Mark Leishman

Position: Special Counsel-Brisbane Office

[email protected]
+61 7 3630 1649
Overview

Mark has extensive experience in dealing with people in crisis and is able to assist clients with developing legal, commercial and practical strategies to address their family law and estate issues.

Mark has given evidence in a wide range of proceedings and his practical experience assists clients and witnesses to clearly articulate and document their evidence. His fraud and commercial crime experience assists clients in dealing with complex property structures, including those designed to hide assets and in analysing complex financial documents.

Mark has always had a passion and desire to practise family law and prior to joining Leishman Legal completed a Masters of Applied Law, majoring in both Family and Wills & Estate law.  He was awarded the College of Law, Mills Oakley – Sandra Paul Memorial Best Graduating Student – Family Law prize in 2018 and was admitted as a Graduate Fellow of the College of Law for academic achievement.

Mark’s practical commercial experience complements the legal advice he provides to clients.

Areas of Expertise

For 21 years Mark worked in law enforcement for several Federal Government agencies, specialising in serious fraud and commercial crime.

Mark was admitted as a Barrister & Solicitor in the Australian Capital Territory in 1997 and had intended commencing practice in family law however, his career took him in a different direction.

In 1998 Mark became an Australian Navy Reserve Legal Officer, a role he continues to serve in today.

In 2001, Mark was invited to join the fledgling international Forensic practice of a large international Accounting and Advisory firm.  Mark worked for a short period in the firm’s Sydney office, then became the leader of the Asia Pacific investigations network, a role he held for 13 years.  Mark established and led the New Zealand forensic practice and mentored and led the South Korea forensic practice.  Mark became a Partner in 2008, then later returned to Australia as the lead partner for the Brisbane and Canberra forensic practices.

Mark bring his diverse experience to advising clients across the wide range of issues that arise following the breakdown of a marriage or the ending of a de facto relationship.

Mark has a particular emphasis on assisting client’s unravel complex commercial arrangements which often occur in family situations and provides practical legal advice on how to effectively divide up the property pool.

QUALIFICATIONS
  • Bachelor of Laws (1997) Australian National University
  • Masters of Applied Law (Family / Wills & Estates) (2018) College of Law
  • Graduate Diploma in Government (Fraud Control – Investigations)
  • Graduate Diploma in Government (Fraud Control – Prevention & Detection)
  • Graduate Certificate in Workplace Training
  • Completion of the AFP Detective Designation Program and a range of other policing / law enforcement training courses
ADMISSIONS
  • Barrister and Solicitor Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory
  • Legal Practitioner in the Supreme Court of Queensland
  • Legal Practitioner in the High Court of Australia
MEMBERSHIPS
  • Graduate Fellow of the College of Law
  • Queensland Law Society
  • Australian Family Law Section
  • Family Law Practitioners Association (QLD)
AWARDS

College of Law, Mills Oakley – Sandra Paul Memorial Best Graduating Student – Family Law prize in 2018 and admitted as a Graduate Fellow of the College of Law for academic achievement.