Nathan Donovan | Director
Nathan is a Brisbane based lawyer who is married with three young children. Before children, Nathan played golf, like every single weekend, even in the rain. Now, he is an expert at impersonating dinosaurs and hosting tea parties for ponies with rainbow manes. Nathan is a coffee snob who cringes every time he listens to himself smugly ordering a doppio. He also breaks the cardinal rules of good social manners by happily talking about politics and religion. Nathan is an active member of his local church and volunteer director and advisor to a number of charities.
Kristel Winkler | Director
Kristel Winkler is a Brisbane based lawyer, married, and mum to five beautiful girls. In her down moments she loves reading and is a particularly avid history buff. She loves to surf and fish, although in recent days she is more likely to be found building sandcastles on the shore with her children. Being raised on cattle farms, she loves the outdoors and to garden, and when motivation strikes will evict the weeds from her vege patch and plant up a storm. Kristel is active in her local church and in the community, serving on the governance committees of schools and churches.
Kristel was admitted to the Supreme Court of Queensland in 2008.
Kristel’s fields of practice include charity and not for profit law, business & corporate law, contracts & property law, wills & estates, and elder law.
Kristel’s clients include not for profit and charitable entities, including churches and schools throughout Australia, and she aims to provide them with full service within the commercial division of the practice, including:
- Establishment of structures
- Drafting constitutions, governance documents, rules and governance policies
- Tax issues, tax & duty concessions
- Philanthropic structures
- Director and governance duties
- Policy development, general advice, and dispute resolution
- Mergers & acquisitions
- Property transactions
- Contract drafting and review, including terms & conditions
- Attending board and general meetings to provide advice and guidance
Kristel’s clients have included:
- Charities and not for profits large and small, including public benevolent institutions, churches and parachurch organisations, schools, child care centres, aged care facilities, retirement villages, cultural and environmental charities;
- Businesses, from large corporations to small business owners; and
- Individuals.
Kristel has extensive experience advising on governance matters within charitable organisations, and assisting clients in their dealings with the ACNC, ATO, ACECQA, Non-State Schools Accreditation Board, Queensland Independent Schools Block Grant Authority and various other stakeholders.
Recent Experience
- Large Acquisitions – Acquisition of a large school site by large educational institution from the Queensland Government, including internal licencing arrangements.
- Mergers & Acquisitions – Acquisition of large religious institution(s) by another religious institution, including complex trust considerations, real and personal property transactions, duty considerations, capital gains & GST issues, transfer of employees, dealing with control of multiple entities and novation of various contractual arrangements.
- Corporate Restructures – Restructure of national charity comprising various entities existing for differing charitable purposes, and including transfer of employees and property, and implementation of inter-entity management and services agreements.
- Business Acquisitions – sale and purchase of child care centres by large school; acquisition of retirement villages by large corporate client
- Charitable endorsements – dealing with complex and novel concepts around the definition of charity and religion, successfully answering notices of intention to refuse application for charitable registration with ACNC
- Incorporation of unincorporated entities (churches, charities and not for profits).
- Corporate Governance – “on call’ legal and corporate governance advice for board and corporate governance & risk committees of multiple national and state-based charities.
- Financial institutions – advising large charitable lenders in relation to inter-company loans, Banking Act & AML/CTF Act compliance.
Board Experience
Kristel sits on the board of Good Shepherd Christian School (incorporating Little Shepherd Pre-Prep), in Albany Creek, Queensland. She also sits on the board of HopePointe Church in Moodlu, Queensland.
Kristel formerly sat on the management committee of the Christian Lawyers Association (Inc).
Kathleen Stonehouse | Senior Associate
Kathleen Stonehouse is a Brisbane based lawyer, married, and with a bucket list full of artistic pursuits! However, with an extraverted toddler, new baby, escapee ‘inside’ cat, and excitable dog in tow, she’s more likely to unwind with an ‘arty’ action movie. At work, Kathleen enjoys connecting with clients to support their charitable goals for the broader public benefit, as well as their personal goals for stewarding and passing on an inheritance. She is driven by working collaboratively with others to provide clear advice and positive outcomes.
Kathleen holds a Bachelor of Laws, a Bachelor of Media and Communication with Distinction, and a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice from the Queensland University of Technology. She was admitted as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of Queensland and the High Court of Australia in 2013 and has worked for over 10 years advising individuals and organisations in areas including not for profit & charity law, wills & estates, and trade marks & personal property securities law.
