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Bill Munro joins Condon Charles team
We are very pleased to welcome the latest addition to the Condon Charles team - Mr Bill Munro.
Bill, who joins the firm as Special Counsel, is well known amongst the Toowoomba legal community and brings an extraordinary amount of experience and expertise to the firm across a variety of practice areas.
Bill is picking up some of the workload from the firm's commercial litigation section but will also be advising client's who have suffered as a result of the action or negligence of others.
A profile and photo of Bill will be added to the Our People page soon.
New Condon Charles team members
We're pleased to have welcomed several new arrivals to the firm over the last few months.
In particular, we welcome two new solicitors. Charlotte Paterson has joined our Family Law team as a junior solicitor and experience litigator Duncan Anderson joins the Commercial Litigation Team.
Look out for profiles and photos on the team page soon.
Try and conversion for Hamish
Hamish Proctor is a trainee solicitor in the Litigation section of Condon Charles and everyone is very proud of his success in the Rugby Union world. His latest achievement is his appointment as Head Coach for both the Queensland Country and whole of Queensland Under 17s representative teams.
As if this isn't enough for this busy young man, Hamish is an active part of the Toowoomba Rugby Union community as coach of the Toowoomba City Bears A grade side and the Darling Downs Under 19s side. Hamish is also one of the local representatives of the Junior Queensland Reds Talent Identification Program.
Director Brooke Pugh said, “We’re really proud that Hamish has been recognised with these appointments.”
“Supporting him in undertaking these coaching positions is another great way for Condon Charles to give something back to the community we live in”, Brooke said.
Congratulations and well done, Hamish.
Presentation to Family Law Pathways Network
Toowoomba family law specialist Brooke Pugh recently addressed a meeting of the Toowoomba Family Law Pathways Network.
Brooke's presentation discussed many of the converns and issues around family separation and particularly the issues faced by families where domestic violence occurs.
The presentation was particularly timely given recent tragic events arising from a family separation that involved the death of three people including a five year old child.
The theme for the event was "Strengthening partnerships and practice with the Family Law Sector" which Brooke described as an aspirational theme that urges all participants in the family law sector to work more closely and collaboratively in dealing with separating familes.
The Family Law Pathways Network is federally funded and comprises professionals operating within the family law system who focus on information-sharing and networking opportunities in local areas.
For further information on the Condon Charles Toowooomba Family Law practice follow this link and visit our family law section page under Expertise.
Social event welcomes new team
Condon Charles recently hosted a clients and contacts event at the Downs Club to introduce our new team members.
The event was also the first opportunity new owners Brooke Pugh and Chris Neville have had to say thanks to the firm's supporters and to confirm their commitment to providing the same standard of service that everyone has come to expect from Condon Charles.
Director Chris Neville said on the night, "Both Brooke and I truly appreciate the opportunity that Shane Charles has given us in selling the firm to us."
"We understand that we have inherited an exceptional reputation for client service and working closely with business associates and we look forward to the challenge of meeting and exceeding that reputation," he said.
"We also appreciated Shane remaining with the firm two days a week to provide ongoing support and strategice advice across his specialty practice areas."
Photos from the night are attached.
New additions at Condon Charles
With increasing demand for our services from both new and existing clients Condon Charles has been through a heavy recruitment period since the start of 2011.
Since the start of the year we've appointed a new General Manager, a solicitor, a trainee solicitor and several paralegal and administrative staff.
Director Brooke Pugh said, "Its been a busy time for us with so much recruitment but we feel really blessed with the quality of the new team members we've been able to attract."
"We spend a lot of time looking for people that we think will fit both the firm's culture and our client's need for both expertise and understanding."
"We're confident that the new team members, with such diverse backgrounds, will bring new energy and new skills to the firm that will benefit our clients for many years to come."
Profiles and photos of General Manager Kathleen Keefe, Solicitor Allison Glanville and Trainee Solicitor Hamish Procter are available on the Our People page.
Kathleen Keefe joins Ambassador Working Group
New Condon Charles General Manager Kathleen Keefe was recently appointed to the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers Young Ambassador Working Group.
Kathleen said it was a privilege to be involved with a program that has such a long and distinguished history in Toowoomba.
"The Carnival Ambassador Program in its many forms has been a part of the fabric of Toowoomba for many years and has given many young people the opportunity to develop themselves while also giving back to the local community," Kathleen said.
"That doesn't mean the Program has become dated. Far from it. Each year the Program develops and grows and its ability to keep in touch with changing public perceptions and expectations is one of the reasons it has such an enduring legacy."
Members of the Working Group can be seen in the attached picture.
CCL Sponsors RealWay Awards
Condon Charles Lawyers was proud to be a recent sponsor of the RealWay Group Gala Awards Evening.
