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The inaugural McKays Solicitors High School Criminal Law Moot Competition, was held on Monday, 3 November 2025, at the Mackay Courthouse. The event gave local Legal Studies students a rare opportunity to step into a real courtroom, apply their knowledge, and put their advocacy skills to the test before members of the Mackay legal community.

If you are considering to lease premises for your business, you have probably heard the terms ‘Retail Lease’ and ‘Commercial Lease’. But what is the difference in Queensland? Retail Leases differ from Commercial Leases because they are subject to the Retail Shop Leases Act 1994 (Qld) (*RSLA”). This article will outline key differences between Retail Leases and Commercial Leases in Queensland.

A number of our clients have, over the past few months, received alarming emails claiming that another party has initiated a trade mark application for their business name. These emails often create a false sense of urgency, pressuring recipients to respond quickly and take immediate action to protect their brand. Unfortunately, these communications are part of a growing scam designed to exploit business owners' fears about losing their business identity and intellectual property rights.

The recent Queensland case of Body Corporate for Vision Centre Gold Coast Community Title Scheme 29190 v Nerang Qld Pty Ltd [2024] QSC 152 highlights the complex nature of easement disputes and the significant impact they can have on property rights and access with your neighbours.

Picture this - your client has finally started to get his life back on track after a nasty property dispute with his former wife. An audit by the ATO uncovers the transactions made pursuant to the Family Court Order trigger significant tax consequences for the client. He was not advised of the p..

The Family Law Act 1975 does not permit couples to share custody of a pet after separation. As there is no provision for shared custody under the law, it can only be achieved by informal agreement. Some separated couples arrange this between themselves, but if that is not possible, then the question becomes: who keeps the dog in the divorce?

For those of you who have not heard of Chances Café, Chances Op Shop or Australian Street Aid Project, we strongly encourage you to head over to their Facebook page or website to check out the amazing things they are doing in Mackay.

In the recent Queensland case of Trappando Pty Ltd v Sunshine Group Australia Pty Ltd (2023) the Court of Appeal provided real estate agents with some valuable advice as to the importance of having an adequately prepared Form 6. In the case the client terminated the contract and forfeited the deposit and the agent sought to recover their commission.

Last article, we discussed what the difference between freehold and leasehold property was. This issue, we will explore leasehold property further to get a better understanding of it. For those that hold or lease Leasehold Land (or aspire to), there are general provisions which they need to adhere to, otherwise they risk losing the right to hold or lease the Leasehold Land, which may make up an important part of their farming operations.