We compared 10 Brisbane firms that handle conveyancing, units, commercial leases and property disputes, and set out how a Queensland sale works from the seller's disclosure to settlement.
Google ratings checked 24 October 2026 · Updated 25 October 2026
Not published on the firm's site. Contact the firm to discuss terms.
Office
Level 32, Riverside Centre, 123 Eagle Street, Brisbane QLD 4000
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Thynne + Macartney is one of Brisbane's oldest firms, founded in 1893 according to the firm, and its property group is led by partners Aaron Webb, Sue Maxwell and Cameron Graham. Webb is a Queensland Law Society accredited specialist in property law. The team acts for developers, listed companies, councils, schools, churches and private families on purchases, sales, leasing, off the plan projects and resumptions. It suits clients with larger or more complex property matters. The firm doesn't publish first consultation terms, so ask when you call.
Founded in 1893, according to the firm
Also worth knowing
The team handles resumptions and compensation claims as well as sales, purchases and leasing.
Lawyers
Aaron Webb, Partner Accredited property law law specialist
Sue Maxwell, Partner
Cameron Graham, Partner
Areas of property law handled
Property acquisitions and disposals
Property structuring
Strata title developments
Off the plan projects
Commercial, industrial and retail leasing
Leasing disputes
GST and transfer duty advice
Town planning and heritage
Local government issues
Compulsory acquisition and compensation
Office
Level 32, Riverside Centre, 123 Eagle Street, Brisbane QLD 4000
Not published on the firm's site. Contact the firm to discuss terms.
Office
Level 21, 400 George Street, Brisbane QLD 4000
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Cooper Grace Ward is a large Brisbane commercial firm with a property team of three partners, Marcus Ford, Laura Gahan and Clive Nichol, plus five special counsel. It handles commercial, retail and rural sales and purchases, shopping centre and industrial leasing, development agreements, joint ventures, community titles schemes and body corporate advice. The firm says it acts for developers, investors, landlords and government. It suits businesses and developers rather than first home buyers. First consultation terms aren't published, so ask when you call.
Also worth knowing
The firm cites Doyle's Guide and Best Lawyers recognition on its property page.
Not published on the firm's site. Contact the firm to discuss terms.
Office
Level 5, 69 Ann Street, Brisbane QLD 4000
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Bennett & Philp is a mid sized Brisbane CBD firm on Ann Street. Its property team is led by director Daniel Ronan, an accredited property law specialist according to the firm, with senior associate Caitlin McNamara and lawyer Diana Djordjic. The team covers home and unit conveyancing, off the plan packages, vacant land, subdivisions and finance documents. It also runs a body corporate practice, from setting up new schemes with by-laws and community management statements to BCCM adjudication and QCAT claims. It suits home buyers and unit owners as well as body corporate committees. Contact the firm to ask about first consultation terms.
Also worth knowing
Residential work covers off the plan packages, townhouses, high rise apartments and vacant land.
Lawyers
Daniel Ronan, Director Accredited property law law specialist
Personalised quotes by email after an online enquiry, according to the firm. Contact the firm to ask about first consultation terms.
Office
Level 7, 239 George Street, Brisbane QLD 4000
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
McCarthy Durie Lawyers is a locally owned full service firm that says it has more than 45 years in Brisbane. Its CBD office is at Level 7, 239 George Street, with further offices in Cleveland and Caloundra. Property law and conveyancing are listed practice areas. Its conveyancing team, including Melanie Foley and Fiona Soo, works with commercial and property lawyers Kylie Newman and Ross Snell on purchases and sales of houses, units, vacant land, commercial and industrial buildings and rural property. Quotes are sent by email after an online enquiry. It suits buyers and sellers who want one firm for property and their other legal matters.
Also worth knowing
Warlow Scott Lawyers merged into the MDL Group in January 2020, according to its website.
Not published on the firm's site. Contact the firm to discuss terms.
