smeaton is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Labour and Employment Law. Annie, who practices law in Brisbane, Australia, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Annie is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Ann’s Vision Ann Janssen founded the firm in 2009 based on her vision to deliver first-class estate planning and administration services to clients at an accessible cost. Her reasoning was that if a law firm only focussed on this area of law, it would quickly become expert and efficient at it. This has proven to be true, and now Estate First Lawyers has become one of the largest estate planning teams of its type operating Australia wide. The firm consistently receives very high feedback...

Chris has 25 years’ experience acting in all aspects of real estate investment and development. His expertise includes commercial, retail, residential, and industrial developments. Chris acts for ASX listed companies, private and institutional developers and investors, state government instrumentalities, banks and financial institutions, and consultants to the real estate industry. Chris has acted on numerous high profile hotel and tourism asset transactions including Royals Pines Resor...

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.

Judy Stewart is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law and Family Law Mediation. Judy, 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 Judy is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Laura is a Special Counsel in the firm's Disputes Resolution & Litigation team, specialising in the areas of family business succession, estate planning and superannuation. She has over 16 years’ experience working with private clients and family businesses in crafting and executing succession plans. Laura’s key focus is to understand each individual or families motivation for their succession planning and tailor an appropriate plan for the individual or family. Her areas of e...

Darrell Jardine is a Brisbane-based lawyer at HopgoodGanim, where he advises clients across hospitality and tourism law, insolvency and reorganization law and litigation. His work spans commercial disputes, distressed business matters and regulatory issues affecting operators in the hospitality and tourism sectors. He is known for providing clear, practical advice that reflects both legal risk and commercial realities. Darrell regularly acts for business owners, insolvency practitioners and c...

Damien has practised for over 40 years in the Family law and de facto relationship fields. Damien is an Accredited Family Law Specialist, a Mediator and an Arbitrator with extensive knowledge and expertise in all areas of family law. He has a particular interest in complex financial and property settlements and international family law matters. Damien is consistently recognised by his peers in published reviews as a leader in the field of family law. Damien was invited to become a Fellow of t...

Zinta is the owner of Resolve Estate Law, a Brisbane-based boutique law firm specialising in contested estates and complex estate administrations. She is the only dual-accredited specialist in succession law and business law in Queensland, and the only specialist of this kind in Australia who is also a nationally accredited mediator and an accredited collaborative practitioner. Over the last 25 years in practice, Zinta has helped steer dozens of complex and bitter estate battles to resolution...

Greg Cahill is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Tax Law and Trusts and Estates. Greg, who practices law in Brisbane, Australia, has been recognized since 2012. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Greg is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.