Brian Blakemore - Partner
Senior and Managing Partner

Brian provides legal advice to government authorities, financial institutions, building societies, private companies and individuals in a wide range of property related transactions. He acts for developers in some of Newcastle's largest residential and commercial/industrial developments.

Brian's 30 years experience and knowledge enables him to provide specialist advice in relation to complex property sales and acquisitions, leases, mortgages, securities, planning and environment and compulsory acquisitions.

Craig Doyle - Partner
BEC LLB (majored in accounting) (Macquarie)

Craig is an accredited specialist by the Law Society of NSW in both business law and commercial litigation. He is an arbitrator of both the Local Court and the District Court and was admitted as a solicitor in 1984.

Craig's clients include property developers, entrepreneurs, corporations and business people. Craig worked for major national law firms in his early years of practice. He specialises in commercial transactions and documentation, commercial property, property development, the Retail Leases Act and issues with corporations. He is the firm's lead partner in commercial litigation.

Craig has a Certificate in Foundations of Directorship from the AICD and is a Board Member of a Not for Profit Organisation.

Jim Griffiths - Partner
BA LLB UNSW Masters of Law (Environmental) (Macquarie)

Jim specialises in commercial and property development law. He also acts for clients in matters relating to occupational health & safety and industrial law.

Prior to commencing practice in Newcastle in 1995, Jim worked for more than 8 years in the commercial departments of leading Sydney law firms.

He has experience in advising local industrial companies and coal mining interests about contract documentation and statutory compliance, representing banks and financial institutions in complex project finance transactions and implementing major asset sales.

Jim has advised a number of Local Councils, State Government Authorities and property developers in relation to development, planning and environmental issues.

Matthew Bryan - Partner

(BA (Hons), LLB (Hons), Dip Leg Prac)

Matthew was admitted as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, and the High Court of Australia, in 2003.

He practices primarily in litigation and dispute resolution, with a particular emphasis on providing legal advice on all issues relating to debt recovery, insolvency, building and construction law, development and planning law and contested Wills and Probate applications.

In doing so he regularly advises clients on the provisions of the Corporations Act, the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act, the Retail Leases Act, the Family Provision Act, and the Building and Construction Industry (Security of Payment) Act.

Matthew represents the rights and interests of clients in a wide array of Courts and Tribunals including the Federal Court, the Supreme Court, the Consumer, Trader & Tenancy Tribunal, the Chief Industrial Magistrates Court and the Land and Environment Court.

 

Andrew Craig - Partner

B. Com, LLB

Andrew Craig specialises in commercial law including building and construction, commercial contract documentation and corporate advice.

Before joining McDonald Johnson, Andrew worked as a senior associate in the Property, Infrastructure & Development department of a large commercial law firm in Adelaide where he specialised in drafting and negotiating construction and infrastructure contracts for large corporations and government and statutory authorities.

Andrew has spent several years specialising in building, construction and mining law. Andrew has acted for several national mining and construction companies and gained expertise in the preparation of construction contracts and also litigious matters including claims under security of payment legislation.

Andrew represents clients in commercial litigation matters in various courts and tribunals including the Supreme Court of New South Wales and the High Court of Australia.

Andrew currently acts for prominent property developers, statutory authorities, construction companies and professional services firms.

Areas of Expertise

• General contract, corporate and commercial matters
• Building and construction contracts
• Property development and infrastructure
• Commercial litigation and dispute resolution

 

 

Meet our Solicitors

Peter Owens - Special Counsel
BA LLB (Sydney)

Accredited Specialist by The Law Society of New South Wales in Property Law.

Peter acts for major property developers and large public companies throughout New South Wales in development and property matters. He has a large practice in the relocation of executives and other personnel.

He is experienced in all aspects of strata title developments, having been involved in some of the Hunter region's major developments.

 

Andrew Johnson - Solicitor
(B.Ec LLB)

Andrew was admitted as a solicitor in 1987 and is an Accredited Specialist in Property Law.

He practises in the area of Estate Planning including Wills, Testamentary Trusts, Powers of Attorney and Appointment of Enduring Guardians.  With superannuation becoming increasingly important as a financial resource for many, Andrew strongly believes in liaising closely with clients’ financial advisors when reviewing their estate planning needs.

As one of the earlier practitioners in the area to become accredited by the Law Society of New South Wales as a specialist in property law, Andrew has extensive experience in residential and commercial conveyancing, commercial and retail leasing, and has a particular interest in Old System title.

 

Cathy Dobinson - Solicitor

BA, B Social Work University of Sydney

LLB (Hons), Dip Leg Prac University of Newcastle

Cathy joined the McDonald Johnson team as a graduate solicitor in July 2002 and was admitted as a Solicitor in 2003.

Cathy practices principally in the areas of commercial and residential property transactions.  She has experience working in a broad range of complex conveyancing transactions including strata and community title subdivisions and industrial developments.

Cathy also acts in relation to mortgage transactions, the sale and purchase of businesses, franchise transactions and commercial and retail leasing matters.

Cathy also has experience in the area of Wills and Deceased Estates, including obtaining the grant of probate and letters of administration in cases of intestate estates, power or attorney and appointment of enduring guardian.

 

Katherine Smith - Solicitor

B Commerce/B Laws/Dip Legal Practice

Katherine completed her combined law degree in 2008 at the University at Newcastle and was admitted as a Lawyer of the Supreme Court of New South Wales in 2009.

Katherine has gained experience as a law clerk at the University of Newcastle Legal Centre and at commercial law firms over the period of her law degree. She is assisting the Partners at McDonald Johnson with commercial and property transactions, litigation, wills and estates, environmental law and intellectual property law matters.