The break-down of a marriage can be a heartbreaking experience made all the worse if you don’t understand your legal rights. These are the experts to call if you need help to navigate a divorce.
We’ve put together a guide to the state’s top lawyers and their specialties: today we bring you Queensland’s top professional divorce lawyers.
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PHIL LOONEY QC, BARRISTER
Mr Looney is a leading family law silk in Queensland, who was first called to the bar in 1996.
He was appointed as a QC took in 2012 and in a former life worked as a chartered accountant in Brisbane, Sydney and Hong Kong.
As well as specialising in family law litigation, he is well-recognised as a top mediator in the area.
Mr Looney also specialises in tax litigation, commercial, corporate and insolvency law and in 2010 appeared in proceedings brought against failed airline SkyAirWorld.
He is an accredited family law arbitrator and outside of the courtroom is a ballroom and Latin dancer.
FIONA CAULLEY, PHILLIPS FAMILY LAW
Ms Caulley is an accredited family law specialist working in Brisbane.
She has worked exclusively in family law for the past fifteen years and is recognised by Doyle’s Guide as a leading family and divorce lawyer.
Ms Caulley is the immediate past president of the Family Law Practitioners’ Association of Queensland (FLPA), having held the role of president from November 2016 until November 2018. Prior to this, she was on FLPA’s executive committee.
ANTONIOUS ADBELSHAHIED, MOLONEY MACCALLUM ABDELSHAHIED LAWYERS
Mr Abdelshahied specialises in family and domestic violence law and can often be found at regional courthouses around the state including Southport Magistrates Court and Beenleigh Magistrates Court.
The Gold Coast-based practitioner currently acts for the father of Brisbane twins who were taken by their mother when they were seven years old from Townsville four years ago.
The woman was arrested after Australian Federal Police found her car in Taree, on the NSW mid-north coast last year.
When the father was reunited with the children Mr Abdelshahied told the press the devoted dad was “ecstatic to say the least”.
JAMES STEEL, BARRY NILSSON
Mr Steel is the current president of the Family Law Practitioners’ Association of Queensland.
He provides advice to married and de facto couples about property, assets, financial agreements and prenuptial agreements.
He has also acted for parties in court and during negotiations around parenting, spousal maintenance and child support.
JULIE BLIGH, CONNOLLY SUTHERS LAWYERS
Ms Bligh is a Queensland Law Society-accredited specialist in family law and personal injuries law.
She has worked in the industry for more than 26 years and is the past president of the Townsville District Law Association.
Ms Bligh previously held a position as associate lecturer in taxation law at James Cook University and can analyse monetary issues involved in relationship breakdowns relating to businesses.
She says online she “looks for opportunities to assist people to restructure their affairs and move forward following relationship breakdown” and boasts the ability to take a “practical, problem-solving approach” to legal action involving relationship breakdowns.
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