POTTS LAWYERS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Criminal Lawyer - Director
- Director - Criminal Lawyer
Andrew holds a Bachelor of Laws from Queensland University of Technology and has also completed a Diploma of Legal Practice.
Job Titles:
- Criminal Lawyer - Director
- Director - Criminal Lawyer
Our founding director brings to Potts Lawyers a breadth of criminal law experience derived from a successful career spanning more than three decades.
Billy Gee is a criminal lawyer based in our Gold Coast office. He has completed a double degree of Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice and Bachelor of Laws (Honours) at Griffith University.
Chris holds a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) from Griffith University, and is admitted to the roll of legal practitioner in the Supreme Court of Queensland.
Colleen Battersby is criminal lawyer based in our Brisbane office. She completed her Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice in her native Canada at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology. Upon moving to Australia in 2018, Colleen completed her Juris Doctor degree from Griffith University, where she was awarded High Distinctions and the Dean's Award for Academic Excellence during her studies. While studying at Griffith University, Colleen's success in mooting competitions sparked a desire to become an advocate.
Colleen has completed a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice from Bond University and is admitted as a legal practitioner in the Supreme Court of Queensland.
Colleen has a passion for criminal law and assisting those that are experiencing an undoubtedly very stressful time in their lives. She recognises the significant implications a criminal charge can have on and individual's life and believes that a solicitor's role is not only to advocate for their client's best interest, but also to guide them through the process in a manner that offers support and comfort during this difficult time.
Whilst studying, Colleen also worked in a boutique Family and Criminal law practice.
Colleen has also volunteered with the Innocence Project, a collaborative pro-bono project between lawyers, academics and students that focuses on freeing innocent persons that have been wrongfully convicted in Australia.
She also understands the importance of increasing access to justice and helping vulnerable members of the community. Colleen volunteered with My Community Legal, a pro-bono legal centre based on the Gold Coast, for approximately two years. She was awarded Volunteer of the Quarter in April 2021 for her contributions to the legal centre.
Colleen's experience and motivation to practice as a criminal law advocate led her to Potts Lawyers, where she practices in a wide variety of criminal law matters.
In Colleen's spare time, she enjoys being outdoors whether going to the beach or heading out for a bush walk. Colleen has also recently taken an interest in indoor rock climbing. In the spirit of embracing Australian culture, Colleen also finds herself turning into an avid Brisbane Lions fan.
Job Titles:
- Senior Associate - Criminal Lawyer
Danielle is a senior criminal lawyer who works across both our Southport and Brisbane offices. She is highly experienced in a wide variety of criminal matters, including domestic violence, violence offences, sex offences, and more.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Criminal Lawyer - Director
- Director - Criminal Lawyer
Erin Mitchell is one of our director's and senior criminal lawyers. She began her career in criminal defence with Potts Lawyers in 2011 where she worked in conjunction with the Directors to gain exposure to a wide variety of criminal and traffic matters.
In 2017, she was recognised by the prestigious Doyle's Guide as an Australian Leading Criminal Law ‘Rising Star'. In 2018, Erin was further named a finalist for the "Best Senior Associate" category by the prestigious Lawyers Weekly Women in Law Awards.
In more recent years, she has developed her own practice appearing as a solicitor-advocate in Magistrates Courts across South East Queensland and at sentence hearings before the District Court. She also enjoys collaborating with a number of experienced barristers in District Court and Supreme Court matters, creating a legal team well suited to each individual matter.
These days, a significant aspect of her practice is appearing before Queensland's first specialised domestic violence court in Southport - both in defending applications and related criminal charges such as strangulation. Erin understands that having a DVO made against you (even a temporary protection order) can involve significant consequences - damaging your position in family law proceedings or seeing you lose your weapons licence or impacting your career. The police and Courts have significant powers which can involve removal from your own home (ouster orders) or preventing you from contacting your children - all before you are even told about the application for a protection order.
Erin has established herself as a leading criminal lawyer. She has been recommended by the prestigious Doyle's Guide to the Legal Profession for Queensland Criminal Lawyers and was a finalist in the national Lawyers Weekly Women in Law Awards for Senior Associate of the Year.
Jack's interest spans the full spectrum of criminal and traffic law, from murder and manslaughter to dangerous driving, assault, drug and sexual offences. Regardless of the issue, Jack will ensure he works with his clients to obtain the best possible outcome.
Jacqui has worked in the legal industry for over 30 years, initially in a chamber of barristers. Jacqui has been with Potts Lawyers since 2003 and has been a personal assistant to a number of directors in that time.
Job Titles:
- Litigation Lawyer - Senior Associate
- Senior Associate - Litigation Lawyer
Jason specialises in civil litigation matters, particularly employment law, disciplinary law, commercial and contractual disputes, construction disputes, administrative appeals, insurance disputes, and equitable remedies.
Job Titles:
- Senior Associate - Criminal Lawyer
Joe is a senior criminal lawyer who works across both our Southport and Brisbane Offices. He is an Accredited Specialist in Criminal Law (Qld) and a dedicated and proficient advocate in all aspects of Criminal Law & Traffic Law.
Job Titles:
- Criminal Lawyer - Director
- Director - Criminal Lawyer
Mark's Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Business (Human Resource Management major) provide the grounding for a wide variety of criminal and quasi-criminal matters.
Craig's main area of practice includes commercial litigation, insolvency, employment law, negligence and compensation claims and disciplinary matters.
Tom welcomes enquiries from other migration advice professionals with particularly complex situations or problems, and of course from people in the community and aspiring migrants.
