Christine Smyth

About Christine

Leading Lawyer in Wills, Estates, Elder and Funeral Law

Christine is available exclusively as a consultant to our team of expert estate lawyers. No longer tied up with day-to-day client file work, Christine is available for consultations with our team-members in complex succession law matters. Christine is no longer accepting direct client consultations except by direct referral from other practitioners.

Christine is an approved court-appointed Estate Account Assessor (one of only 3 in Queensland) and is actively accepting these appointments. Solicitors wishing to inquire about appointing Christine as accounts assessor are invited to email us your inquiry, whereupon she will be happy to conduct the requisite conflict checks and (if clear) provide her consent and draft orders. For non-legally trained estate participants, please note that the appointment must be independent, so Christine cannot act for a party to seek that she be appointed. If you are seeking to have Christine accept an estate accounting and are not sure of the procedure, please seek separate legal advice.

Drawing on 30+ years’ experience, Christine is one of the foremost specialists in succession law, with expertise in:- deceased estate administrations; deceased estate litigation; estate planning; grants of probate/administration; funeral law; and elder law – substituted decision and powers of attorney disputes, family accommodation disputes, family financial disputes; and conflict resolution.

Queensland has 13,000 solicitors, of them only 45 are Accredited Specialists – Accredited by the Queensland Law Society. In 2009 Christine achieved this coveted qualification. The Queensland Law Society Accredited Specialist program is a rigorous, peer reviewed testing program designed to independently verify expert skills in specialist areas of law.

Never one to rest on her laurels, Christine has developed corresponding expertise in Elder and Funeral Dispute Law. In her time as President of the Queensland Law Society, Christine developed an Elder Abuse Aware campaign that received national recognition for highlighting the need in the community for greater awareness and accountability.

In respect of her expertise in Funeral Law, Christine was the first lawyer to have ever been a member of the Australian Funeral Directors Association. Having spent many years advising funeral homes, cemeteries and crematoria on their responsibilities, Christine was recognized for her expertise in this field by being appointed an Honorary member of the Cemeteries and Crematoria Association of NSW.

Christine’s ongoing commitment to excellence in client service and technical skill, has seen her recognized by clients and peers – with the prestigious Doyle’s Guide awarding her Leading Wills and Estate Litigation Lawyer and Queensland’s Leading Wills, Estates and Succession Planning Lawyer awards for 9 years running – from 2015 every year to 2023.

Christine is one of three Queensland Court appointed Estate Account Assessors.

Queensland Law Society Succession Law Committee Member

The Queensland Law Society Succession Law Committee develops policies and responses to government on proposed legislative amendments and consultation material by reviewing the proposals, discussing its impact on all potential stakeholders, and proposing any suggested amendments to address problems. The committee provides a forum to consider practical problems and also disseminate awareness information to members. Christine was first appointed to this committee in 2011-2014. Christine resigned from the committee to take up her appointment to the QLS Council. Having completed her tenure on Council at the end of 2018, QLS sought to retain Christine’s highly regarded expertise and experience accordingly, she was reappointed to the QLS Succession Law Committee in, 2019, Christine retired from this position in 2020.

Queensland Law Society’s President 2017

In 2017 Christine leadership qualities saw her appointed President of the Queensland Law Society. Christine is one of only handful of women ever appointed to this role since its inception in 1873. Christine’s Presidency focused on the Solicitors branch of the profession – advocating for and on behalf of good lawyers for the good of the community.

In 2016 Christine served as Deputy President of the Queensland Law Society. During her Presidential term Christine amassed unique experience including appearing before Qld Parliamentary committees, signing off on in excess of 150 Parliamentary submissions; advocating for good law for the good of the community, as well as undertaking numerous media engagements. To know more, please visit our Media Section.

As QLS President Christine engaged with heads of jurisdictions, including the Courts, Judicial Officers, District Law Associations, Community legal and pro bono organisations, universities, government and other relevant associations and bodies.