Kathleen has experience advising and assisting clients in a variety of areas, including:
- Not for profit & charity structures, and restructuring
- Deductible gift recipient structures
- Drafting constitutions, governance documents, rules, and governance policies
- Tax issues, tax & duty concessions
- Public fundraising
- Director and governance duties & compliance
- Charitable mergers, acquisitions, and winding up
- Trade mark registration & protection
- Personal property security interests, including registration, enforcement, and releases
- Establishment of family discretionary trusts and private companies
- Wills & estate planning, including succession planning for entities
- Testamentary trusts, including special disability trusts in Wills
- Enduring Powers of Attorney & Advanced Health Directives
- Advice for Executors, including testamentary capacity issues
- Applications for Grants of Representation, including Probate of informal and missing Wills
- Estate administration (all aspects)
- Negotiation and settlement of estate disputes, including family provision applications
Board Experience
Kathleen sits on the governance board of her local Church, and of Questioning Christianity Ltd, a charity helping to connect the Christian story to life’s deepest questions.
Kathleen previously sat on the Council of Good News Lutheran School.
Miriam Sadler | Associate
Miriam is a lawyer and an avid wordsmith with a passion for Shakespeare and an unfortunate penchant for quoting both philosophical wisdom texts and episodes of “The Simpsons”.
In her almost-non-existent spare time, she pursues her love of literature, philosophical and religious discourse (making her a hazard at social events), ancient history, flute music, amateur dramatics, and the consumption of coffee (however, she is not a “coffee snob” and will consume virtually any beverage containing caffeine). As a member of her local church, she has been known to play the flute in worship services (at least when they leave the back door unattended).
After attaining a Bachelor of Laws (Hons IIA) and a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice (both from QUT), Miriam initially served as a research and chambers clerk to a Brisbane-based barrister, affording her both theoretical and practical exposure to many fields of legal knowledge.
She has spent the last 8 years as a practicing solicitor in the areas of:
- property and commercial law, with a particular focus on residential and commercial conveyancing (including off-the-plan property contracts);
- business sale and purchase agreements and associated licensing arrangements;
- leasing (including both commercial and retail shop leasing, with some involvement with residential tenancy agreements);
- charity and not-for-profit law; and
- indigenous legal issues (in which she was privileged to assist with disputed ancestry claims).
As a committed Christian, Miriam maintains a personal and professional interest in the intersection between human rights law and religious legal issues.
Jessica Michael | Lawyer
Jessica is a lawyer who is passionate about people and advocacy. When she isn’t working or studying, Jessica likes to cuddle her very affectionate Golden Retriever, explore scenic walking trails across Brisbane and grow her collection of indoor plants. Jessica is an active member of her local church and she regularly volunteers with parachurch organisations that provide support to University students living in Brisbane.
Jessica graduated with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) from Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in 2022 and holds a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice from the College of Law. She was admitted as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of Queensland in 2023.
Jessica has previously worked as an advocate for at risk university students as an Academic Advocacy Officer at the QUT Guild.
Jessica is the University Ministry Coordinator her local church and the University Ministry Team Leader at Red Frogs Australia.
Yentl Palm | Law Clerk
Yentl is a law student at Queensland University of Technology and is currently completing a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Psychology).
Outside of study and work, Yentl enjoys going on scenic adventures, exploring the outdoors, and spending quality time with family and friends.
She is actively involved with and serves at her local church.
Yentl is completing a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and a Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Psychology) at Queensland University of Technology.
Yentl has successfully taken part in mooting and negotiation competitions, and acted as a moot judge due to her distinguished participation.
Cara Morcom | Office Manager
Cara Morcom is our Office Manager, married, and a mum of two gorgeous girls. Cara immigrated from South Africa more than ten years ago and is convinced that Brisbane is one of the greatest cities in the world! In her down time, she loves crafting, sewing, and baking. Spending time with the family over the weekend usually involves walks along the bay, exploring the great outdoors, and seeking out the array of markets and activities that Brisbane has to offer. Cara is an active member and volunteer at her local church and enjoys community events.
Cara has a long history of management roles stretching over twenty years in a variety of industries. When it comes to the legal field, she has worked in financial, paralegal, and customer service positions and brings with her a wealth of industry experience.
Cara has Tafe qualifications in Bookkeeping and holds a B-Tech National Diploma in Photography.