Board Members and Executive Assistants

Ross Lee has been a lawyer since 1998 following an eight-year insurance career. He values influential, ethical legal practise, keeping in touch with clients, cost efficiencies and results. Lee Lawyers does not advertise – reputation is its currency.

An effective litigation advocate and nationally-accredited mediator, Ross resolves client disputes in commercial, building, property, body corporate, insolvency and estate matters. Legal risk management is a special interest. Ross has a strong practice in general insurance, life insurance and compensation claims. He is one of few lawyers accredited as an ANZIIF Certified Insurance Professional (CIP). Prior to law, Ross practised as an underwriter and loss adjuster – giving great insight, now working for the insured.

A QLS Senior Counsellor since 2013, Ross is also a commissioned Notary Public – a requirement for international matters. He comes from a family long known for community service and is founding president of My Community Legal.

David is a Consultant for Paul Dent Lawyers, Carrara where he focuses on business, commercial, property and succession law. He has extensive experience in business sales and acquisitions, franchising, commercial and retail leasing, property sales and estate planning and administration. David is committed to providing the best possible legal service at a fee that is attractive to his clients.

David has volunteered as a solicitor for My Community Legal since 2020 and brings over 35 years of experience in the legal profession to his role as Vice President. He has a passion for using the law to help people, believes it is essential to support the next generation of lawyers and to give back to the community.

George Pharmacis is the Principal of Pharmacis Canning Lawyers, originally Canning Lawyers, serving the Gold Coast for over 20 years. George holds a Bachelor of Laws (Bond) and Post Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice (Bond). Having achieved a First Place in Electronic Banking Law, he went on to Corporate and Commercial Law Specialisation and General Legal Practice Specialisation.

George specialises in Criminal, Domestic Violence, Family Law, Wills, Estate Planning and Probate, Litigation and Dispute Resolution and he is admitted to practice in the Supreme Court and High Court of Australia.

Although George has been practising law for many years it is his strong commitment to the community that benefits his clients the most.  George has adopted the Latin phrase ‘Esse quam videri ‘ (To be, rather than to seem) as his motto, which sums up his personal character and business practice particularly well. Using his innate ability to quickly assess and weigh up a client’s options, George focuses on achieving the best outcome for the client while endeavouring to avoid expensive time consuming litigation.

Mechelle Blue graduated with a Bachelor of Laws at Southern Cross University and has completed a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice at Bond University. She recently received an Australian National Mediation Accreditation. Mechelle completed a Diploma of Crime and Justice Studies in 2020 with TAFE Queensland and in 2021 she received the Southern Cross University Fred Herron Prize for Mediation for achieving the best result in Mediation and Dispute Resolution.

Mechelle is interested in a range of areas of law and is motivated by the underpinning ideal that justice should be accessible to all. She began volunteering with My Community Legal as an Advice Night Volunteer in November 2021, currently holding the positions of Secretary, Deputy Coordinator of Advice Nights, and Cultural Officer. Volunteering with My Community Legal is a rewarding experience that has contributed to Mechelle’s professional development while providing me the opportunity to participate in an initiative that serves the community’s interests.

I’m a Managing Partner of Collas Moro Ross and practice predominantly in Litigation and Commercial law. I’m experienced in representation and dispute resolution as a solicitor advocate, and regularly appear for clients in matters across various jurisdictions.

I strive to meet my client’s expectations to offer no-nonsense, practical and commercial solutions when they come to us with their disputes or other legal issues. I am also currently admitted to candidature in the Master of Laws LLM (Applied Law) majoring in commercial litigation with the College of Law, with the goal of eventually becoming an Accredited Specialist in Commercial Litigation.

Andrew is an experienced IT systems professional and admitted solicitor. Andrew is an expert in large systems implementations, data, and reporting, having worked in some of Australia’s largest corporate and government organisations.

Andrew has proven experience working projects from planning stages through to final delivery, with emphasis on client outcomes.

Andrew maintains professional emphasis on the production of detailed technical documentation, workforce planning and change management to accompany IT infrastructure. Andrew shares his systems expertise as the IT Coordinator for My Community legal.

On 1 July 2018 I started Dundas Lawyers Gold Coast, a boutique law firm with a focus on commercial litigation, dispute resolution, building and construction litigation and body corporate / community titles disputes.

Kirsty Paynter is a lecturer and PhD candidate at Griffith Law School, Griffith University. She teaches across several areas including civil litigation, mediation, property law, equity and trusts, and legal advocacy.

Kirsty holds multiple legal qualifications: a Bachelor of Laws (Hons), a Postgraduate Diploma in Commercial Law, a Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice, and a Graduate Certificate in Future Law Technologies. She has co-authored and served as assistant editor on two international publications — The Global Insurance Market and Change: Emerging Technologies, Risks and Legal Challenges, published in the prestigious Lloyd’s Insurance Law Library series and Drone Law and Policy: Global Development, Risks, Regulation and Insurance.

With extensive experience in governance, strategic planning, and regulatory compliance, Kirsty brings both academic and practical expertise to her role. She is deeply committed to community service and is passionate about supporting My Community Legal in delivering high-quality, free legal services to those who need but cannot afford representation. She also values the opportunity this work provides for law students to gain real-world experience as they prepare to enter the profession.

Miranda is an admitted Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Queensland and High Court of Australia.

Miranda holds a Bachelor of Economics degree from the University of Tasmania, Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment from the Australian Securities Institute and Diploma of Law from the New South Wales Legal Profession Admission Board. She completed her Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice at Bond University.

Miranda commenced her professional career in banking and finance and prior to entering legal practice she worked exclusively in building and property development for over a decade.   Miranda’s key areas of legal practice are commercial and property law and her extensive experience gives her a sound understanding of the needs of clients who operate in the business and corporate sector.

Miranda joined Bond University in 2017 and teaches Property Law Practice, Banking and Finance Law and Corporate and Commercial Practice in the Centre for Professional Education.

Kyo is always ready to lend a hand and guide fellow team members toward achieving their goals.

His thoughtful leadership and commitment to helping others make a significant impact on the community legal centre’s overall success.