Hamilton Locke adds property partner in Brisbane

Emile McPhee joins from McCullough Robertson, where he was a special counsel for 12 years, working across the finance and property teams.

He has advised on housing developments and operations of all sizes, as well as advising banks, private lenders and developers on property financing. He has specialised experience in social and affordable housing, specialist disability accommodation and retirement living.

McPhee also assisted in the development of the Queensland master funding agreement and has acted for many community housing providers on state, federal and private financing arrangements.

He’s also a board member of Jacaranda Housing, which provides community housing and reduced rents to vulnerable people on low incomes in the Brisbane region, a member of the QLS Access to Justice and Pro Bono Law Committee, the Urban Development Institute of Australia’s Queensland Housing Supply and Affordability Committee and the PEXA Queensland Advisory Council.

This news comes after the firm named a new deputy managing partner in May this year, as well as bolstering its partnership ranks with five new hires, all of whom came from BigLaw rivals in February, and the promotion of 10 to more senior roles in January.

McPhee brings the partner count to 13 in the firm’s Brisbane office, which also has 34 lawyers, said CEO of HPX Group and managing partner of Hamilton Locke Nick Humphrey.

“We’re pleased to add another talented partner in Emile to our firm and to our growing Brisbane office – which will celebrate the milestone in July of four years since launching,” he said.

“Emile is a great fit for us both professionally and personally, with his passion for community partnerships and access to justice reflected in his work and in his broader contribution to the community housing sector and to the legal profession.”