Thynne + Macartney is proud to congratulate its Succession Law specialists on their recent recognition in the 2017 edition of the Doyle's Guide.
Partners and Accredited Specialists in Succession Law, Karen Gaston and Margaret McNamara, were listed as ‘Recommended’ in the Doyle’s Guide:
- ‘Leading Wills, Estates & Succession Planning Lawyers – Queensland, 2017’; and
- ‘Leading Estates Litigation Lawyers – Queensland, 2017’.
The firm’s Wills & Estates team was also listed under:
- ‘Leading Wills, Estates & Succession Planning Law Firms – Queensland, 2017’;
- ‘Leading Estates Litigation Law Firms – Queensland, 2017’.
“We are leading the way in Succession Law in Queensland. With the recent appointment of Ashleigh Poole as Special Counsel, we have the largest team of female Queensland Law Society Accredited Specialists in Succession Law in the State. This gives our clients access to an extraordinary depth of expertise and experience,” Peter Jolly, Chairman of Partners said.
Karen Gaston is the Partner heading the Private Clients Group at Thynne + Macartney and has over ten years’ experience in Succession Law.
Although she practices across all areas, her specialty is in estate litigation and estate planning. She also has a particular interest in unusual and complex grants of administration. Karen has considerable experience in guiding carers through the often sensitive and challenging issues relating to the appointment of guardians and administrators for persons without capacity. She also has significant skills and training in alternative dispute resolution including mediation and collaborative law.
Karen is regularly invited to speak at professional development seminars and conferences conducted by the Queensland Law Society and other bodies, such as the CPAs. In the past, she has contributed to QUT’s legal practice course and the University of Queensland Masters of Laws (in the estate litigation and estate planning subjects) and in their undergraduate programme (for succession law).
Margaret McNamara is the other Partner in the Private Clients Group at Thynne + Macartney and has over 28 years’ experience in estates and succession planning.
She specialises in providing strategic advice on a broad range of estate and succession planning issues including preparation, interpretation and contesting of wills, administration and contesting of deceased estates, acting in matters involving QCAT and incapacitated persons, advising on and reviewing existing trust and business structures for succession planning, the sale of trust property and disputes over trusts.
Margaret was one of the first lawyers in Queensland to undertake the Queensland Law Society (QLS) Specialist Accreditation in Succession Law and gained her Accreditation in 2002. Subsequently, Margaret served on the QLS Specialist Accreditation Board for over nine years. In 2016, she was recognised by the QLS with the Agnes McWhinney Award.
Ashleigh Poole, Special Counsel, has over ten years’ experience (over seven years as a solicitor) in all aspects of estate administration, estate planning, estate litigation, trusts and QCAT matters.
She acts for executors attending to the administration or beneficiaries seeking advice and assistance in respect of their estate entitlement. In the estate planning space, Ashleigh has experience with all forms of testamentary trusts, special disability trusts, assessment of capacity in borderline cases, mitigating the risk of an anticipated estate challenge, and dealing with interests in superannuation, trusts and companies.
Ashleigh also has considerable experience with estate and trust litigation including Family Provision Applications, challenges to the validity of a will, trust disputes and equitable claims. She also has expertise and a special interest in applications to QCAT, whether that be on behalf of adults or interested family members.
“We believe this recognition from the Doyle’s Guide is richly deserved by our Succession Law specialists and demonstrates how well respected they are,” Peter Jolly said.