Office
Level 21, 123 Eagle Street, Brisbane QLD 4000
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Mullins is a Brisbane commercial firm founded in 1980, according to the firm, and its property team is led by partner Matthew Bradford. The practice leans towards development sites, commercial leasing and licensed venues, including hotel and pub sales and hotel management agreements. It also covers subdivisions, body corporate and community management, planning and compulsory acquisition. It suits investors, developers, retail landlords and hotel owners. The firm doesn't publish first consultation terms, so ask when you get in touch.
Founded in 1980, according to the firm
Also worth knowing
The firm says it was founded in 1980.
Lawyers
Matthew Bradford, Partner, Lead Partner of the Property team
Free case evaluation by phone or online booking, according to the firm. It says it discusses billing openly and issues detailed invoices.
Office
Level 4, 183 Wickham Terrace, Brisbane QLD 4001
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Aylward Game was founded in 1996 by Mark Game, who leads its property and commercial work and has a background in banking and finance. The firm says he is one of a handful of Queensland solicitors working in vendor finance, such as instalment contracts and rent to own arrangements. The team also handles REIQ contract reviews, settlements, commercial conveyancing, leases and property disputes, including caveats. It suits buyers and sellers looking at less usual deal structures. The firm offers a free case evaluation by phone or online booking.
Founded in 1996, according to the firm
Also worth knowing
It offers a free case evaluation.
Lawyers
Mark Game, Founding Partner, property and commercial
Josie Stokes, Conveyancer (Paradise Point office)
Areas of property law handled
Residential conveyancing
Commercial conveyancing
REIQ contract review
Searches and settlement
Vendor finance
Instalment contracts and rent to own
Commercial leases
Property disputes
Caveats
Development advice
Office
Level 4, 183 Wickham Terrace, Brisbane QLD 4001
Other details
Other offices
Paradise Point (Gold Coast) and Maroochydore (Sunshine Coast)
Free consultation, according to the firm. Fixed and capped fees for routine leasing work.
Office
Level 1, 1 Breakfast Creek Road, Newstead QLD 4006
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Rouse Lawyers is a Newstead commercial firm founded by managing director Matthew Rouse. Its property team is led by associate director Emily Hughes-Johnson and covers commercial and industrial sales and purchases, due diligence, put and call options and leasing for both landlords and tenants. The team also runs lease disputes over make good, rent and options, and property disputes including caveats and co-ownership fights. The firm offers fixed and capped fees on routine leasing work. It suits business owners and landlords. It offers a free consultation.
Also worth knowing
The firm offers a free consultation.
Lawyers
Matthew Rouse, Managing Director and founder
Emily Hughes-Johnson, Associate Director, leads the Property team
Andrew Williams, Associate Director, including property transactions
Steven Stoddart, Consultant, including property law
Areas of property law handled
Commercial property acquisitions
Commercial property sales
Legal due diligence
Put and call option deeds
Commercial and industrial leasing
Retail leasing
Lease disputes
Caveats
Property contract disputes
Co-ownership disputes
Office
Level 1, 1 Breakfast Creek Road, Newstead QLD 4006
Fees and costs agreed in advance, according to the firm, with fixed price conveyancing options.
Office
Level 2, 200 Mary Street, Brisbane QLD 4000
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Creagh Weightman is a small Mary Street practice established in 1999 and led by Chris Hansen, who has more than 20 years as a commercial solicitor, according to the firm. Property is a core area. It handles home and unit purchases, auctions, off the plan and rural land, plus developer subdivisions, building contracts, commercial and retail leases, caveats and neighbour fence disputes. Conveyancing is offered on fixed price options, and the firm says fees are agreed in advance. It suits buyers, sellers and small developers who want one principal.
Founded in 1999, according to the firm
Also worth knowing
Its property work extends to subdivisions, building contracts and dividing fence disputes.
Lawyers
Chris Hansen works with a team of paralegals, according to the firm.
Bush to Beach Legal is a family owned Queensland firm whose property work is mostly conveyancing. Its Brisbane office is at Aspley Hypermarket on Albany Creek Road, with further offices from Robina to Townsville. It handles residential and commercial conveyancing, prepares seller disclosure statements for people selling, and lists a conveyancing service for over 50s. The firm says its conveyancing is fixed fee and offers a free, obligation free quote. It also prepares wills and powers of attorney. It suits north Brisbane buyers and sellers with a standard sale or purchase.