Meg Darbyshire supports a number of lawyers in the criminal law department. She has previously worked in customer service and management experience in retail and she has a diploma in crime and justice studies and is currently studying for a degree in law at Griffith University.
Job Titles:
- Criminal Lawyer - Director
- Director - Criminal Lawyer
Cameron is one of only a small number of Accredited Criminal Law Specialists in Queensland. Director Cameron Browne has practised exclusively in criminal defence for over 15 years, dealing with serious crime, white collar offences and traffic law.
Job Titles:
- Managing Director
- Litigation Lawyer - Managing Director
Rob Franklin is the Managing Director of Potts Lawyers. Rob has practised for more than three decades, principally in the areas of commercial litigation and law firm management.
Job Titles:
- Criminal Lawyer - Senior Associate
- Senior Associate - Criminal Lawyer
Sinead Garland undertook her law degree in her native Ireland at the Waterford Institute of Technology and on moving to Australia, completed her Australian legal studies at the University of Sydney. She joined Potts Lawyers in January 2018 and now works principally in the area of criminal law.
Sinead has wide ranging business experience gained during the past decade in the areas of health and government administration. She has worked as a legal officer for Queensland Urban Utilities and has experience as a planning, governance, infrastructure and environment lawyer with Colin Biggers and Paisley Lawyers.
Sinead now works in the area of criminal, white collar crime and regulatory law because of her desire to work in a helping, ‘hands on' role which takes advantage of her advocacy skills and enables her to make a real difference in the lives of her clients.
Her uncommon experience in commercial law and civil litigation enable her to benefit her criminal and regulatory clients with an eye for detail, an understanding of complex legal issues and an ability to negotiate effectively for the best possible outcome.
Sinead is respected by her colleagues for her thorough and thoughtful case preparation and her mature and unflappable representation.
She works in a wide range of general criminal matters ranging from violence, drug and sex offences to domestic violence and traffic law.
Sinead is a criminal lawyer working in the Gold Coast office. She has experience with a wide range of matters and is focused on representing her clients' best interests
Job Titles:
- Immigration Lawyer
- Migration Lawyer
Tom Foran is one of the most well-known Immigration Lawyers in Australia. He has worked exclusively in Australian Immigration Law since 2011 and had the carriage of both complex and mainstream visa and Australian citizenship matters.
Tom is also an award-winning Immigration Law teacher. He has taught more than a thousand currently practising Immigration Lawyers and Registered Migration Agents. Students and clients love his friendly approach and passion for Immigration Law.
Born and raised in Canada, he first experienced Australia in the mid-1980's. He was granted a working holiday visa - an experience that changed the direction of his life. Immigration laws were quite different back then and getting the lawful right to be in Australia and work here was akin to winning the lottery. He set the goal of becoming an Australian permanent resident.
Tom was a lecturer in Japanese language at the University of the Sunshine Coast prior to studying Law. He graduated in 2006 from Griffith University Law School with First Class Honours. He was the top student in his graduating class. Later he studied Canadian law at Bond University in the Gold Coast and has been recognised by the accreditation board in Ottawa to practice law in Canada. His credentials are held by the Law Society of British Columbia.
Australia's Immigration Laws are akin to a minefield. Said to be the country's second most complex set of laws (after taxation), the already messy and labyrinthine system experiences nearly constant legislative and policy change. Tom has been working exclusively in Australian Immigration Law and teaches Continuous Professional Development courses for the Migration Institute of Australia). In 2018 he won the prestigious Henry Giblett Award for Outstanding Contribution to Immigration Law Education.
Over the years, Tom's Immigration caseload has become progressively complex. Some of his work now involves trying to keep Australian families together. Long term Australian permanent residents and New Zealand citizens have become part of the Australian fabric. Some of those visa holders engaged in criminal behaviour many years ago, sometimes while in their youth. Due to changes in the character provisions in the migration legislation, their visas now can become subject to cancellation because of misconduct from years ago. Sometimes those visa holders are in loving relationships with Australian citizens and have Australian children. If their visas are cancelled and they are removed from Australia, legislation bars them from ever being able to return to Australia. Because of the many complex visa cancellation matters he has been involved with he is becoming the go-to Immigration Lawyer for that niche practise area.
Tom also enjoys working with complex Citizenship matters; Administrative Appeals Tribunal matters; complex migration pathway matters; and other Immigration related casework. The laws are incredibly complex and therefore intellectually stimulating.
Because of Tom's excellent Japanese language skills, he has many Japanese clients. Being a Canadian citizen, unsurprisingly, many Canadians choose him to be their Australian Immigration Attorney.
Tom has been a Practitioner Lecturer in the University of Technology Sydney's acclaimed Graduate Diploma of Australian Migration Law since the program's inception. He holds a permanent position with the university and continuous to teach in that program now. He was a subject Convenor at the Australian National University's Graduate Certificate in Australian Migration Law until that program ended. The Continuous Professional Development workshops for immigration lawyers and registered migration agents that he teaches are extremely popular. Participants find the seminars to be interesting and thought-provoking.
If your circumstances involve Australian Immigration advice, please make contact with Tom. He'll do his best to help you.
Victoria has worked in the legal industry most of her professional career. Victoria has a diverse skill set. As Practice manager, she works closely with the Directors and staff of the Potts Lawyers team to drive the strategic direction and operational success of the firm.
Cameron handles complex criminal law matters; those serious crimes and white collar offences which require an eye to detail and a strategic approach.