We’re excited to share some exciting news! Attwood Marshall Lawyers is expanding its presence in Sydney and Brisbane. With a new, larger office space in Brisbane’s CBD and a move to a premium location in Sydney, we’re building on our commitment to make legal services more accessible and supportive for our clients across Australia.
As part of this expansion, we’ve welcomed three senior lawyers to our growing team, made a series of well-deserved promotions, and deepened our community engagement through new media partnerships while staying true to our core intent: to help people and change their lives for the better.
We’re investing in people and spaces
Although we’ve had a Brisbane presence for many years, over the past two years our Brisbane office has become a hub for our litigation and court work in the Brisbane Supreme Court, Family Court and Federal Courts, leading to the need to establish a larger office with full-time lawyers permanently based in Brisbane.
Our team and clients can enjoy the comfortable and spacious environment in our expanded office at Santos Place, 32 Turbot Street, with sweeping views of the City and Brisbane River.
Brisbane holds a special place in our story. Many of our lawyers have grown up in the area and remain deeply connected to the local business, legal, and community networks. Our continued investment here reflects not only our roots but our future.
Meanwhile, in Sydney, we’re proud to announce our move into new premises at Level 57, Martin Place, Sydney, right in the heart of the CBD. This vibrant location is well-connected via public transport, making it easier than ever for clients to access our services. The new office marks a significant milestone in our strategic expansion in New South Wales.
Welcoming new senior lawyers
We’re thrilled to welcome three accomplished senior lawyers to our Brisbane and Sydney teams who bring deep experience to their practice.
Duncan MacDougall – Brisbane
Joining us as a Senior Associate in our Estate Litigation department, Duncan brings with him a wealth of knowledge in Wills and estates, particularly in contested wills, family provision applications and disputes involving executors and beneficiaries.
He’s known for guiding clients through complex and often emotionally charged matters with empathy and clarity.
Practising exclusively in succession law, his previous experience includes estate planning and helping executors and beneficiaries through the often-complex administration process.
Outside of practice, Duncan is the current Queensland Chapter President of Pride in Law, supporting inclusion and diversity within the legal profession and broader LGBTIQA+ community.
Duncan is a regular voice on our new 4BC Brisbane radio segment, Brisbane’s Legal Lowdown, joining Sofie Formica every Wednesday at 2.35 pm to answer listeners’ questions and share practical legal insights.
This media partnership is another step toward our mission to make legal information more accessible and approachable.
Melany Dowse – Brisbane
Melany joins our Commercial Litigation department as a Special Counsel.
With over 21 years of experience, she has acted in high-value disputes across property, building and construction, insolvency, contract and equity. Her clients range from large private companies to family-owned businesses and individual litigants.
From multi-million-dollar claims in the Supreme Court of Queensland to applying for and defending applications for an injunction to proceedings commenced in the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT), Melany brings deep legal expertise and a practical, client-first approach.
Both Duncan and Melany will be based in our Brisbane office but are available to meet clients at any of our Gold Coast or Northern New South Wales offices as required. Likewise, our wider team of lawyers regularly travels to Brisbane for appointments, allowing clients access to their preferred legal advisor, regardless of location.
Celebrating internal promotions
In addition to welcoming new faces, we’re proud to recognise the exceptional contributions of six team members who have recently been promoted across various departments – effective May 2025.
These promotions underscore the firm’s commitment to excellence and recognise the outstanding achievements of these individuals within their respective practice areas.
Promoted to Special Counsel:
- Jade Carlson, Commercial Litigation
Promoted to Senior Associate:
- Mieke Elzer, Property and Commercial Law
- Natalie Comerford, Wills & Estates
Promoted to Associate:
- Yasmine Chalvatzis, Compensation Law
Jeff Garrett, Legal Practice Director at Attwood Marshall Lawyers, congratulates everyone on their well-deserved promotions.
“These promotions are a direct reflection of the continued growth we’ve seen across our practice areas,” Mr Garrett said.
“At the heart of what we do is a genuine commitment to improve our clients’ lives for the better. These individuals exemplify our mission and values as a firm. They’ve demonstrated dedication and leadership in their workloads and have consistently gone the extra mile for their clients and colleagues. Well done, all!”
Looking ahead
From expanding our physical footprint to growing our team and launching new ways to connect with the community, Attwood Marshall Lawyers is proud to continue investing in the future of our national operations.
We look forward to helping even more Australians access trusted legal advice when they need it most.
If you’re looking for lawyers who genuinely care and are committed to making a difference, please contact us anytime at 1800 621 071.
