For eight decades, Attwood Marshall Lawyers has stood beside individuals, families, and communities when it mattered most. As we mark this milestone, we look back on the people, cases, and moments that shaped our journey into the modern specialised legal firm we are today.
A legacy built on service
Over eight decades, Attwood Marshall Lawyers has seen enormous changes – in technology, client expectations and the pace of legal practice.
The firm traces its foundations to post-World War Two in 1946. That’s when the late Eric Attwood set up practice as a solicitor in the Coolangatta-Tweed area after serving in the Australian Airforce. In a region still finding its footing after the war, Eric moved his young family from Sydney to the Tweed Valley and built his legal practice on the simple but powerful principle of helping people and changing their lives for the better.
Our journey through the decades:
- 1946 – Eric Attwood establishes his practice in the Coolangatta-Tweed region after World War II.
- 1950s – Eric joins F K Budd in partnership, practising as F K Budd, Son & Attwood with the main office in Murwillumbah. Eric preferred Coolangatta and had an office in Griffith Street.
- Mid-1960s – Bob Marshall begins his articles of clerkship with the firm in Murwillumbah. He used to get a lift from Tweed Heads with Jack Woodward, who was working for Halliday & Stainlay at the time.
- 1969 – Eric Attwood joins forces with Bob Marshall and Jack Woodward to form Attwood Marshall & Woodward, with an office above 52 Griffith Street in Coolangatta. On 14th of February in 1969, Bob Marshall was admitted as a solicitor in NSW and Eric’s son Richard Attwood was admitted as a solicitor on the 18th February 1969 – only four days apart!
- 1972 – The fledgling firm moves into new architect designed premises at 31 Griffith Street Coolangatta. Richard Attwood joins the firm after completing his articles of clerkship in Brisbane with T W Biggs & Biggs and soon after joins the partnership.
- 1976 – Unfortunately, Eric passed away in 1976, but the three partners known as Attwood Marshall & Woodward continued practising.
- 1979 – Jack Woodward leaves the partnership to set up his own practice. The firm has been known as Attwood Marshall Lawyers since 1979, remaining at 31 Griffith Street.
- 1989 – Ten years later, the firm moves to its current headquarters, overlooking the beautiful Coolangatta Beach on Level 2 of The Strand Shopping Centre.
What started as one solicitor’s practice has grown into a firm of over 80 staff. Today, we have offices spanning Coolangatta, Robina Town Centre, Kingscliff, Southport, Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.
We provide comprehensive legal services across compensation law, Wills and Estates, aged care, estate litigation, commercial litigation and dispute resolution, family law, property law, business and commercial law, racing and equine law, and criminal law.
From its earliest days, Attwood Marshall Lawyers has attracted people who care deeply about what they do.
“It doesn’t matter what your position or title, we are all here to help people,” one team member shared in a Best Places to Work survey in 2010. “Everyone is kept involved, treated fairly and valued as a key player in our team. Our cultural values of integrity, understanding and responsibility play a key factor in why this is a great place to work.”
Those values – integrity, understanding and responsibility – are the foundation of every client interaction and every legal strategy.
45 years of leadership: Jeff Garrett’s journey
This milestone year is also special for another reason. We are celebrating Legal Practice Director Jeff Garrett’s 45th year with the firm.
Jeff started work with Attwood Marshall Lawyers as an Articled Law Clerk in February 1981. His master solicitor during his Articles was founding partner Bob Marshall.
Jeff became a partner in 1991 and later took over the running of the personal injuries department, which at that stage had 17 lawyers. He went on to become one of the first lawyers to achieve dual accreditation as a Law Society Accredited Specialist in personal injury law in both New South Wales and Queensland.
In 1998, Jeff became the Managing Partner of Attwood Marshall Lawyers. He has continued in that role for nearly three decades, steering the firm through technological and legislative change, as well as meeting the evolving needs of the communities we serve.
Bob Marshall retired in 1989, and Richard Attwood retired in 2001.
“Bob and I have strongly endorsed Jeff’s efforts in guiding the practice into a new phase of substantial growth through its offices at Coolangatta, Kingscliff, Robina, Southport and Brisbane,” says Richard. “Jeff stayed focused and maintained the brand, and the firm continues to achieve outstanding success as a result.”
The firm continues to expand to meet the growing demand from its Southeast Queensland and New South Wales markets. Yet one thing remains constant: the commitment to being there when it matters most.
“We’ve been here for 80 years, and we plan to be here for many more,” says Jeff. “Our job is to stay ahead of the curve – to combine the best technology with the best people and continue making a difference in our clients’ lives.”
“Legacy isn’t just about longevity. It’s about relevance, evolution and always being there for the people who need us most. We are committed to doing our best to look after our clients and their families – it is a great privilege to be able to practice law and help people in the most stressful periods of their lives.”
Making a difference
Over the past 80 years, we’ve had the privilege of helping thousands of families through some of the most difficult periods in their lives. Along the way, we’ve also been involved in a number of significant cases that have shaped outcomes not only for our clients, but for the wider community.
We’ve also maintained a long-standing tradition of community engagement, supporting various charities and clubs throughout the Gold Coast and Northern New South Wales. For more than 20 years we’ve partnered with the Salvation Army for Community Wills Days, where our estate planning lawyers volunteer their time with all fees donated to the Salvos. We also host Wills Days for Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service and Currumbin Wildlife Hospital, and are top-tier sponsors of Coolangatta Surf Life Saving Club, Bilambil Jets Junior Rugby league Football Club and the Doyles Art Award, which is held in Mudgeeraba each year.
The same commitment to helping others extends beyond community partnerships and into the legal system itself.
Making justice accessible has always been a key part of our mission. We are proud to be a registered participant in the Law Society of New South Wales Pro Bono Scheme, recognising that navigating the legal system can be overwhelming, particularly for those facing financial hardship. By volunteering our services, we aim to help bridge that gap and make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.
In many cases, this means standing up for individuals who feel powerless against larger institutions. Over the years, we have represented many clients who have been disadvantaged by the actions of Public Trustees around Australia, helping people remove the Public Trustee as the administrator of their affairs or challenge exorbitant fees charged on deceased estates.
Attwood Marshall Lawyers – Looking ahead
As we celebrate 80 years of serving our community, we’re grateful to the clients, families, businesses, and community partners who have trusted us along the way. Every milestone in our history has been shaped by the people we have had the privilege to help.
Strategic priorities for the years ahead include: expanding specialist practice areas, including Estate Litigation, Aged Care & Elder Law, Executor and Attorney Services, Planning & Environment Law and Equine Law – areas reflecting both client need and the firm’s unique expertise.
The decades ahead will bring new opportunities, new challenges and new generations of lawyers and staff. They will continue to uphold the values this firm was built on.
While the world continues to change, our commitment remains the same: providing clear advice, practical solutions, and genuine support when it matters most.
To celebrate this milestone, the team gathered across our offices for a lunch honouring Jeff’s 45 years of leadership and the firm’s 80-year journey. We shared reflections on the history of the firm, watched a commemorative video, and toasted to the values and people that have defined Attwood Marshall Lawyers over the years.
Here’s to 80 years of service – and to many more decades of making a difference.
