Susan Thomson joined MacDonnells Law in 1997 and was appointed a Partner in 2004.
Susan is a member of the MacDonnells Law Queensland-wide Litigation team. An accredited family law specialist, Susan heads the Family Law team in the Cairns office and also practises in general commercial litigation.
Areas of Practice
· General commercial litigation
· Relationships and family law
Experience
Family and Relationships Law
Susan has specialist Accreditation in Family Law through the Queensland Law Society, and is a leader in the MacDonnells Law State-wide family law team.
In her family and relationship law practice, Susan deals with the legal issues associated with personal relationships. At the beginning of and in ongoing marriage and de facto relationships, Susan assists parties with asset protection, particularly in relation to pre-relationship assets, using individually crafted financial agreement. Upon the breakdown of relationships, she advises on issues concerning property entitlements, superannuation splitting, financial support, child support, parental responsibilities, and children’s living arrangements.
Susan has represented clients in property disputes concerning commercial properties, trading companies, retail businesses, professional partnerships, recreational facilities, family discretionary trusts, unit trusts, marina berths, restaurants, sole trader businesses, special collections, chattels, motor vehicle rental businesses, holiday letting businesses, farm management rights, real estate investment portfolios, share portfolios, superannuation interests, disposal of assets, the former matrimonial home, inheritances, pre-relationship assets, pre-marriage agreements, spousal maintenance, and has experience in disputes between spouses over interim management of and ultimate entitlements to rural and farming properties, including those involving adult children interveners. Susan has worked with clients from PNG, Japan, New Zealand, Middle East, USA and Europe, who have property interests in Queensland, interstate Australia and overseas. Susan is able to identify cases requiring litigation to bring resolutions, but utilizes out-of-court settlement processes where possible, to afford clients greater control of the outcome of their dispute and minimisation of costs.
In parenting matters, Susan is experienced in dispute resolution between parents with disparate views on significant issues (such as name, religion, education, medical treatment or name), and where disagreements arise about living arrangements for their children post separation. Susan has substantial experience in local, regional, interstate and international relocation of children, recovery of children removed by one parent overseas or interstate, passport issues, and general disputes about overseas travel. Other areas that relate to children include the legal effect of family violence, grandparents' entitlements, child support obligations and entitlements, financial obligations of partners during pregnancy and surrogacy laws in Queensland.
General commercial litigation
Susan’s is a senior member of the Cairns litigation department, and as one of six Litigation partners in the Cairns office, supervises the largest and most experienced litigation team based in regional Queensland.
Susan represents MacDonnells Law regularly in community and business based organisations and events. She has judged local business awards and education awards. She has written and presented many articles on various legal topics to professional bodies, industry groups, and at local and international legal conference. In the past Susan has supported James Cook University Law Faculty by tutoring undergraduate subjects, including Commercial Law and Introduction to Contract Law.
Current Qualifications & Memberships
§ Bachelor of Laws - 1996
§ Admission to Practice as Solicitor - Supreme Court of Queensland – 1999
§ Admission to Practice as Legal Practitioner – High Court of Australia - 2000
§ Accredited Specialist Family Law – 2003
§ Practice Management Accreditation - 2005
§ Queensland Law Association
§ Far North Queensland Law Association
§ Law Council of Australia – Family Law Section
§ Family Law Practitioners Association
§ NeuroPower Transformational Leadership Accreditation
§ North Queensland Womens Legal Service (Cairns)