Held on the Gold Coast at the glamarous Palazzo Versace the Awards are the RealWay Group's annual recognition of the top performers across their business.
Awards presented on the night cover property management, sales (by office and individual) and administration staff.
Presenting one of the awards on the evening where Condon Charles Directors Brooke Pugh and Chris Neville.
Chris said, "Our participation in these awards is recognition of the important relationship with have with the RealWay Group."
"As one of Toowoomba's leading property practices we recognise the value of the relationships with have with RealWay's property consultants as well as the wider property industry," he said.
Award presentation picture here.
PAMDA Changes come into effect
The Property Agent and Motor Dealers Act 2000 (the Act) has long been the thorn in the side of residential agents, conveyancers and solicitors.
After many years of lobbying, the Government has made amendments to the Act that commence this Friday, 1 October 2010. These amendments simplify the contract presentation process and reduce the circumstances in which a buyer can terminate a contract due to a failure to comply with the Act.
Visit our Publications - Property (Upates) page here for more information.
Thanks for the feedback
Its now three months since the Condon Charles Client Feedback program started giving our clients the opportunity to let us know what they really think.
We'd like to take this opportunity to thank those clients that have completed the online survey. And while their details are confidential we hope that the three monthly prize draw winners have enjoyed their movie tickets.
To those clients that completed the online form but did not win a prize we say thank you for your time and thoughts.
The feedback we've received has been great and helps us to provide not just better services but also to manage the way we provide these services to best suit our client's needs and expectations.
Estate planning presentation for Mother's Union
Condon Charles recently presented an estate planning seminar to the Toowoomba Diocese of the Mother's Union organisation.
More than 30 members from around Toowoomba and the Darling Downs attended to learn more about the importance of estate planning and to better understand the processes involved.
It was pleasing to have the opportunity to talk to a group of women who often play an important part in their local communities.
These are the daughters, wives, mothers and grandmothers that often provide the foundation for happy and healthy families.
My hope is that the information received will provide a clearer picture of just how much difficulty can arise for a family that suffers both the loss of a loved one and also the legal, emotional and financial difficulties that can happen when the deceased does not have a valid and up to date will.
Arguments that arise during the administration of an estate, especially where clear instructions have not been left, is one of the most common causes of family disharmony and the breakdown of parent and child or sibling relationships.
The Mother's Union Australia is an organisation within the Anglican Church that works to encourage, support and strengthen marriage and family life.
Community groups interested in free seminars on estate planning or other legal issues are invited to contact us to discuss their requirements.
Property Investing Seminar Success
"Toowoomba is shaping up as an attention-grabbing hotspot of the future" Terry Ryder - Hotspotting, The Australian, 20 May 2010.
This article was the catalyst for a recent information evening conducted by Qld Hot Property, Vision Accountants, GJ Gardner Homes and Condon Charles.
With interest growing in the Toowoomba area as an investment location, both in property and in business, the time was right to provide our clients with an overview of why now is a good time to plan your property investment future.
With more than 75 people taking up the offer to attend the free seminar the evening was fully subscribed.
During the evening Shane Charles discussed the latest information on the major projects that will influence the Toowoomba property market for years to come.
Leon Carlile, REIQ Zone Chairman and Qld Hot Property, gave an insight into the best performing suburbs in Toowoomba and highlighted key locations for growth.
Their presentations were followed by representatives form the other contributing businesses covering new home building options, tax & structuring issues and gaining the right finance.
Please contact us if you are interested in future events of this type and we will add you to the advance invitation list.
Condon Charles launches Residential Contracts Guide
As part of its commitment to providing Toowoomba's best conveyancing service Condon Charles has developed a Residential Contracts Guide for agents.
This Guide contains a set of carefully drafted, effective special conditions that can be applied to cover virtually any requirement within a residential contract.
Conveyancing Manager Justin Shine said the Guide had developed out of the existing service Condon Charles provided to agents seeking advice on special conditions.
Justin said, "We regularly provide advice and special conditions to agents to make sure they get a contract that is watertight and represents the parties' interests.
"Using this Guide agents should find it easier to get a first draft contract with special conditions together and they can then contact us if they need further advice or modification of a condition.
"To make the process even easier we provide both a hard copy and electronic copy of the special conditions so they can be easily cut and paste into the contract."
The Guide is available free of charge and also includes information about the services Condon Charles provides to agents, team profiles, a copy of the REIQ Contract 6th Edition, conversion tables and web addresses for sites agents may find useful.
If you would like copies of the Guide please contact Jillian Davis on 4617 8110 or jillian@condoncharles.com.au
Shane Charles joins Mentoring for Growth Panel
Shane Charles was recently appointed to the Mentor Panel of the Toowoomba region's Mentoring for Growth Program.
