Bryan Mitchell BCom LLB LLM LLM (Applied Laws – Wills & Estates) TEP FTI

Bryan Mitchell BCom LLB LLM LLM (Applied Laws – Wills & Estates) TEP FTI

Principal

Bryan Mitchell 
is the managing director of the firm Mitchells Solicitors Australia Pty Ltd, having offices in Moorooka, Brisbane City, Aspley & Maroochydore.

Law

Bryan assists clients in Wills and Estates, Trusts and Elder Law. His expertise is recognised by the Queensland Law Society, being an Accredited Specialist in Succession Law. There are presently only 45 such specialists out of roughly 13,000 lawyers in Queensland.

More recently Bryan and separately the firm Mitchells was recognised again by his peers and ranked highly in the influential Doyle’s Guide:

• 2023 Leading Wills, Estates & Succession Planning Lawyers – Queensland (preeminent)
• 2023 Leading Wills & Estates Litigation Lawyers – Queensland
• 2022 Leading Wills & Estates Litigation Lawyers – Australia

Bryan was admitted as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of Queensland in 1992 after having completed degrees in Commerce and Law at the University of Queensland and articles of clerkship. Since then he has pursued post graduate study at QUT and the College of Law in the areas of Estate Planning and Wills and Estates generally.

He works almost exclusively in the area of Wills and Estates and Trusts, including Estate Planning, Elder Law, Estate Administration and Trust or Estate Disputes. Bryan has a special interest in helping parents who have a child with a disability, with their estate planning.

Bryan is a regular public speaker and has had the privilege of presenting papers for the Queensland Law Society, the Law Society of South Australia, the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners in both Brisbane and London, The Tax Institute, the Hong Kong Office of CPA Australia, LexisNexis, Television Education Network and Legalwise and workshops for the College of Law. Bryan was one of the early members of the Queensland Branch of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners and served for a number of years as its Chair. He is presently Vice Chair for the regional body called STEP Australia. Further, Bryan has been a Fellow of the Tax Institute for a number of years and is currently a member of the Queensland Law Society’s Succession Law Committee and its Succession Law Specialist Accreditation Advisory Committee.

Life
Bryan and his wife Kym Mitchell recently celebrated 26 years of marriage. They are blessed to have four children ranging in ages from 13 to 22.

Bryan has served on various boards of community organisations and was a sessional lecturer in Business Law at Christian Heritage College for a number of years.

Bryan’s interests include singing, keeping fit, camping and enjoying a good T-bone steak.

Mehera Saunders

Mehera Saunders

Special Counsel

As a longtime Accredited Specialist in succession law, Mehera feels privileged to be practising in a field that not only continues to inspire and surprise her but where she can really make a difference to people’s lives every day.

Her legal areas of expertise include:

  • dispute work and litigation
  • succession law
  • estate planning and administration
  • wills.

Specifically, Mehera has built a strong reputation for delivering solutions to complex matters in succession law, especially in disputed matters. 

Since entering the field (post-admission) in 2009, Mehera has managed thousands of cases and learnt one fundamental thing: to expect the unexpected. 

Succession law is endlessly fascinating because we’re dealing with human psychology – people who are in a state of shock, grief or trauma at the loss of a loved one who then find themselves in even more stressful circumstances.

Whether in or out of court, negotiating a skilful way forward through messy legal scenarios that can sometimes drag on for years requires grit, experience, empathy and a willingness to keep learning. 

Mehera’s clients often tell her that she gives them peace of mind through one of the toughest periods of their life. They feel listened to and supported. She is also able to distil confusing legal terms into simple terms they can understand and then effectively act on.

To give back to the field, Mehera is currently serving on the Queensland Law Society’s Succession Law Committee and the Specialist Accreditation Sub-committee for Succession Law.

Kylee Ghodsi

Kylee Ghodsi

Senior Associate

Kylee has been working with Bryan Mitchell and the Mitchells team for over 20 years.  She practices in estate administration and also heads the family law team.  

Kylee holds a Bachelor of Laws from QUT as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Modern Asian Studies from Griffith University which were completed simultaneously.  She also holds a Master of Laws (QUT) as well as a Master of Laws (Wills & Estates) (College of Law) and is a full member of the Society of Trusts & Estate Practitioners (STEP).    