Christine has amassed a wealth of legal and business expertise from her many and varied senior roles in law, business and government. Christine held appointment on the Queensland Law Society Council from 2014 – 2018. During that time, in addition to her roles as President, Deputy President, Immediate Past President, Christine also sat on the QLS Executive, QLS Audit and Investment Committee, and was the Inaugural Chair of the Corporate Governance Committee.

In 2017 Christine was honoured with the Leader Effecting Change Award from Women in Business Gold Coast awards, for her work as President of the Queensland Law Society.

Board Memberships

Christine has extensive board experience. In addition to her positions with QLS Council, Christine served on the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP); QLS Specialist Accreditation Board; QLS Succession Law Committee; QLS Proctor Editorial Committee; Lexon Insurance Board and as Director of the Law Council of Australia in 2017. Christine maintains a role on the Law Council of Australia, serving on the Legal Practice Executive Committee.

STEP is a global professional body, comprising lawyers, accountants, financial advisors and other practitioners that help families plan for their futures. Christine was appointed a member of Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners in 2010 and served on the STEP Qld Branch Executive Committee for 3 years. Christine recently retired from her position as Deputy Chair STEP Mental Capacity Global Special Interest Group.

Queensland Law Society Senior Counsellor

Christine was appointed in 2019 to the leadership position QLS of Senior Counsellor. This appointment is recognition by Queensland Law Society, Queensland’s peak legal body, of Christine’s integrity, ethical practices, and expertise in various practice areas. It is recognition by her peers that Christine stands as a “professional friend” to assist legal practitioners across Qld to provide professional advice, mentoring, and ethical analysis of the issues lawyers face within their own legal practice.

Author

Christine is a sought after author and seminar presenter having written numerous papers, presentations and articles relating to her specialist field of Inheritance Law. Queensland Law Society Proctor Magazine – for over a decade Christine wrote the go to column on succession law for the QLS professional body magazine. Proctor is circulated among QLS’s 13000+ members. Christine previously held the position of General Editor Retirement & Estate Planning Bulletin (REP). REP is a specialist publication, produced by LexisNexis, providing succession and estate planning professionals the latest developments in all matters concerning retirement and estate planning. Christine drove the content development of the newsletter and acted as chief participant and thought leader in informing and communicating the latest developments, relevant to the retirement and estate planning industry in Australia.

Seminar Presenter

Christine regularly presents at seminars and conferences for industry bodies including:

Queensland Law Society;
Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners;
Legalwise;
Television Education Network;
Cemeteries and Crematorium and Funeral Director Associations.
For a list of Christine’s most recent publications and presentations, please click here.

Community Work

Christine believes in giving back to the community. Concerned about the impact of red tape on small business, Christine spent a number of years volunteering her time and legal expertise on the Queensland State Government’s Better Regulation Task Force. She was one of 5 industry leaders charged with identifying ways the government can improve red tape processes for small business – the backbone of the Qld economy. The Task Force was established as a sub-committee of the Queensland Small Business Advisory Council (QSBAC) continuing the work of the former Red Tape Reduction Advisory Council.

Christine believes all Australians have a right to access justice. During her term as QLS President Christine strongly advocated for Community Legal Centres and was instrumental in the reversal of the Federal Government’s reversal of CLC funding cuts.

Over her 30+ year career Christine has volunteered her time and experience across many organisations. In her student days she volunteered with the Brisbane Women’s legal Service and the Southport Domestic Violence Service. While starting her family she assisted with charity events – raising money for the Cancer Foundation and being a mentor for the Smith Family Learning for Life program. Throughout her career Christine has been a mentor for the Queensland University of Technology student mentoring program, Women Lawyers Association (Qld) mentoring program and the Queensland Law Society mentoring program, as well as providing voluntary seminars for a range of community organisations.

Special Counsel to Robbins Watson and Christine Smyth Estate Lawyers

Christine is a special counsel for Robbins Watson, and for its sister firm, Christine Smyth Estate Lawyers – now part of the Robbins Watson group.