Our People
With our work/life balance at the forefront of our values and both principals having previously worked for national firms, we are aware of the strain that long hours and demanding work commitments can inflict upon families.
To create an environment that we enjoy working in, we agreed that rather than model the firm on the traditional “pyramid” structure, a flat style approach was far more effective. The flat structure, (see diagram, right) allows for the senior practitioner to spend quality time imparting knowledge onto the junior lawyer, allowing them to grow and expand their skill level more rapidly than under a pyramid structure. This enables us to grow effectively increasing stability, the rewards are higher and in turn the viability of the firm makes for stronger succession planning.
Michael Neal
Michael Neal graduated from UNSW in 1983, left for the wilds of the Northern Territory in 1984 and started working in the area of Aboriginal land rights the following year. After working with the Northern Land Council including settling arrangements for joint management of national parks and negotiating exploration and mining agreements, Michael moved to Cairns as the founding lawyer of Cape York Land Council in 1994.
Michael is one of the most experienced solicitors practising in Native Title law in Australia. He is a partner of p&e Law, based in Cairns. Michael’s professional achievements include many “firsts”:
- negotiating Australia’s first Indigenous Land Use Agreement;
- acting for the applicants in Australia’s first determination of native title over pastoral lands;
- acting for the Commonwealth in negotiating two of its first ILUAs, for Defence purposes, with the agreement of traditional Aboriginal groups
- acting for the Jawoyn People in Australia’s first post Mabo mining agreement, including a joint venture for contract mining and
- acting for all of the Miriuwung Gajerrong and Kitja groups in the well regarded Argyle Diamond Mine ILUA.
Michael provides strategic legal advice in relation to native title issues and development of Aboriginal land, predominately in Queensland but also in other parts of Australia. He appreciates the opportunity to address the novel legal issues that his work provides, and to meet and engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, as well as those who wish to show them the respect that the history of their cultures deserves.
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Laws – University of New South Wales
- Bachelor of Science – University of New South Wales
Admissions
- Supreme Court (Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia, Western Australia & Northern Territory)
- High Court of Australia
Lestar Manning
Lestar Manning is one of Queensland’s prominent and highly-regarded environment and planning solicitors. Whilst Lestar is based in Maroochydore he frequently attends the office in Cairns.
Lestar has acted for State and Local Government in drafting and settling planning and environmental laws and providing technical legal advice to government policy makers. Lestar has an extensive case law and mediation practice in the Planning and Environment Court and QCAT.
After successfully running his planning and environment legal practice for many years, Lestar created p&e Law. Lestar is accomplished at providing top level legal advice at the cutting-edge of town planning, vegetation management and environmental law exclusively since 1990.
With a strong passion for rebuilding MGs, Lestar is just at home with his head under a car bonnet or in legal research. For personal time, Lestar likes to escape to the bush, beach or minefields with his family to camp, go fossicking or fishing. You’ll also find him running or cycling the hills of Noosa on any given day.
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Laws – Queensland University of Technology
Admissions
- Supreme Court of Queensland
- High Court of Australia
Matt Patterson
Matt Patterson has practiced exclusively as a native title, planning and environment lawyer for more than 10 years. Prior to that Matt practiced in litigation in the Sydney CBD. Although based in p&e Law’s Maroochydore office, Matt regularly visits our Cairns office.
Matt has extensive experience in local, State and Commonwealth planning and environment law including the conduct of Planning and Environment Court, Federal Court and Land Court applications and appeals as well as related aspects of planning and development including land acquisition, protected areas, vegetation, coastal development, water and carbon rights.
Matt has recently successfully negotiated major projects involving the settlement of tenure and land management arrangements between the Queensland government, native title holders and pastoralists and in 2007 negotiated new legislative arrangements governing aspects of land management in Cape York Peninsula. His involvement extends to native title and cultural heritage agreement negotiation for major utilities and construction projects. He negotiated the hand-back of Queensland’s first Aboriginal-owned and jointly managed National Park, the Lama Lama National Park.
Qualifications- Bachelor of Laws – University of Sydney
- Bachelor of Arts – University of Sydney
Admissions
- Supreme Court of Queensland
- Supreme Court of New South Wales
- High Court of Australia
Andrew Williams
Andrew Williams is based in p&e Law’s Maroochydore office. He joined p&e Law in 2007 following his employment as an associate to a judge of the District and Planning and Environment Courts. He has also worked with a leading Brisbane-based practice that worked extensively for local governments throughout Queensland.
Andrew specialises in the planning and environment jurisdiction and has experience in a range of development including residential and rural-residential subdivision, master planned communities, commercial and retail centers. Andrew has acted for developers, council and community association clients.
