Award-winning legal eagle Heading in right direction

Veteran Brisbane lawyer Brett Heading has received another gong for his trophy cabinet, picking up the Queensland Law Society’s large firm solicitor of the year award.

Brett Heading picks up top gong

Veteran Brisbane lawyer Brett Heading has received another gong for his trophy cabinet.

The chairman of Hamilton Locke picked up the Queensland Law Society’s large firm solicitor of the year award at the peak body’s gala awards night last week.

In his acceptance speech, Heading thanked his colleagues and acknowledged his mentors at his old firm McCullough Robertson, including the legendary Kerry Prior.

He proudly spoke of his late father Jim, a stock and station agent, who taught him the value of hard work and how to talk to the “ringer and the Queen.”

He let his tough lawyer guard down and spoke warmly of partner Dr Susan Mercer, who he described as the “grey filly who keeps him grounded.”

Heading also told the event that he “was going to die with his spurs on so his competitors are going to have to wait a long time to see me away from the arena.”

Brett Heading wins top gong at law awards.

Finally, he invited any lawyer in the audience who was passionate about helping clients but not happy at their current firm to join him afterwards for a drink of Devil’s Advocate Gin, the award-winning tipple from his South Burnett distillery.

Seen later with Heading at the bar were venerable Brisbane lawyers Craig Chapman (Dentons), Peter Jolly (Thynne + Maccartney), Ian Hazzard and Matt Bradbury (McCullough Robertson) amongst others. Tongue in cheek Heading told your diarist that “maybe I will be reporting on more moves shortly.”

Other big winners on the night included Trent Wakerley, of Kruger Law, who picked up best small firm solicitor of the year, Anna Morgan (best sole practitioner) and Mark Fenlon (best regional practitioner).

Red flag

Tim Harris, the chief executive of embattled battery maker Redflow, was a no-show at this week’s Queensland Smart Energy Conference. Harris had been due to appear on a panel at the conference on battery storage. But as we know, Redflow appointed voluntary administrators last week after failing to access government funding for a major factory. Deloitte’s Richard Hughes and David Orr are now in control of the firm as administrators while they assess the business and financial future of the company that was once touted as the leading global flag bearer of flow battery technology.

Redflow boss Tim Harris

Japan links celebrated

The Queensland Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry and other Japan-related organisations celebrated the state’s Japan ties at their annual dinner at Brisbane’s Stamford Plaza earlier this month. Banging the (taiko) drum for more Japanese investment was Trade and Investment Queensland CEO Justin McGowan, who pointed to the importance of Japanese investors in new sectors such as clean energy. He noted Queensland is backing Australia’s attendance at next year’s world exposition in Osaka, with the April-October 2025 event set to welcome more than 160 countries. Japanese Consul-General, Junji Gomakubo noted the first Japanese came to Australia in 1873 and settled in Queensland, with economic ties remaining strong across a variety of industries including agriculture, energy, resources and tourism.

Community call-out

Calling not-for-profit organisations from Mount Isa to Mooloolaba and Brisbane to Birdsville. Queensland Country Bank’s 2024 Good for Good Community Grants program closes at 5pm on Monday September 2. The program is open to eligible Queensland not-for-profit organisations, with grants available from between $5,000 and $30,000 to help deliver projects that will make a practical difference in communities.