Chris Herrald

Principal Lawyer | Legal Practitioner Director

Succession law is serious. Working with me doesn’t have to be.

I’m an Australian succession lawyer practising in Queensland. For nearly two decades (with 15 years as a practising lawyer), I’ve helped families, fiduciaries and fellow practitioners untangle the human, legal and financial threads that run through estates, trusts and decision‑making.

I’m recognised across Australia for my succession law expertise, I regularly present at industry conferences (Queensland Law Society, STEP Qld, The Tax Institute, Legalwise, etc), and I’m known for mentoring other lawyers with clarity, warmth and a practical, plain‑English approach.

At my core, I just want to help people; whether that’s a private client navigating a life change or a law firm wanting seasoned input on a tricky file.

What I Do (and do well)

I practise exclusively in contentious and non‑contentious succession matters, including:

  • Estate planning for everyone—from everyday clients to very high‑net‑wealth individuals and families

  • Substituted decision‑making (enduring power of attorney disputes, QCAT matters and related applications)

  • Validity, interpretation and administration of wills and trusts

  • Duties of personal representatives and trustees

  • Breach of duty claims against personal representatives, trustees, attorneys and other fiduciaries

  • Superannuation death benefits (advice and disputes)

  • Family provision applications and all forms of estate and trust litigation

  • Administration of complex estates and estate/trust accounting, including as an Independent Administrator

If it touches a will, a trust, an estate or a fiduciary duty, I’m in.

Recognised Excellence

Chris has been an active member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) since 2015, including holding past roles of Deputy Chair of STEP Australia (2023) and Chair of STEP Queensland (2020 - 2021).

STEP is the pre-eminent global professional organisation for highly skilled professionals practising in the trust and estate space.

In addition to being a member of STEP, Chris holds the membership status of Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP). Only professionals who have been recognised as having proven the highest level of qualifications and experience in estate and trust practice are permitted to hold TEP status.

You can find out more about STEP and its members here.

Chris has been recognised by and named in the annual Doyle's Guide list of leading Queensland Wills & Estates and Estate Litigation lawyers every year since 2017.

Doyle's Guide is a peer-reviewed listing of top lawyers, identified through extensive independent research and industry consultation. This means that those named in the lists, like Chris, have earned the respect and trust of their peers and clients.

In addition to her Doyle's Guide listing, Chris has also been recognised by Best Lawyers as an experienced Trusts and Estates lawyer.

Best Lawyers is an international listing of purely peer-reviewed lawyers recognised for their expertise.

Chris loves succession law so much, that early in her career, she joined the Queensland Law Society's Succession Law Policy Committee.

In 2020, Chris served as the Deputy Chair of the Succession Law Policy Committee, and through her work on the committee has played a direct part in shaping Queensland's succession laws.

Want to work with us?

Get in touch today!

GET IN TOUCH

0412 319 201

[email protected]

PO Box 2090, Chermside Centre Qld 4032

Brisbane CBD by appointment only

Want to work with us?

Get in touch today!

CONTACT US

0412 319 201

[email protected]

PO Box 2090, Chermside Centre Qld 4032

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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this website discusses the theme of death.

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