Practical advice. Commercial thinking. Over three decades of helping people find their way through the law.

Denise has spent decades helping people and businesses navigate the often-complicated world of the law. As one of the Legal Practice Directors, she brings extensive experience, a practical mindset and a genuine passion for finding solutions that work for her clients.

Whether she is helping a business negotiate a commercial agreement, working through a property transaction or navigating a complex legal dispute, Denise believes that good legal advice should do more than explain the problem – it should help find a way forward.

She has a particular knack for seeing the bigger picture, trying to find ways to make the ‘puzzle pieces’ of her clients instructions fit together, understanding what matters most to her clients and finding commercially sensible solutions without making things more complicated than they need to be.

A practical approach to the law

Denise has built her career around the belief that there is usually a way through even the most complicated legal problems. Sometimes that means negotiating a sensible outcome, sometimes it means finding a creative solution, and sometimes it means being prepared to stand firm when the circumstances call for it.

Her approach is particularly valuable in commercial law, where legal decisions can have significant financial and practical consequences. Denise understands that businesses need advice that makes sense not just legally, but commercially too. Her aim is to help clients understand their options, weigh up the risks and make informed decisions that support their broader goals.

She has extensive experience in commercial agreements, business purchases and sales, and has a particular flair for commercial leases.

And when a dispute has already arisen, Denise is a skilled negotiator who looks for opportunities to resolve matters efficiently and cost-effectively. She knows that a drawn-out legal battle is rarely anyone’s idea of a good time – particularly when there is a business to run.

She values long-term relationships and believes that the best legal advice comes from taking the time to understand the person or business behind the matter.

Her philosophy is simple: make the law understandable, give honest and practical advice, and help clients find a way forward that makes sense for them.

Nearly three decades of legal experience

Denise was admitted as a solicitor in 1989 and established her own legal practice in 1998. Since then, she has built a wealth of experience across many areas, and has refined her practice over the years such that she now primarily practices in commercial law, conveyancing, litigation, Wills and Estates, and trusts.

Denise assists clients with everything from buying and selling businesses to negotiating commercial leases and navigating property transactions. She also helps clients with the legal arrangements that protect their assets, businesses and families into the future.

Her extensive experience means she understands that legal matters rarely exist in isolation. A business transaction may involve property, contractual obligations and financial considerations, while estate planning can intersect with family relationships, business interests and long-term succession planning.

Denise takes a considered, big-picture approach to these matters, helping clients understand how the pieces fit together and what they need to think about before making important decisions.

A longstanding commitment to inclusion

For Denise, the law has always been about people as much as paperwork.

For more than 30 years, she has worked with members of the LGBTIQ+ community, helping people navigate legal issues and achieve fair outcomes in a changing legal and social landscape.

When Denise began practising law, same-sex relationships had no legal recognition in Australia. Over the course of her career, she has witnessed significant changes in the law, including playing important some important parts in some key decisions, and has remained committed to helping members of the community understand their rights and access legal support.

In 2025, Denise was honoured with the Queensland Law Society’s Pride in Law Award, recognising her longstanding contribution to LGBTIQ+ inclusion in the legal profession. It was a particularly meaningful recognition of the work she has quietly and consistently undertaken throughout her career.

Denise believes that everyone deserves to feel welcome, respected and supported when seeking legal advice, and that commitment is an important part of the way she runs the firm.

A little about Denise outside the office

When she’s not working through commercial contracts or helping clients navigate legal challenges, Denise enjoys spending time with her beloved Lhasa Apso dogs and her Burmese cat.

She has also recently discovered the art of making sourdough. Whether this new hobby has resulted in consistently impressive loaves is a question best left to those lucky enough to sample them.

And while Denise has spent much of her career navigating the complexities of the law, she is happy to leave the complexities of sourdough baking to trial and error.

How Denise can help

Denise assists clients with:

• Commercial law: Business purchases and sales, commercial contracts, commercial leases and business arrangements.

• Conveyancing: Residential and commercial property transactions.

• Litigation: Dispute resolution and court proceedings where necessary.

• Wills and Estates: Estate planning, succession matters and related legal issues.

• Trusts: Advice on trust arrangements and related legal matters.

Whether you are buying a business, negotiating a commercial agreement, dealing with a dispute or planning for the future, Denise can help you understand your options and work towards a practical solution.