Also worth knowing
It has offices in eight Queensland centres and says it also works in New South Wales.
Online quote requests. Standard service package, search costs passed on without mark up and a price beat guarantee on comparable quotes, according to the firm.
Office
105B Bowen Street, Spring Hill QLD 4000
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Brisbane Conveyancing is the conveyancing arm of David K Lawyers Pty Ltd, run from Bowen Street in Spring Hill, and it does conveyancing only. It handles residential purchases and sales across Queensland, including contract review, searches, settlement and body corporate notices, plus first home buyer duty concession forms and commercial conveyancing. It works on a standard service package, says it doesn't mark up search costs and offers a price beat guarantee on comparable quotes. It suits buyers and sellers with a routine transaction. For a lease or a dispute, you'd need another firm. Quotes are requested online.
Also worth knowing
It handles settlements across Queensland using settlement agents for regional areas.
Firm details come from each firm's own website. Google ratings are shown as published on Google and don't set the order. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
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How we compiled this list
We include firms with a Brisbane office whose own websites show real property work, from conveyancing, units and off the plan purchases to commercial leasing, body corporate, development and property disputes. For each firm we read its website in October 2026 and wrote the description ourselves. We name an accredited specialist where the firm's site or the Queensland Law Society register names the lawyer and the area, we say where the claim comes from, and we name the accrediting body when the source does. Some firms here lean towards developers, landlords and commercial clients, and one does conveyancing only, and we say so in the write-up. Free consultations, quotes and fee terms are as the firm describes them, so confirm them when you call. We show Google ratings with the date we checked them.
Firms can pay for a featured listing on some of our pages, which affects where they appear. No firm on this page pays. Payment doesn't buy the write-up. We write those ourselves, and firms don't get to edit them. If something here is out of date, let us know. There's more detail on how we rank law firms.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Rules, rates and fees are as published in Queensland legislation and by the Queensland Government, Crown Law, the Queensland Revenue Office, the Residential Tenancies Authority, QCAT, the Queensland courts, the Legal Services Commission and Legal Aid Queensland in October 2026. Body corporate dispute fees are as at 1 July 2026.
Buying in Brisbane: from contract to settlement
A purchase runs in stages, and most of the legal risk sits before and just after you sign. The Queensland Government advises always getting a solicitor to check a house sale contract before signing, and that's the cheapest point to find a problem.
Stage
What happens
What to watch
Before you sign
The seller gives you a disclosure statement and certificates. Your lawyer reads them with the contract
If the seller doesn't comply, you may be able to terminate
Signing
The contract must carry a warning statement about cooling off directly above where the buyer signs
A contract made at auction has no cooling off
Cooling off
5 business days, starting on the day you receive a copy of the contract signed by both parties
Terminating costs a penalty of 0.25% of the purchase price
Up to settlement
Your lawyer tracks the contract dates, orders searches and works out transfer duty and any concession
Ask early if a condition, such as finance, looks like it won't be met
The cooling off rules are older than the new property law. Crown Law describes them as part of the Property Occupations Act 2014. A few details matter:
Waiving it: you can waive or shorten the cooling off period by written notice to the seller. Get advice before you do
After an auction: there's also no cooling off for a contract made within two business days after an auction where you were a registered bidder
Who it doesn't cover: a buyer that is a listed corporation or its subsidiary, the State or a statutory body, or someone buying three or more lots at the same time
Separately, the Property Law Act 2023 changed several contract rules. You can rescind if a home on the land becomes unfit to live in before settlement. Settlement can be extended for certain events, such as banks, the land registry or electronic lodgement systems being down. And a contract no longer becomes an instalment contract automatically: the buyer has to give notice choosing that.
Selling: what you must hand over before the buyer signs
The Property Law Act 2023 replaced Queensland's 1974 Act, and most of it started on 1 August 2025. Its biggest change lands on sellers. Before the buyer signs, you must give them a seller disclosure statement in the approved form (Form 2) and prescribed certificates. It's compulsory, subject to exceptions in the Act, and you and the buyer can't agree to switch it off.
