Why this female-led firm is bringing its ‘no bull’ approach to Brisbane

In conversation with Lawyers Weekly, Bowes Legal founder and principal Jane Bowes (pictured) – who won the Litigator of the Year category at this year’s Partner of the Year Awards – said the demand “is already there” for the firm in the state’s capital.

“Clients want straight-talking, no-jargon, no-nonsense advice, and that’s exactly what we deliver. I spent over a decade practising in Brisbane before moving regional to raise my family, so in many ways this feels like coming home,” she said.

“We’re already in Brisbane monthly, the timing is right and it’s the logical next step to establish a second base in the south-east corner.”

She will be heading up the new office in the state’s capital, while Courtney Blamires will assume leadership of the firm’s Rockhampton presence.

There are myriad opportunities that will come from such expansion, Bowes said, but at the end of the day, it’s about making the firm more accessible.

“We’ve already disrupted the personal injuries market in Central Queensland, so why not bring that same energy to the south-east? Clients are drowned in options in the big cities, but what’s missing is a direct, no-bull approach – delivered with sharp legal expertise (and a side of humour). That’s where Bowes Legal shines,” she proclaimed.

“We’re not stale, slow, or boring. We’re forward-thinking, female-led, and built from the ground up. We’re determined and values-driven to the core. That’s what sets us apart: clients value authenticity – they can see through the polished marble foyers and know when they’ve found the real deal.”

“We know it’s a competitive market down there. But competition doesn’t faze us – it fuels us – and we’re here to set a new standard,” Bowes said.

Of course, running two offices and staying true to the firm’s core group and its Rockhampton roots will be a challenge, but Bowes said the firm will “never lose sight” of that.

“We already have a strong client base in CQ all the way down to SEQ. Brisbane is a natural extension – we’re already in and out of the city constantly – but Rockhampton is our heart and always will be. It’s where our loyal base is, and where our story began.”

At this stage, she is not planning to broaden the firm’s reach across the state, or even the nation, as the focus is currently on “doing exceptional work, not chasing size for the sake of it”.

“We’re not here to buy our way to the top – we’d rather earn it the right way,” she said.

“We’re committed to staying true to our values, our clients, and our word. At Bowes Legal, we say what we mean, and we do what we say. Bowes Legal: better outcomes, no bull.”