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Our History

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With 57 years in Queensland, we are often asked about the origins of the firm. Below we have outlined a short history which takes you through the mergers and amalgamations, the successes and the growth of the firm that has seen us become what we are today – one of Queensland’s leading specialist law firm practices – Walsh Halligan Douglas Lawyers.

On 1 July 1954 Leo Williams welcomed his then articled clerk, Peter Walsh into partnership. This partnership saw Leo’s existing firm, Leo J Williams and Co, take up the name Leo J Williams and Walsh. In 1956 Peter commenced his own firm, Peter J Walsh and Co. He was joined by Jim Fitzgerald and Peter Hilton in 1970, renaming the firm Walsh Fitzgerald and Hilton.

At this point in time, Walsh Fitzgerald and Hilton occupied 260 Queen Street, Brisbane, where it remained for 25 years.

In the early 1980s, Peter Hilton returned to the Bar (and in 1991 was appointed a Judge of the Family Court of Australia) and shortly after the firm welcomed the “famous” Brian Halligan (and along with him, his personality), formerly of MacGillivray Halligan Solicitors. This saw a change of firm name to Walsh Fitzgerald Halligan on 1 January 1981.

1982 welcomed Tom Frisby from MG Lyons and Co, where he had been a partner for almost 20 years. Tom Frisby remains with the firm today practising in Wills and Estates and recently celebrated his 50 years in the profession.

In 1985 the firm joined with Macrossan Douglas Lawyers, bringing Andrew Douglas as a partner and his older brother Sir Sholto as a consultant. Here, the current name of Walsh Halligan Douglas was born.

Over the 1980s and 1990s, the firm resisted the path taken by many longstanding Brisbane firms and remained independent rather than merging into large national practices. This gave the firm the ability to fulfil its aim of providing top-tier service and boutique expertise without the bureaucracy that comes with integrated national practices – a stance that is still held by the firm to this day.

During the latter part of the century, the firm’s clients included many of the iconic Queensland businesses, government entities and councils and over the course of the property boom the firm was involved in many of the state’s noteworthy business and property transactions. This time saw further growth and the firm relocating to take a full floor of 307 Creek Street, Brisbane.

By the late 1990s, the firm had positioned itself as a premier Queensland-specific insurance practice whilst maintaining its strong commercial, property and personal services positioning.

Further growth in the early 2000s saw the firm relocate to the ‘legal end of town’ and take the twelfth floor of 145 Eagle Street, Brisbane, where it remains today.

Today, the firm continues to experience positive growth in its commercial and personal services practices, coupled with one of the lowest staff turnover rates in the industry. With a partnership of four supported by ten lawyers, a senior leadership team and a dedicated support staff, the firm looks forward to a future of continued success within the Queensland legal market.