According to the Queensland Government, the statement covers:
the title details of the land, and any interests and burdens affecting it
notices about proposed transport infrastructure, and any notice that the government intends to resume the property
contamination and environmental matters under the Environmental Protection Act 1994
rates and water charges
any application or order about dividing fences or trees under the Neighbourhood Disputes (Dividing Fences and Trees) Act 2011
Selling a unit or townhouse in a community titles scheme? You must also give a body corporate certificate, showing the levies, insurance, any contributions or body corporate debts owing on the lot, and how expenses are shared among owners.
This is worth getting right before your property goes on the market. If a seller doesn't comply, the buyer may have a right to terminate the contract. For buyers, one caution: the statement isn't a flood report. The scheme was designed to remind buyers to do their own checks on flooding.
The disclosure rules can change, so ask your lawyer to check the current requirements before you sell or sign.
Units, townhouses and off the plan contracts
If you're buying a unit or townhouse, you're buying a lot in a community titles scheme, and the body corporate certificate is the document to read slowly. It shows what the lot owes and what you'll be paying towards the building.
Off the plan is where buyers most often assume protection they don't have. The Land Sales Act 1984 covers off the plan sales of proposed lots of land, such as a lot in a new subdivision. It doesn't cover a proposed lot in a community titles scheme, which includes most off the plan apartments and townhouses. Those come under the Body Corporate and Community Management Act 1997 and the contract itself, so ask your lawyer what your contract and the scheme actually give you.
For an off the plan land purchase, such as a house and land lot, the seller must give you a disclosure plan prepared by a cadastral surveyor and a signed disclosure statement before you sign, or a copy of the approved plan of survey instead. If they aren't given, you may terminate by written notice before settlement. Other rules:
Off the plan land rule
Detail
Where your deposit goes
To a law practice, a real estate agent or the public trustee, held in a trust account
How long the seller has
Settlement within 18 months of the buyer entering the contract
The registered plan
If you weren't given the approved plan of survey before signing, the seller must give you the registered plan, with a surveyor's statement that it matches the disclosure plan, at least 14 days before settlement. If this or the 18 month deadline is missed, you may terminate before settlement, unless you caused the delay
An inaccurate plan
The seller must give you a further statement at least 21 days before settlement. If you're materially prejudiced, you may terminate within 21 days
Getting your money back
If you terminate, what you've paid must be refunded with interest within 14 days
Sunset clauses on land. Since rules added in 2023, a sunset clause can't end an off the plan land contract automatically. The seller needs your written consent after a sunset clause notice, an order of the Supreme Court, or another way set by regulation. The notice must be in writing, given at least 28 days before the sunset date, and give the seller's reasons. You must act reasonably in replying, and silence isn't consent. The court will only allow termination if it's just and equitable, and the seller pays your costs unless you unreasonably withheld consent. The rules also cover off the plan land contracts made before 2023 that hadn't settled when they started.
Transfer duty and first home concessions
Transfer duty, often still called stamp duty, is assessed by the Queensland Revenue Office. First home buyers have three concessions to check, and which one applies depends on what you're buying.
What you're buying
First home concession
An established home
No duty on a home valued at $700,000 or less. The concession phases out between $700,000 and $800,000, with a maximum of $17,350, and doesn't apply from $800,000
A new or substantially renovated home
No duty, with no value cap, for contracts signed from 1 May 2025. Duty still applies to any land that isn't residential
Residential vacant land
A full concession with no value cap, for transactions from 1 May 2025
Moving in: within 1 year of settlement for an established or new home. For vacant land, you must build your first home and move in within 2 years. Neither period can be extended, and under the new home concession you can't sell, transfer or lease the property before you move in
Truly a first home: you must never have held an interest in a residence, in Australia or overseas
From 1 August 2026: for transactions from that date, buyers claiming the home, first home or vacant land concession must be an Australian citizen, a permanent resident or a specified foreign retiree
What counts as new: a home not previously lived in or sold as a residence, or substantially renovated. Buying an old house, knocking it down and building again doesn't count, and the contract date is the day you sign. You can't get the new home concession if you've claimed the vacant land concession
Foreign buyers: additional foreign acquirer duty of 8% applies when a foreign person buys residential land
Not a first home buyer? If you're buying a home to live in, you may still pay duty at the home concession rates. For transactions from 1 August 2026, you must be an Australian citizen, a permanent resident or a specified foreign retiree to get the home concession too.
