Wide Bay’s legal eagles named
From launching huge class actions to successful personal injury claims and campaigning to improve domestic violence legislation, the Wide Bay is home to dedicated legal professionals fighting for their clients. We take a look at some of our suburban legal eagles.
Bundaberg
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From launching the Paradise Dam class action case to successful personal injury claims, the Wide Bay is lucky to be home to dedicated legal professionals fighting for their clients across Bundaberg, Hervey Bay, Maryborough and Gympie.
With a wealth of experience including a number of awards and accolades, we’ve recognised the Wide Bay’s most trusted voices in the local legal scene, putting together a list of the region’s most respected legal eagles.
Tom Marland
If there is one name that has dominated headlines for all the right reasons in the past few years, it is Bundaberg lawyer Tom Marland.
Mr Marland is the driving force behind the class action for Paradise Dam, amplifying the voices of farmers concerned about the dam threatening to devastate homes and local communities, and the massive role it plays in sustaining the region’s abundant agriculture sector for future generations.
“Through co-ordination of a wide variety of growers, industry groups and politicians at all three levels we managed to secure a $1.2 billion funding announcement to restore the dam to its original capacity,” Mr Marland said.
“I am still running the class action as a result of the hundreds of millions of dollars that has been lost by local growers and to ensure that the State Government delivers their commitments.”
Prior to starting Marland Law in Bundaberg in 2015, Mr Marland worked in Charleville in South West Queensland and also lived and worked in Roma, Emerald and Toowoomba.
A fifth generation cattle farmer from the Gatea District, north of Bundaberg, Mr Marland specialises in agribusiness related matters helping rural clients with property transactions, wills and estates, succession planning, litigation and natural resource management.
He also helps landholders faced with a wide variety of resource and energy projects from coal mines and coal seam gas through to solar farms and wind turbines.
Greg Wildie
Widely respected barrister Greg Wildie is keen to see a change in domestic violence legislation after practicing in criminal and family law since 1981.
Mr Wildie began his clerkship with Butler and Ker Solicitors in Mundubbera in 1981 and was admitted in 1983, going to Power Cartwright Solicitors in Gympie.
He was later brought on as a partner at the firm in 1997.
In July 2003, he was called to the Bar and practiced as a barrister until November 2012.
In the same year, he transferred to Kalgoorlie in Western Australia, becoming the managing lawyer for the Aboriginal Legal Service.
He returned to Power and Cartwright in Gympie in 2015, where he has remained ever since.
During his four decades as a lawyer, Mr Wildie has overseen a number of criminal and family law cases, some including domestic violence, which he says needs action and change to its legislation.
“We spent a fair chunk of the last 30 years tinkering; trying to sort out domestic violence legislation,” he said.
“Still, it doesn't solve problems and it causes problems.
“Those are the things that you remember [about the job] that are pretty frustrating.
“I think some things are good, such as the emphasis on a lot more mediation and a lot more people with expertise outside of just law being involved in family law has made a huge difference.”
Rebecca Ballantyne
For almost 15 years, Bundaberg local and Shine Lawyers Bundaberg manager Rebecca Ballantyne has been helping people through some of the most difficult periods of their lives.
As a personal injury specialist, Ms Ballantyne has represented Wide Bay locals from all walks of life, including the agricultural and resources industries.
Ms Ballantyne has been described as “passionate about standing up for what’s right and going the extra mile for her clients to achieve the best possible result”.
She fought all the way to the Queensland Supreme Court of Appeal to secure damages for an elderly man who was seriously injured after tripping and falling at a service station.
Ms Ballantyne also secured a seven-figure payout for a factory worker who suffered a cervical spine injury. He is among many of her clients who have remained in contact with her to this day, such is their respect for her work.
As the Legal Practice Manager of Shine Lawyers in Bundaberg, Ms Ballantyne oversees a team of compensation law experts.
Brendan Cuddihy
Brendan Cuddihy has been a mentor to many young lawyers finding their feet in the legal world.
Mr Cuddihy joined the Gympie firm Jeffery, Cuddihy and Joyce, in 1976 and became a partner in 1988, amassing a vast experience in many areas of law during this time.
He has practised extensively as a criminal defence lawyer, work cover lawyer, commercial litigation and property lawyer.
The firm said his experience, combined with his critical thinking ability, helped him achieve excellent results for his clients, and he was driven to achieve practical solutions that would benefit them.
Mr Cuddihy described himself as a “behind the scenes” / backstage lawyer; wanting to ensure that matters were resolved with a minimum of fuss.
Chris Anderson
Gympie criminal lawyer Chris Anderson is a recognisable name on the local legal scene.
Mr Anderson started as a law clerk in 2006 at Jeffery Cuddihy & Joyce Solicitors in Gympie and was later admitted as a solicitor in January 2008.
He started his career working as a generalist, assisting in conveyancing, wills and estates, and general litigation.
In August 2007, he took over the criminal practice in the firm, and hasn’t looked back, with criminal defence quickly becoming his passion.
Since 2008, Mr Anderson has been a duty lawyer for both adults and children, including during several lengthy periods where he was the only duty lawyer in Gympie.
He has also mentored more than 10 duty lawyers in that time.
Eight years later, he became one of three legal practitioner directors of the firm, the largest criminal law practice in Gympie.
Mr Anderson has appeared in Children's Court, Childrens Court of Queensland, Magistrates Court, District Court, Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal.
During the Covid closure period, (March to June 2020), he dealt with most matters in the North Coast Court region.
He received the Legal Aid Queensland Equitable Briefing Award in 2019.
