Council Profiles

Council 2012

  • John de Groot (President)
  • Annette Bradfield (Deputy President)
  • Ian Brown (Vice President)
  • Bruce Doyle (Immediate Past President)
  • Genevieve Dee
  • Bill Potts
  • Rohan Armstrong
  • Suzanne Greenwood
  • Joanne Parisi
  • Michael Fitzgerald
  • Warren Denny
  • Paul Tully
  • Deborah Awyzio

Dr John de Groot

Dr John de Groot has experience in the practice of law in a variety of settings, including as a sole practitioner and partner of a major law firm (which is now Minter Ellison). He is currently Special Counsel at de Groots Wills and Estates Lawyers. John has extensive ties with the Society, having been either a member or chair of various QLS committees for over 30 years. John’s commitment to the profession is demonstrated by his many years of teaching ethics and legal practice skills, authorship of practical legal texts and drive to improve services for practitioners throughout Queensland, be they sole practitioners, partners or associates in major law firms, in-house corporate counsel or government lawyers.

Annette Bradfield

Annette is a partner of Fox Bradfield Lawyers practising primarily in property and commercial law. Having worked in firms large and small, rural and city, (Groom & Lavers, Minter Ellison, Barwicks Wisewoulds and Porter Davies) and as a lecturer and mentor at QUT Legal Practice Course, Annette has extensive understanding of the range of issues facing members and the legal profession and sees advocacy by QLS for QLS members as a fundamental QLS service.

Ian Brown

Ian was admitted in 1990 and is Principal, Maurice Blackburn Lawyers, Browns Plains, a Member of the QLS Council Executive, Professional Conduct Committee, Accident Compensation/Tort Law Committee, a Personal Injuries Law Accredited Specialist and past president Australian Lawyers Alliance. Ian is an advocate of ensuring QLS delivers quality services in trust accounting, practice management, ethics and professional development that accommodates the specific needs of remote, regional and suburban practitioners.

Bruce Doyle

Bruce has more than 30 years’ experience in practice and is managing partner of Family Law Doyle Keyworth & Harris.  He is QLS’ Immediate Past President, an Accredited Family Law Specialist and chairs the QLS Access to Justice and Pro Bono Law Committee. Previous roles included QLS director on the Law Council of Australia in 2010 and 2011, president of the Family Law Practitioners Association (Qld), Queensland solicitor representative on Executive of the Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia and deputy president of the Children Services Tribunal.

Rohan Armstrong

Rohan Armstrong is a partner of Roberts Nehmer McKee Lawyers and practices in Townsville. He was admitted as a solicitor in 1989 after five-year articles with Roberts Leu & North. He is an accredited specialist with extensive experience in insurance cases, banking and finance law, workplace health and safety, criminal law and employment law. Rohan has a special interest in professional standards.

Deborah Awyzio

Deborah Awyzio is the Principal of D A Family Lawyers, a Brisbane CBD family law firm. Deborah is president of the Family Law Practitioners’ Association (Qld) and a member of the Family Law Pathways Group Steering Committee and the Advisory Committee for Masters of Family Law program with the College of Law. She is an accredited family law specialist, undertakes work as a solicitor advocate in both the Family Court of Australia and the Federal Magistrates Court and has been practising since 1996.

Genevieve Dee

Genevieve Dee is an Accredited Family Law Specialist and senior associate in Cooper Grace Ward’s family law team. Genevieve was elected a Councillor of Queensland Law Society for 2010 -2011, is past Chair of the New and Early Career Lawyers Section of the Society, and currently a member of both the Family Law Section and the Committee of Management. She believes strong and coherent advocacy on behalf of the Society’s members is essential. Genevieve actively supports the Society’s CPD program in regional Queensland and volunteers her time to present on family law topics in regional Queensland.

Warren Denny

Warren Denny is an accredited specialist property law and was admitted as a solicitor in 1986. He has 25 years’ experience and is a partner with Middletons' Brisbane office. He is a member of the Property Law Specialist Accreditation Advisory Committee and the Property and Development Law Committee, and has a particular interest in risk management in property transactions. He is the author of the Lexon first letters package and protocol checklists, and is active in promoting the prevention of claims through education in the profession. Warren would like to see ongoing improvement in the efficiency and viability of property and conveyancing practices across the profession.

Michael Fitzgerald

Michael Fitzgerald is a partner in Ashurst (formerly Blake Dawson) having been with the firm since 1982. His area of expertise is banking and finance law, advising banks, listed companies and statutory corporations. Michael is a member of the Law Council of Australia Financial Services Committee and the Banking and Financial Services Law Association. He holds membership of a number of community organisations including:

  • Rotary Club of Kenmore Inc (Past President 2005-2006)
  • Coeliac Queensland (currently President)
  • Our Lady of the Rosary Parish Kenmore (member parish finance council).

Suzanne Greenwood

Suzanne Greenwood has a demonstrated commitment of service to QLS members as a member of the Proctor Editorial Committee (since 2009) and formerly of the Marketing Committee (six years) and the International Relations Committee (10 years). Admitted in 1992, Sue has worked in private, government and now in-house legal roles and is currently general counsel to the St Vincent de Paul Society. In 2010, Sue was awarded the Australian Corporate Lawyers Association national Award for Excellence in Corporate Social Responsibility, and in 2011 received the prestigious Agnes McWhinney Award in recognition of outstanding contribution to the community by a female solicitor.

Joanne Parisi

Joanne is a Senior Associate in the statewide Commercial Litigation team of MacDonnells Law based in Cairns. She also sits on the Executive, the Committee of Management and Queensland Law Foundation’s Board. Joanne is keen to develop the legal profession having previously been President of the Far North Queensland Law Association, President of the Cairns Community Legal Centre and a member of the North Queensland Law Association committee. She has lectured and tutored at James Cook University, and assisted local schools by providing advice on mooting competitions and marking assessments.

Bill Potts

Bill Potts has worked as a criminal lawyer since his admission in 1982, first with Price & Roobottom at Southport and more recently as a director of Potts Lawyers in Brisbane and Southport. He has been active for many years in counselling members and assisting with complaints and disciplinary matters. Bill’s work with QLS includes his role as a Senior Counsellor (since 1997) and service on the Criminal Law Committee. He has previously worked to establish a community legal centre and serves on a school board.

Paul Tully

Paul Tully is a Principal and Practice Chairman of McInnes Wilson Lawyers Pty Ltd and has seen it evolve from a three partner practice to its present 20 principal ILP. Paul believes in the constant improvement of technology to support rural and regional practitioners and the importance of the professional development program. Outside of law, he is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a Judicial Officer of SANZAR (South Africa, New Zealand and Australia Rugby) and Chair of the Queensland Rugby Union Judicial Committee.