Kylee brings enormous technical knowledge and practical strategic planning to the practice of family law and estate administration, as well as providing supervision and guidance to the younger practitioners in both areas.   

Kylee has a sensitive and sympathetic nature which helps to put clients who are experiencing some of the most difficult times in their life at ease.  She provides advice and guidance which allows them to work through the issues they are facing and make well informed and timely choices to achieve the best outcome possible.

In her spare time, Kylee enjoys spending time with her husband and children, travel, listening to music from all nations and practising Kendo.

Kate Muller

Kate Muller

Senior Associate

Kate Muller joined Mitchells Solicitors in 2014. Kate holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Arts (History) as well as a Master of Laws with Honours, all from the University of Queensland. Kate has been practicing almost exclusively in succession law, with a bit of business law and family law, since her admission. She has just begun studying a Masters in Law in Wills and Estates.
 
Most recently, Kate worked with the State Trustees in Melbourne, working exclusively in estate planning.
 
Kate works with Bryan in drawing up wills, dealing with related superannuation issues, minimizing the risk of estate litigation, minimising the taxation liability of wills’ beneficiaries and establishing discretionary trusts.
 
Outside of the law, Kate is a busy mum of three boys.
Naomi Williams

Naomi Williams

Associate

Naomi started with our firm as a work experience student in 2013. Impressing us immensely, she was offered and accepted the position of Law Clerk in 2014. She quickly gained skills in the administration of deceased estates, property transactions, and advocating and negotiating in estate disputes.

In 2017, Naomi received her Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts (Psychology and Media Studies) from the University of Queensland, and received her Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice from the College of Law. Her admission to the Supreme Court of Queensland in 2018 could not come soon enough, and she transitioned seamlessly to the role of solicitor at Mitchells.

Naomi has honed a diverse range of knowledge and experience in the areas of estate planning, estate litigation, estate administration, guardianship, trusts and family arrangements. She has a genuine empathy for her clients which pushes her to understand her clients’ objectives, advise them with practical solutions, and provide friendly assistance throughout the process. Naomi loves working within a supportive team at Mitchells, learning from the experience of her colleagues and contributing her own experience and problem-solving skills to the team.

Outside of her work and studies, Naomi has extensive involvement in her local church community where she volunteers as a youth leader and music leader. Naomi and her husband greatly enjoy the outdoors, keeping active, going on road trips, camping and singing.

Benjamin Wollschlager

Benjamin Wollschlager

Solicitor

Ben completed his Bachelor of Laws and Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice at Bond University in 2021 and 2022 respectively. He was admitted as a solicitor to the Supreme Court of Queensland in 2022.

Ben works with Kate to assist clients in the planning of their estates, and with Mehera to assist clients in various aspects of estate administration.

Ben has a particular passion for estate planning and has had experience assisting clients with complex matters relating to trusts, equity and elder law. He enjoys drafting wills, enduring powers of attorney and advance health directives that effectively achieve the outcome of protecting clients’ interests and their assets in accordance with their goals and wishes.

Emily Rudz

Emily Rudz

Solicitor

Emily holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Queensland, and was awarded the University Medal in 2020. Prior to joining Mitchells Solicitors, Emily worked as an Associate to two District Court Judges. Emily was admitted as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Queensland and the High Court of Australia in 2022.

Emily practises in estate planning, estate administration and estate litigation. Emily enjoys complex Will drafting and keeping up-to-date with developments in the law.

Outside of the office, Emily enjoys reading and going to the beach.

James Mitchell

James Mitchell

Solicitor

James completed his Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Biomedical Science at Queensland University of Technology in 2022 and was admitted as a solicitor to the Supreme Court of Queensland in 2023. He has been working at the firm in various roles for over 5 years.

James now attends to estate administration matters in the office, ensuring that beneficiaries receive their inheritance in a cost and tax-effective manner and that executors can abide by their requirements and duties under the relevant legislation and will. He also assists with various estate planning and estate litigation matters.

James’ hobbies include reading and keeping fit.