In 2021, Mr Anderson embarked on re-establishing the Gympie District Law Association, which aims to build a good working relationship between fellow professionals, and provide a structure for continuing education and development in the local legal profession.
In 2021, he was appointed to the Queensland Sentencing Council’s Community Connection Group.
Kurt Fowler
With two decades of law experience under his belt, magistrate Kurt Fowler is a highly respected and very influential member of the Fraser Coast community.
Having received high praise from Health Minister and Leader of the House of Queensland, Yvette D’Ath, and winning the most esteemed QLS President’s Medal, it’s clear the citizens of the Fraser Coast are receiving the best.
Mr Fowler was also acknowledged for advising younger solicitors as a QLS senior counsellor, for his work as an accredited specialist in criminal law and the chairman of the QLS Criminal Law Committee.
Angela Treichel
Angie Treichel works at AJT Legal, and is helping to pave the way to normalise compassion in her approach to business while practising as a strong and trustworthy legal professional.
She was admitted as a solicitor in 2012 and launched AJT Legal two and a half years ago. She practises mainly in the areas of property law and estate planning and estate administration, where her passions lie.
Career highlights include being the first Queensland solicitor to complete an electronic property transaction via PEXA in 2015.
She is passionate about embracing technology and exploring ways to make legal processes easier for people. Her career goals include growing her team and continuing to service her clients while maintaining small firm charm and good old fashioned customer service.
“I am so grateful to live and work in such a supportive community, with an amazing group of women in business around me that continue to inspire and encourage each other.”
Chris Callaghan
Gympie magistrate Chris Callaghan first arrived on the Gympie scene in 2019, but has been a magistrate for nearly 15 years.
Before he was appointed in 2007, Mr Callaghan worked as a solicitor on the Sunshine Coast in 1980, was admitted to the Bar in Brisbane in 1991 and working there until 1995.
From there, he worked primarily in the criminal courts until he became a magistrate.
Mr Callaghan’s role does not just extend to the Gympie courtroom; he also oversees the court as far north as Hervey Bay and Maryborough and as far west as Kingaroy, administering a system that handles 3500 matters a year, or about 70 cases a week.
Mr Callaghan has said in the past his job consists of only sending people to jail when it is absolutely necessary, because his biggest priority is keeping the community safe.
Edwina Rowan
Edwina Rowan was recently sworn in as a magistrate in Bundaberg following years of volunteering her time to, and being the president of the Edon Place Domestic and Family Violence Centre, as well as being a board member for a number of years.
Prior to her becoming a magistrate at Bundaberg, Ms Rowan was a partner of Charlton’s Lawyers, practising in the areas of criminal law, domestic violence, family law matters and traffic matters.
Ms Rowan is a strong advocate for the Men’s Behavioural Change Program, which commenced operation by Edon Place in the Bundaberg region in 2018.
THat same year, she was awarded the Queensland Police Community service award for her work with Edon Place.
In 2019, Ms Rowan was awarded the Queensland Law Society Agnes McWhinney Award for her outstanding contribution to the legal profession and the community.
Gavin James
Respected Bundaberg lawyer Gavin James has a wealth of experience representing clients through his work with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service.
Mr James provides the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community with legal advice and representation, specialising in criminal law.
He can often be found representing clients at the Bundaberg Magistrates Court.
Trinity McGarvie
Bundaberg magistrate Trinity McGarvie graduated from Bond University in 1999 before becoming a lawyer.
Ms McGarvie worked for a number of law firms, including as a solicitor in regional Legal Aid Queensland offices and her own firm, McGarvie Family Law Practice, at Scareness, Hervey Bay.
Ms McGarvie was appointed to the Magistrates Court of Queensland in 2019, and worked in Mt Isa before being transferred to Bundaberg.
Ms McGarvie has been a member of the Queensland Law Society since 2001.
Joel Blane
Joel Blane of Shine Lawyers Hervey Bay, has been described as having a “never-give-up attitude toward representing his clients”.
Mr Blane fell in love with the Wide Bay as a teenager when his family moved to Hervey Bay.
During his 16 years as a lawyer, Mr Blane has seen the region grow rapidly and his clientele reflects the increasing diversity of the area.
He has represented paramedics, police officers, teachers, carpenters, and builders - to name a few.
In preparing a case, Mr Blane says lawyers must become experts in what their clients do for a living.
You can’t draft a statement of claim for a boilermaker, he says, unless you understand the technical details of the task they were completing when they were injured.
In a recent reported decision, Mr Blane successfully argued for the removal of the time limitation period for a motor vehicle accident client and was able to secure persuasive objective evidence resulting in a substantial settlement.
In recognition of his experience and expertise, he was this year promoted to the position of Special Counsel.
For six years, he has managed the Hervey Bay branch of Shine Lawyers - a dedicated personal injury firm with a full-time presence in the coastal city.
Matt Maloy
Maloy Law director Matt Maloy has an extensive professional background that demonstrates why he is one of the Wide Bay’s most sought after lawyers.
Before becoming a legal practitioner, Mr Maloy worked in a number of roles with the Queensland Police and New South Wales Police Force, giving him invaluable insight into how best to help clients within criminal law, family law, traffic law and domestic violence law.
Prior to establishing his own practice in Bundaberg, Mr Maloy worked in a law firm on the Gold Coast focusing on family law.
After just two years practising as a lawyer, Mr Maloy became a director with one of the partners of his employer and established Cooper Maloy Legal, which expanded into Bundaberg to become Maloy Law.
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