Mentoring for Growth is a State Government initiative designed to assist local and regional business achievers and entrepreneurs to address impediments to growth in their business activities.
As a new member of the panel Shane will be involved in one-hour brainstorming sessions conducted by a panel of other similarly experienced and professional business mentors.
Shane said this program provides a fantastic opportunity for people and businesses with real potential to benefit from the combined wisdom of the local business community.
The mentees gain access to expertise that might otherwise be out of their reach for financial reasons or because they haven't had an opportunity to meet the right people to help them.
Condon Charles goes Tropical
Seizing the opportunity to get out of the usual work attire Condon Charles recently participated in Tropical Shirt Friday.
For the price of a gold coin donation each staff member either wore a tropical shirt or an Hawaiian lei.
Funds raised went to the Toowoomba Hospital Children's Appeal.
The highlight of the day, behind the spectacle of Shane Charles in a magnificent orange and white hibiscus shirt, was discovering that the firm was the winner of the major prize for participating businesses.
Courtesy of Fitzy's Fibber Magees the staff will be enjoying a "Fitzy's Feast" to the value of $300 for efforts in supporting a worthy local cause.
Wills day raises more than $1500 for Endeavour
The Endeavour Foundation will benefit to the tune of around $1500 thanks to the time and efforts of the Condon Charles Estate Planning Team.
Condon Charles is providing estate planning advice to the staff of McConachie Stedman for a once off donation of $50 per couple.
For that price Condon Charles will prepare a Will and Enduring Power of Attorney and then donate the entire fee to the Endeavour Foundation to continue their outstanding work.
Condon Charles Director, Shane Charles said the idea had come about as a way of encouraging other professional advisors to undertake their own estate planning.
Shane said, “Its amazing how often lawyers, accountants, financial planners and bankers will give their client’s advice about the need for a professionally prepared Will while failing to take care of it themselves.
“We work closely with these advisors, particularly McConachie Stedman, so it seemed to just make sense to offer to help them get their estate planning in order, while also benefitting a local charity,” he said.
McConachie Stedman Partner Jane Heidrich said the firm had put a particularly strong effort in recent years into ensuring their clients are aware of the importance of both personal and business succession planning.
Jane said, “The financial, and emotional, benefits of a professional prepared Will can be felt by families for many years afterwards.
“Unfortunately you hear far more stories of families who have been left to pick up the pieces of family disputes, failed businesses and massive debt which can arise when a family member passes without proper estate planning.”
In what may be something of a local record the Condon Charles Estate Planning Team took instructions for over 50 individual Wills and Enduring Powers of Attorney over 2 days at McConachie Stedman’s offices on 23 and 24 November.
Shane Charles said he hoped this would be the first of a series of Charity Wills Days the firm would undertake with other professional advisors around Toowoomba.
Any accounting or financial planning firms interested in a similar offer should contact Shane to discuss.
Development opportunities over breakfast
Condon Charles was pleased to sponsor a recent Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce breakfast forum tackling the issues around the future development of the Toowoomba region.
Moderated by Shane Charles, the forum included some of Toowoomba's business leaders and development experts including Dennis Wagner (Wagners), John Minz (Heritage Building Society), John Russell (Russell Mineral Equipment), John Dornbusch (Dornbusch Partners), Bill Sankey (Easternwell) and Michael McNab (McNab Construction).
Just a few of the highlights included:
- we're a long way from being out of the global financial crisis
- while many businesses are impacted the prospects for Toowoomba are good
- transportation (road, rail and air) is a critical issue for our region's development
- business is looking to the Council to take a greater role in regional development
As sponsor of the event Condon Charles also had the opportunity to speak about its services. As well as outlining the firms services we discussed the firm's commitment to working with business and individuals in the region's development, the strength and depth of legal services available here in Toowoomba and the recent creation of a litigation section within the firm.
Condon Charles now offers litigation services
Condon Charles has responded to demand from our clients with the addition of a litigation practice to our firm.
Solicitor Chris Neville recently joined the firm and heads up the litigation practice. Chris comes to us with a wealth of experience in litigation and has particular expertise with local government and planning and environment matters.
For two years prior to joining Condon Charles Chris managed the litigation section of the Brisbane City Council.
More information on Chris can be found in his profile on the Our People page.
Condon Charles Says No to Violence
Shane Charles was recently presented with a Certificate of Recognition by the Toowoomba Says Not to Violence Committee.
The certificate was in recognition of Shane's commitment as a community champion by saying no to violence of any kind and raising the awareness of this important issue.
Shane said, "This campaign is a community driven initiative which aims to keep Toowoomba a safe, healthy and peaceful community."
"Both personally and through the firm I am pleased to be able to assist this important initiative."
If you're visiting our offices look out for future "Dressing Down Violence" days to be held in the near future.
Shane Charles receives the Certificate of Recognition
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