McQueen driven by outcomes

Among the Phillips Fox property team, which was highly rated in the Legal Elite survey, many respondents nominated Paul McQueen as the stand-out performer in a wide field of quality lawyers.

Mr McQueen specialises in planning and environment, and is a property partner at Phillips Fox along with Peter Beekink, Sol Majteles, and Geoff Stevens.

Property lawyers from several different firms were mentioned in the survey, with Michael Henderson (Minter Ellison), Ted Sharp (Freehills), Marcus Solomon (Gadens), Anne Hurley (Hammond Worthington), Graham Goerke (Jackson MacDonald) and Christian Willing (Clayton Utz) all recommended by their client base.

Among the broad range of matters that can fall under the umbrella of property law are acquisitions, disposals, leases, planning matters, tax issues, construction and financing. Lawyers often decide to specialise in a single area.

Mr McQueen began his legal career at Phillips Fox in 1990, with his 15 years in the one firm a rarity in a climate where lawyers frequently jump from firm to firm.

Initially practicing in liquor licensing, Mr McQueen said he was involved in the establishment of a lot of licences for new developments.

“A lot of what I was doing had a property focus, and from 2000 onwards I did things other than property,” he said.

“I think it is critical to understand the industry you are advising and have strong links to it, so I did a masters in planning and environmental law at UWA.

“I have been a former Urban Development Institute of Western Australia state councillor, and the honorary state solicitor for the Planning Institute of Australia for nearly 15 years.”

Mr McQueen said he had also consulted to the Department of Planning and Infrastructure in relation to planning legislation.

“It is important to have a technical understanding of the work you are doing, to be involved in the industry and also to have a relationship with government,” he said.

In relation to his client list, Mr McQueen said he had worked for nearly all the major developers in Perth.

Recent work included the Hawaiian Management Group’s Claremont redevelopment project, Stockland’s South Beach development, which has been challenged by community groups on environmental grounds, and work for Australand, the Satterley Group, Peet and Company, Mirvac Fini, and Cape Bouvard.

He also acts for the Water Corporation, defending it in relation to the recent Swan River spill and in an ongoing dispute with UWA in relation to land in Perry Lakes.

Representing UWA is another highly regarded planning and environment lawyer, Glen McLeod, who featured in the planning and environment section of this year’s Legal Elite.

Mr McQueen said the issues of compensation for land resumption and recourse for environmental appeal were two major areas in the industry that should be reformed, adding that the DPI’s mooted planning ‘super agency’ was unnecessary.

“I think taking away some of the responsibility from local government is a good idea, but there are existing bodies like the DPI and the Western Australian Planning Commission which can be used,” he said.

Mr McQueen said that, although community consultation on large development projects was necessary and important, the consultation could give rise to vocal minority groups, and that those groups needed to understand that developments had to be economically viable.

“The government needs to facilitate the communication and recognise and integrate both community and developer views,” he said.

“Bigger players recognise the benefits of creating communities.

“Ultimately I just enjoy being a part of creating good environments and producing good outcomes for both communities and developers.”