Home value
Duty at the home concession rate
Up to $350,000
$1.00 for each $100
$350,000 to $540,000
$3,500 plus $3.50 for each $100 over $350,000
$540,000 to $1,000,000
$10,150 plus $4.50 for each $100 over $540,000
Over $1,000,000
$30,850 plus $5.75 for each $100 over $1,000,000
Home concession rates as published by the Queensland Revenue Office (page last updated 31 July 2026).
Leases, body corporate fights, neighbours and Brisbane courts
Leases and easements. The Property Law Act 2023 also changed the rules for leases. According to Crown Law, all lease covenants, other than ones expressed to be personal, stay enforceable after a tenant assigns the lease or a landlord sells the property. There's now a set process and timeframe a landlord must follow when asked to consent to a dealing with the lease. Covenants in registered easements bind later owners unless they're personal, and courts have wider powers to create a statutory right of user or to end or change an easement. The limitation period for deeds dropped from 12 years to 6, in line with contracts.
Tenants and landlords. The Residential Tenancies Authority runs a free, confidential conciliation service on 1300 366 311. If that doesn't settle it, the RTA issues a notice of unresolved dispute and you can apply to QCAT. Urgent matters can go straight to QCAT, and claims over $25,000 have to go to a court. A dispute between an owner and their property manager goes to the Office of Fair Trading, not the RTA.
Body corporate. A dispute with your body corporate or another owner usually goes to the Office of the Commissioner for Body Corporate and Community Management, not a court. Schemes with a community management statement recorded go through conciliation first and, if that doesn't settle it, adjudication. You usually have to have tried conciliation before you can apply for adjudication. Schemes without a community management statement use referee's orders.
Application to the Commissioner
Fee from 1 July 2026
Conciliation
$117.90
Adjudication, final order only
$117.90
Adjudication, interim and final order
$247.90
The fees rise each 1 July and aren't refundable. If you can't afford one, you can ask the Commissioner to waive it.
Neighbours. QCAT hears dividing fence and tree disputes, building disputes and residential tenancy disputes. Its minor civil disputes go up to $25,000, and parties generally represent themselves unless QCAT gives leave for a lawyer.
Bigger claims. Contract, title and other property claims too big for QCAT go to court. The Magistrates Court hears money claims up to $150,000, the District Court up to $750,000 and the Supreme Court above that. A 2026 law is due to raise the District Court limit, so check the current figure before you file. In Brisbane:
Brisbane Magistrates Court: 363 George Street, 1800 325 085, 8.30am to 4.30pm weekdays
Supreme and District Courts: QEII Courts of Law Complex, 415 George Street, registry 1800 497 117
Choosing a Brisbane property lawyer, costs and free help
In Queensland you won't find a licensed conveyancer. The Legal Services Commission says conveyancing can only be provided by qualified and licensed solicitors and law practices, so it's done by solicitors or their staff. That includes businesses with conveyancing in the name. Brisbane Conveyancing on this list, for example, is a division of a law firm.
