This listing details leading Senior Counsel and Junior Counsel practising within the area of construction and infrastructure. It is compiled on the back of feedback from solicitors practising within these areas.
Senior Counsel
Preeminent
John Bond SC – Level 29 Santos Place
Bob Holt SC – Level 17, 239 George St
Leading
Shane Doyle SC – Level 27, 239 George St
Peter Dunning SC – Level 31, Santos Place
Recommended
Kylie Downes SC – Level 17, Quay Central
Paul Freeburn SC – Level 24, 239 George St
Brian O’Donnell SC – Level 17, 239 George St
Pat O’Shea – 30 East Chambers
Walter Sofronoff QC – Murray Gleeson Chambers
Michael Stewart SC – Gerard Brennan Chambers
Tom Sullivan SC – Level 14, Quay Central
Junior Counsel
Preeminent
Mark Ambrose – Level 11, 239 George St
Gareth Beacham – Level 31 Santos Place
Melanie Hindman – Level 29, Santos Place
Leading
Sally Armitage – Level 17, Inns of Court
Jeff Otto – 30 West Chambers
Peter Franco – Level 29 Santos Place
Greg Thomson – Level 11, 239 George St
Recommended
Damien Atkinson – 31 West Chambers
David de Jersey – Level 29 Santos Place
Michael Drysdale – Level 15, Inns of Court
Adrian Duffy – Jeddart Chambers
Madelaine Luchich – 30 East Chambers
Bernard Porter – Level 29 Santos Place
Michael Trim – Level 27, 239 George St
Mark Williams – Level 18, 239 George St
Editorial Overview
John Bond SC and Bob Holt SC continue to sit comfortably as the Queensland construction market’s top silks. Parochiality aside, Queensland’s construction lawyers viewed Bond and Holt as “better than anyone from the Southern states” with Holt seen as “very user friendly and open” and Bond as “aggressive that’s why I like him”.
Amongst other senior counsel, Tom Sullivan SC was “meticulous and still good value” while Peter Dunning SC was “a genuine building and construction Silk and my pick on BCIPA work” according to one mid-tier Partner.
Amongst junior counsel our top ranking, previous only featuring Mark Ambrose and Gareth Beacham now includes the rising talent of Melanie Hindman. Described as “responsive”, “client friendly” and “always great” Hindman enjoys a broad appeal across all types of Queensland’s law firms.
Retaining the services of the top end of the Queensland bar continues to be a pricey exercise with prices of up to $15,000 per day on offer. Typically the stronger construction silks could be retained for between $8,000 to $10,000 per day with most seeing a rate of $9,000 as reasonable.
Juniors were typically viewed as best priced at between $4,000 to $4,500 per day however daily rates of $6,000 were not uncommon (although typically viewed unfavourably by practitioners).