Andrew brings with him a critical legal mind that has benefited from exposure to leading practitioners conducting Planning and Environment Court appeals.
When not at work, Andrew likes to take advantage of the lifestyle that the Sunshine Coast offers.
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Laws – Queensland University of Technology
- Bachelor of Business (Accountancy) – Queensland University of Technology
- Diploma of Business – Southbank Institute of TAFE
Admissions
- Supreme Court of Queensland
- High Court of Australia
Marlies Hobbs
Marlies Hobbs is a solicitor based in p&e Law’s Cairns Office and practices in the areas of town planning, environment and local government law. Marlies commenced employment with p&e Law in September 2008.
Marlies obtained her Bachelor of Laws degree from James Cook University Cairns in 2006 and was admitted as a legal practitioner of the Supreme Court in February 2007. During her legal traineeship Marlies worked for a top tier firm and gained experience in Commercial Law, Wills and Estates and Government Law.
Since her admission Marlies has predominantly practiced in Government and Planning and Environment Law. Marlies is particularly passionate about planning and environment law and her more recent focus has been conducting appeals and applications in the Planning and Environment Court in Cairns and Brisbane. She has represented developers and Councils in numerous appeals since commencing her employment with p&e Law. She is experienced in briefing Counsel and experts and as a result has developed high-quality working relationships with respected professionals in the industry. Marlies prides herself on her enthusiasm in efficiently conducting appeals in a way that achieves the best result for her clients and she is not afraid of giving frank advice when it is due.
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Laws – James Cook University Cairns
Admissions
- Supreme Court of Queensland
- High Court of Australia
Clare Farley
Clare was admitted as a lawyer in April 2006 and joined p&e Law in February 2009. Clare has over four years experience in the practise of native title law and has worked for over two and a half of those years in native title representative bodies in the Far North. Clare has acted for a number of Aboriginal parties in native title, Aboriginal cultural heritage, mining and land tenure resolution matters in north and central Queensland. Her current native title practise has expanded to include pastoral and Government representation in these areas.
She has experience negotiating and drafting Aboriginal cultural heritage agreements, Indigenous land use agreements and agreements for mineral and petroleum exploration and provides advice under a range of land related legislation in this area including the Aboriginal Land Act 1991, Land Act 1994, Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006, Native Title Act 1993 and Mineral Resources Act 1989.
Clare began practising planning and environment law in 2009 and has carriage of a variety of planning matters including appeal litigation and the negotiation of infrastructure agreements for a predominantly local government client base.
Clare is an excellent communicator and has an interest in alternate dispute resolution. She enjoys striving for positive and constructive outcomes for all her clients.
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Laws - University of Technology, Sydney
- Bachelor of Arts - Macquarie University, Sydney
Admissions
- Supreme Court of Queensland
- High Court of Australia
Annabelle Nilsson
Annabelle was admitted as a lawyer in April 2006 and joined p&e Law in January 2011.
Annabelle’s early professional experience involved contentious and non-contentious intellectual property matters followed by a role with the Torres Strait Regional Authority for two and a half years. During her time in the Torres Strait, Annabelle worked closely with native title holders negotiating Indigenous Land Use Agreements focusing on infrastructure development, preparing law reform submissions and assisting with the preparation of evidence for the Torres Strait Native Title Sea Claim.
In 2010, Annabelle worked in the Americas analysing implications for indigenous communities of carbon markets stimulated by the developing United Nation’s Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation collaborative program. During this time, Annabelle also assisted in a traditional land rights appeal in Belize.
Annabelle continues to work within the native title context in addition to exploring solutions to water and land rights in other forms, such as human rights and environmental law. Annabelle’s practice has also expanded into planning law, with a particular focus on wind farm development, climate change mitigation and adaptation measures.
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Laws – Monash University, Melbourne
- Bachelor of Arts – Monash University, Melbourne
Samantha Watkins
Samantha is based in p&e Law’s Maroochydore office and commenced with the firm earlier this year.
Samantha has strong background and experience in legal research, practise and procedure. Samantha brings with her considerable insight into court procedure, advocacy and many legal principles in the Criminal, Civil and Planning & Environment jurisdictions of the District Court and a broad overview of the practice of law and the administration of justice.
Samantha was previously the Associate to His Honour Judge Dodds District Court of Queensland, Maroochydore for a number of years.
Samantha has expanded her skills and experience to include native title, Aboriginal cultural heritage and environmental law.
Samantha will further develop her already impressive abilities and understanding in the area of planning and environment law including the suite of legal issues effecting local government in Queensland.
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Laws – Queensland University of Technology
- Bachelor of Arts – Queensland University of Technology
- Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice – Griffith University
Admissions
- Supreme Court of Queensland