Match the firm to the job: a first home, a unit with a difficult body corporate, a shop lease and a development site need different strengths. Several firms here mainly act for businesses and developers, and the write-ups say so
Ask who runs your file: plenty of conveyancing is done by paralegals with a solicitor supervising. That's normal, but know who to call
Ask for the costs in writing: if your legal costs are likely to be $1,500 or less, excluding GST and disbursements, the firm doesn't have to disclose them, though you can ask. Over $1,500 and up to $3,000, it must give abbreviated or detailed disclosure, and abbreviated disclosure given by phone or in person must be confirmed in writing. Over $3,000, it must give detailed disclosure in writing
If you dispute the bill: talk to the firm first. Arguments about the size of a bill go to a costs assessment, not the Legal Services Commission, and you should apply within 12 months. Complaints about a lawyer's conduct go to the Commission on (07) 3564 7726, at Level 30, 400 George Street
Accredited specialists: the Queensland Law Society accredits specialists in property law, who must spend at least 25% of their practice in the area and do yearly training. On this list, Aaron Webb at Thynne + Macartney is one, according to his firm's website, and Bennett & Philp describes Daniel Ronan as an accredited property law specialist without naming the body. You can check any name on the QLS Register of Solicitors
Free and low cost help in Brisbane:
Legal Aid Queensland: 1300 65 11 88, Monday to Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm, head office at 44 Herschel Street. Call to check whether it can help with your problem
Community legal centres: free or low cost advice, and they may help with a minor civil dispute. Find one through Community Legal Centres Queensland at clcq.org.au
LawRight: its free QCAT service doesn't take minor civil disputes, tenancy, building, trees and fences or body corporate matters, so check before you call
Residential Tenancies Authority: 1300 366 311, for free conciliation between tenants and landlords or property managers
Queensland Law Society: 1300 367 757. Its Find a Solicitor directory on youandthelaw.com.au lists private firms, which charge fees
Brisbane property law: common questions
Can a conveyancer handle my Brisbane purchase, or do I need a lawyer?
In Queensland, conveyancing is done by solicitors and law practices. There's no licensed conveyancer profession, and the Legal Services Commission says only qualified and licensed solicitors and law practices can provide it. If a business calls itself a conveyancing service, check that it's part of a law practice. Much of the day to day work may be done by a solicitor's staff, so ask who will run your file.
What happens if the seller's disclosure statement is missing or wrong?
Since 1 August 2025, a seller must give you a disclosure statement and prescribed certificates before you sign. If the seller doesn't comply, you may have a right to terminate the contract. Talk to your lawyer straight away, because how and when you can terminate depends on the facts. Amendments to the Property Law Act are due to start on 29 October 2026, so have the current rules checked.
When does my cooling off period start, and what does pulling out cost?
For most residential contracts, you get 5 business days starting on the day you receive a copy of the contract signed by both parties. If you terminate in that time, you pay a penalty of 0.25% of the purchase price. There's no cooling off for a contract made at auction, or within two business days after an auction where you were a registered bidder, and you lose it if you waive it in writing.
Do the off the plan protections apply to a Brisbane apartment?
Mostly not. The Land Sales Act 1984 rules on disclosure plans, the 18 month settlement deadline and sunset clauses cover proposed lots of land, such as a lot in a new subdivision. A proposed lot in a community titles scheme, which includes most off the plan apartments and townhouses, comes under the Body Corporate and Community Management Act 1997 and your contract. Have a lawyer read the contract before you sign.
How much transfer duty does a first home buyer pay in Queensland?
Often none. There's no transfer duty on an established first home valued at $700,000 or less, with a reduced concession up to $800,000. For contracts signed from 1 May 2025, there's no duty on a new home at any price, and none on residential vacant land from the same date. You must move in within 1 year of settlement, or build and move in within 2 years for vacant land, and from 1 August 2026 you must be an Australian citizen, a permanent resident or a specified foreign retiree.
My body corporate won't act. Where do I take the dispute?
Try to sort it out with the committee or the other owner first. If that fails, apply to the Office of the Commissioner for Body Corporate and Community Management. Schemes with a community management statement recorded usually start with conciliation and can then move to adjudication, and other schemes use referee's orders. From 1 July 2026, conciliation costs $117.90 to apply, and adjudication $117.90, or $247.90 with an interim order. You can ask for the fee to be waived if you can't afford it.
Where are property disputes heard in Brisbane?
Fence, tree and tenancy disputes go to QCAT, and its minor civil disputes go up to $25,000. Bigger claims go to the Brisbane Magistrates Court at 363 George Street for up to $150,000, or the District or Supreme Court at the QEII Courts of Law Complex, 415 George Street. The District Court limit is due to rise under a 2026 law, so check the current figure before you file. Body corporate disputes usually go to the Commissioner's office instead.
General information only, not legal advice.
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