The Committee
Lynette Lyons
President
Lynette is an Associate at Bottoms English Lawyers and is enjoying working at a general practice firm where she gets to explore different areas of law, such as commercial law, criminal law, and traffic law.
Lynette completed a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) at James Cook University and was admitted to the Supreme Court of Queensland in 2021. Lynette joined the FNQLA in 2022.
Kerrie Wood
Vice President
Kerrie is a Wills and Estates Lawyer at Maurice Blackburn Lawyers.
Kerrie completed her Bachelor of Law at the University of Southern Queensland and was admitted as a Solicitor to the Supreme Court of Queensland in 2019.
Julia Petratos
Treasurer
Julia Petratos is a Solicitor at Bottoms English Lawyers, working in general practice with a special interest in Wills and Estates and Family and Domestic Violence Law matters.
Julia completed her Bachelor of Laws at James Cook University in 2020 and was admitted to the Supreme Court of Queensland in 2021.
Danae Sisson
Secretary
Danae is a compensation lawyer practising in Maurice Blackburn’s Cairns office.
Danae has worked in the local legal industry since 2016 and was admitted to the Supreme Court of Queensland in 2021. She has a genuine passion for the law and values giving back to her community. Danae is an active member of the legal profession and volunteers her time at the Cairns Community Legal Centre.
Casia Betros
Secretary
Casia is a commercial lawyer at O’Connor Law.
Casia completed her Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Business (majoring in Accounting) at James Cook University in 2019 and was admitted to the Supreme Court of Queensland in 2020.
Chris Kahler
General Committee Member
Chris Kahler is the managing director of Kahler Lawyers, with offices in Cairns and Innisfail, practising predominantly in criminal defence and traffic matters, commercial and civil litigation and personal injury law.
Chris completed his Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Arts (Politics) degree at James Cook University Townsville in 2004 and was admitted to the Supreme Court of Queensland, Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory and High Court of Australia in 2005.
Chris is currently serving a two year term as an elected member of council to the Queensland Law Society.
Jerry Tucker
Past President
Jerry is Special Counsel at Bottoms English Lawyers, admitted to the Supreme Court of Queensland in 2013. Jerry’s practice predominantly consists of class action litigation with a focus in human rights, and is also a family lawyer.
Jerry is a past president of the FNQLA, has been a committee member since 2017, and was formerly the FNQLA Treasurer in 2021 and 2022. She strongly believes in the importance of having an active DLA in the region for the benefit of the profession and wider community. In her spare time, Jerry enjoys diving and snorkelling.
Lachlan Withnall
General Committee Member
Lachlan is a Family Lawyer at the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service (ATSILS).
Lachlan has worked in the legal industry since 2011, and was admitted to the Supreme Court of Queensland in 2016. Lachlan has recently returned to Far North Queensland following stints in Townsville, Melbourne and the East Kimberley region of Western Australia.
When not in the office, Lachlan enjoys getting lost on remote hiking trails.
Jade Dibben
General Committee Member
Jade is a Solicitor at Cairns Family Law Group, practising in family law.
Jade is a Cairns local, graduating from James Cook University in 2021 with a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Business (majoring in Accounting).
She was admitted as a solicitor to the Supreme Court of Queensland in December 2022 and the High Court of Australia in December 2023
Djordja Vico
General Committee Member
Djordja is a Property Law Senior Associate at Miller Harris Lawyers.
Djordja completed her Bachelor of Laws (Honours) at the University of Southern Queensland and was admitted to the Supreme Court of Queensland in 2019.
Kezia Thomas
General Committee Member
Kezia is a family lawyer at Legal Aid Queensland.
Kezia completed her legal studies at the Australian National University, graduating with a Juris Doctor degree in 2013 and Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice in 2019. She was admitted to the Supreme Court of Victoria in 2020 and the High Court of Australia in 2021.
Prior to legal practice, Kezia worked in media and communications, and holds a Bachelor of Arts (Journalism) from RMIT University and a Master of Science in Social and Public Communication from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Kelly Whitten
General Committee Member
Kelly is a Family Law Associate at WGC Lawyers.
Kelly graduated from the University of Otago with a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts majoring in Indigenous Development. She was admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand in 2018 and worked as a solicitor at a Dunedin law firm before moving to Cairns in 2020.
Kristen Rice
JCU Inter Alia Representative
Kristen
Peter Apel
General Committee Member
Peter holds degrees in Commerce and Law from University of Qld and was admitted as a Solicitor in 1990. He has been a Principal of his firm since 1992.
Peter is a Notary Public, former QCAT Sessional Member, a QLS Senior Counsellor . He has been on the committee of the FNQLA just about forever, is a Past President and life member of the NQLA, currently Chairman of Qite and Secretary of Variety Qld- The Childrens Charity.
Peter is heavily involved in his local community, and enjoys the best of the beautiful Far Northern outdoors.
Jana White
General Committee Member
Jana is a Solicitor at Holding Redlich in Cairns, practicing in Immigration and Workplace Relations. She graduated from the University of Southern Queensland in 2022 and was admitted to the Supreme Court in December 2023.
Outside of work, Jana loves a good read, a good run and spending time with her family, exploring the natural beauty of Far North Queensland.
Laura McMillian
General Committee Member
Laura McMillian is an Associate at O’Connor law, practising predominantly in commercial litigation and general commercial law areas. Laura was admitted to the Supreme Court of Queensland in Townsville in 2017 and following relocating to Cairns, has been a committee member of the FNQLA since 2019.