O'Reilly Lillicrap

MARK O'REILLY (Partner)

Mark has been a Solicitor since he was admitted in Queensland in 1989 having worked in legal offices for 5 years previously. He primarily practises in property, commercial and estates law including; business purchases/sales, company law, property disputes, mortgages and advances, conveyancing (both cottage and commercial), wills and powers of attorney and Estate planning and administration.

Mark managed a branch office within two years of being admitted as a Solicitor and was a partner in a firm within two years. He speaks at numerous seminars both informal and formal, primarily in relation to property  and estate  related topics. He has handled a number of major commercial and property transaction worth millions of dollars and been involved in landmark Estate matters.

Mark is a foundation member of the Rotary Club of Carindale and a member of the Real Estate Institute of Queensland. He is a former first grade rugby league player but now a representative selector.   He also enjoys rugby league, cricket, skiing and  racing.  He has interests in property development.

MARK LILLICRAP (Partner)

Mark is the partner of the Firm in charge of our Morningside office. His areas of practice are litigation (commercial, general and personal injury), residential real estate (advising real estate agents and members of the general public), wills and powers of attorney, general family law advice, criminal law advice and general practice. Mark has conducted trials in every Queensland Court and regularly gives presentations to real estate agents and at first home buyer’s seminars. Mark has acted for the Real Estate Peak Body and has had the conduct of two recent trials and one appeal to the Court of Appeal involving the Property Agents and Motor Dealers Act. Outside of work Mark enjoys boating and fishing, jogging and swimming and is on the Board of Directors of Saints Peter’s and Paul’s School.

JOHN DEVLIN (Partner)

John was admitted to practise in 1988, after completing his 2 years of Articles of Clerkship in Brisbane.

Since his admission he has worked in firms ranging in size from sole practitioners, through to a national firm.  He also spent 3 years practising in a medium sized firm in Mackay, central Queensland, before settling down with O'Reilly Lillicrap in 1999.

The areas of law that John has practised in have been wide and varied.  Whilst the principal foundation of his practice has been Commercial and Property Law, this has encompassed areas such as Banking & Finance, Construction, Insolvency, Estates & Succession, Leasing, Business Mergers & Acquisitions.

His involvement in these areas has incorporated not only transactional work but also Compliance, Dispute Resolution and Litigation.

Over the 20 years of his career, John has acted for individuals, banks, government departments, local councils, listed companies and national corporates.  This diversity has provided him with a wealth of experience and an ability to appreciate the practicalities of life and business.  As a result he is able to guide clients from all walks of life through the difficulties that they are faced with in their dealings with the law in a down to earth manner and with an eye towards common sense resolutions.

MATTHEW BUCHANAN (Partner)

JASON BURKITT (Senior Associate)

Jason holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws (with honours) from the University of Queensland.  He was admitted to the Supreme Court of Queensland and the High Court of Australia in 1996.  Jason practises in property law, commercial law, body corporate law, residential and commercial conveyancing, residential and commercial property developments and sales, leasing, mortgages and securities.  Jason enjoys playing golf and is a member of the Ashgrove Golf Club pennants team and has a handicap of 4.  He is also an honorary solicitor for the Ashgrove Golf Club and Relationships Australia (Qld).

EMARIO WELGAMPOLA (Senior Associate)

Emario has practised law in three countries – his native Sri Lanka, England & Wales and Australia. Over the last twenty years he has been a Lawyer, a Mediator and an Academic specialising in Family and Relationships Law, International Law and Anti Discrimination Law. For five years he was a member and finally head of the Family Law division of a Medium sized Brisbane CBD Firm before moving to O’Reilly Lillicrap Solicitors in 2007.

Emario has contributed Articles to various Journals and presented papers at several Seminars on Family & Relationships Law. In September 2004 he was interviewed by Channel 9 and the Courier Mail on the International custody dispute over Manny Musu. For three years he was on the panel of volunteers, giving their services free of charge to homeless persons at the Homeless persons Legal Clinic run by QPILCH at the Red Cross Café, King George Square. Emario is a member of the International Law & Relations section of the Queensland Law Society.

His interests include collecting rare books, reading biographies, watching and playing cricket with the western districts training squad with his young son and listening to Gregorian music.

PHILIP HALE (Senior Associate)

Philip has practised law as a barrister and solicitor in New Zealand for over 20 years, mainly in the commercial arena. He was admitted as a solicitor in Queensland in 2002 and has been with O'Reilly Lillicrap since 2004. He practises in the areas of commercial law, contracts, partnerships, property law, leases, retirement villages, business sales and purchases, estates, company law, franchises, wills and enduring powers of attorney, fencing disputes and residential and commercial conveyancing.

Philip was a managing partner at a New Zealand Law Firm based in Wellington and Auckland and held company directorships in New Zealand companies. Philip has acted for a number of New Zealand banks, AXA New Zealand, Fletcher Challenge New Zealand, Norwich Insurance Co. and Wellington International Airport Co.

Philip enjoys playing bridge and most sports, and is a member of the Toowong Bridge Club.

GRAHAM SWAN (Special Counsel)

Graham has a Bachelor of Laws with Honours, and was admitted to practice after completing two years articles of clerkship.  Prior to commencing articles of clerkship, Graham was a civil engineer, having obtained a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) from the University of Queensland.

Graham's practice is based on property development and building and construction law.  Due to his experience as a civil engineer, Graham is able to better appreciate a client's concerns and the relevant practical issues that may arise on a development or construction project.  Graham has acted for developers, project managers, consultants, contractors, subcontractors and suppliers.  Graham's practice includes drafting, advice work and dispute resolution. In addition to his litigation practice, Graham has also represented clients in mediations and arbitrations.

Graham also practises in the area of Goods and Services Tax associated with property development and construction projects.  Graham drafts requests for private rulings, as well as requests for assessments and objections to assessments for clients, and deals with senior officers of the Australian Taxation Office when acting on these matters.  

As well as having practised as a solicitor, Graham has worked as an in-house legal counsel.  That experience has benefited Graham by allowing him to deal with the legal process from a client's perspective , and to better appreciate the client's requirements.