Commercial & Advisory Group


Tim Fynes-Clinton Executive Partner	John Woods Partner	James Neilson Partner	Karyn Wernham Senior Associate	Kirsty Ling Senior Associate

Tim Fynes-Clinton (Executive Partner)

Tim is the firm's executive partner.

He joined the firm an articled clerk in 1989, was admitted to practise in 1991 and became a partner in 1998. Tim's principal areas of expertise lie in advising local governments upon:

rating and revenue strategies;
councillors' roles and responsibilities;
contract and tendering strategies; and
governance issues for Councils, generally.

As the firm's executive partner, Tim is the first point of contact for new matters (in the absence of a client having an existing connection with other members of the firm), and is always available to discuss the status of any continuing matters that the firm is conducting on a client's behalf.

John Woods (Partner)

John is a senior partner in the firm's Commercial & Advisory Group.

He joined the firm in 1990 and practises principally in:

providing advice, particularly administrative, constitutional, commercial, local government and planning, property, and tort liability advice;
contract negotiation and drafting, particularly planning and works/infrastructure-related contracts;
community titles developments;
major acquisitions and disposals;
wills and estates; and
disputes arising in the course of those activities.

James Neilson (Partner)

James is a partner in the firm's Commercial & Advisory Group.

Admitted to practise in 1984, he joined the firm in 1999.

James' focuses are:

contract and tender preparation and advice;
the preparation and enforcement of local laws;
compulsory acquisitions;
major acquisitions and disposals;
intellectual property;
providing advice to local government and institutional clients on commercial, compliance, and administrative matters.

Karyn Wernham (Senior Associate)

Karyn is a senior associate in the firm's Commercial & Advisory Group.

Admitted to practise in 1992, she worked for 12 years in the Brisbane City Legal Practice's commercial team before joining the firm.

Karyn's experience includes:

providing advice on local government-related matters generally;
personal property security agreements;
leases and related agreements;
defending public liability and professional indemnity claims;
property, service, and supply agreements; and
information technology contracts and associated agreements.

Kirsty Ling (Senior Associate)

Kirsty is a senior associate in the firm's Commercial & Advisory Group.

Admitted to practise in December 2002, she joined the firm in 2005. Kirsty's experience spans multiple disciplines, including liability, asbestos claims, intellectual property, media, environment and planning, in which she has provided advice to, and conducted litigation for, private and public sector clients.