City Beat: Bankrupt Brisbane lawyer Michael Kemp is no longer practising

The long and controversial legal career of Brisbane personal injury lawyer Michael Kemp has come to a screeching halt

Michael Kemp

The long and controversial legal career of Brisbane personal injury lawyer Michael Kemp has come to a screeching halt.

The one-time high flyer, who was personally bankrupted last month, has just been listed as a “non-practising” solicitor by the Queensland Law Society.

His firm Highland Law, which previously traded as Kemp Law, is now defunct following the resignation last week of Zaccaria Casagrande, the former legal practice director, and a mass exodus of staff.

Kemp first started working as a legal eagle in last 2004 and struck out on his own a decade later after leaving Rostron Carlyle. Along the way he developed a taste for flash cars, multiple luxury homes and overseas holidays.

But Kemp’s main trading company collapsed earlier this year owing $8.15 million.

One of his biggest creditors, lender LawFinance Ltd, won court orders to bankrupt him over a $2.1 million debt backed by a personal guarantee.

Meanwhile, the QLS has appointed a receiver over the entity behind Highland Law with the aim of taking care of client files and the payment of moneys from the trust account.

It is understood the Legal Services Commission is weighing up whether to revoke Kemp’s practising certificate.

Kemp did not return a call seeking comment on Monday.

A big few weeks

It’s been a huge few weeks for heritage enthusiast Steve Wilson, the prominent bizoid who heads up the Committee for Brisbane.

Wilson and his business partner, chef Andy Ashby, are getting ready for the June 30 launch of new rooftop bar Ooh La La, which is perched above their acclaimed French eatery C’est Bon in Woolloongabba.

Wilson calls it “the last piece of the puzzle’’ for the historic Stanley Street properties he has owned for more than 10 years.

Steve Wilson

“It’s quite a stunning spot open to the stars,’’ he told your diarist on Monday.

“We fell in love with rooftop dining when we were in Cuba about three years ago.’’

The new space, which has views to the Gabba and South Bank, also looks out across to the heritage-listed Princess Theatre, which is set to become a new music and arts hub for the city.

Wilson, along with Tivoli owners Steve and Dave Sleswick, bought the former church for $3.7m late last year.

Renovation work is now under way ahead of the first show set for late August.

In case this wasn’t enough, earlier this month Wilson and his missus, Jane, emerged as the new owners of so-called Lamb House, the sadly neglected Federation-era gem atop the Kangaroo Point cliffs.

They have committed to spend a whopping $15m to return to it to its former glory.

Hop to it

A $300,000 hole was blown in the budget of youth charity Red Frogs Australia earlier this year when Optus bailed out as a main sponsor.

To help fill that void, the Brisbane-based group is hosting a sold-out fundraising gala dinner for 500 guests on Tuesday night

Businesses attending the Brisbane City Hall bash, MC’ed by Channel 7’s Kendall Gilding, include Nestle, Bunnings, Dulux and Honeycombe Property Group.

Launched in the late 1990s, Red Frogs coordinates an army of about 3500 volunteers to provide support to young people at schoolies, music festivals and other big events.