Our Team
Michael McDonald, Partner
Qualifications
I hold a Masters of Law Degree from the University of Queensland.
I am admitted as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Queensland ( 26 April 1978) and of the High Court of Australia (24 May 1982). I am a member of the Queensland Law Society.
I gained my legal experience:
- when employed, as a senior lawyer, by international first-tier legal firm, Minter Ellison, for 4 years;
- as a Barrister, at the Queensland Bar, where I had Chambers in the Brisbane Inns of Court for 9 years; and
- as Principal of my own legal firm, and in partnership, for in excess of 20 years.
Mediator
I am also a qualified as a mediator.
Professional Career
It is the fight for justice and fairness for my clients that keeps me actively involved in the practice of law.
My experience as a legal practitioner for more than 40 years has given me a highly refined sense of justice and, consequently, this has enabled me to win successful outcomes for my clients.
My experience includes (but, over 40 years, is not limited to):
- Obtaining Probate of Wills and Grants of Letters of Administration for Intestate Estates. I am one of only a handful Queensland Solicitors with access to obtaining Probate from the Supreme Court, online.
- Litigation involving Disputes over Wills and Estates;
- Drafting Wills and Enduring Powers of Attorney and Health Directives;
- Personal Injuries claims, arising from Motor Vehicle incidents, as well as Workplace Injuries;
- Family law disputes, including division of property claims, and have appeared as the advocate in cases involving sexual abuse of children (Magellan cases).
- Conducting Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act matters, including appearing as advocate for both applicants and respondents at hearings;
- Conducting mediations.
I encourage dispute resolution and work closely with my clients to develop an ongoing strategic plan, so that they can make informed decisions throughout the litigation process.
When I was a Barrister for 9 years, I appeared in the Applications Courts jurisdiction of the Supreme Court; and the District Court, and conducted Trials in the District Court and Magistrates Court, and the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
I have also conducted Trials in the Domestic Violence Courts and in the Family Court, since re-joining the Solicitors’ branch of the law.
Consequently, I have a more thorough understanding, than most solicitors, of the preparation required throughout a matter and more specifically to enable the matter to have the best chance of success if it is to be heard in a Court.
We Work as a Team
Importantly, Cherriee Ludemann and I work together, in matters where I am likely to be the Advocate, and she is likely to be instructing me, at the Trial.
In such cases, we confer with the client, together, but, only charge the client for the attendance of either just Cherriee, or just me.
Cherriee Ludemann, Partner
Qualifications
I have a Bachelor of Legal and Justice Studies degree, from Southern Cross University (conferred in 2002), a Bachelor of Laws degree, from Queensland University of Technology (conferred in 2005), and a Master of Laws degree, also from QUT (conferred in 2006), the same year I was admitted as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Queensland (July 2006).
As part of my post graduate Master of Laws studies, I completed a project encompassing the Fundamentals of an Initial Public Offering (IPO) for which I was awarded a High Distinction.
Committees & Awards
As an adjunct to my interest in Business Law, I have been a member of the Competition and Consumer Law Committee of the Queensland Law Society, since 2011, as well as a member of the Industrial Law Committee of the Queensland Law Society, from 2011 until 2017.
I was also a committee member of the Australian Corporate Lawyers Association, from 2012 until 2016.
In October 2018, I was a Finalist in the Gold Coast Young Entrepreneurs Business Awards.
Professional Career
I began my professional career as an in-house lawyer with an internationally known, Gold Coast based, manufacturer. I was promoted to the positions of General Counsel, and Company Secretary, assuming total responsibility for all aspects of their global commercial, consumer, corporate, and intellectual property, legal services in the manufacturing and retail space.
Since 2014 I have worked in private practice advising a range of commercial and not-for-profit clients with respect to commercial property transactions, leasing, corporate structuring, acquisitions and mergers.
I take a commercial approach when advising executive management teams and company boards in relation to business strategy and legal compliance issues.
The areas of law in which I mainly practise are Property Law and Commercial Law
I also practise in all areas of Family Law. I have a particular interest in complex property settlement matters.
Personal Background
Apart from Law, the surf, sun and sand are my other passions, being a Gold Coaster since I was 10 years old (hailing originally from the beaches near Wollongong).
Between leaving school, and “knuckling down” to my legal studies, I took myself off to London when I was 20 years old, to pursue my passion to travel the World. Upon arriving in London, I worked, as a legal secretary for Pinsent Curtis and for, Theodore Goddard, where I spent the majority of my time conducting research in order to assist Senior Practitioners with the drafting of an E-Commerce Bible for General Electric. During those 2 years in London, I took time off to backpack through Europe, for several months.
I still love to travel and spend time at the beach.