12 August 2025: Sunshine Coast-based lawyer, Shelly Brown, has been named Graduate Lawyer of the Year, at the Queensland Law Society Excellence in Law Awards 2025 recognising her exceptional skill, dedication, and commitment to excellence in family law.
As a Lawyer at Catton and Tondelstrand Family Lawyers in Maroochydore, the award acknowledges Shelly’s outstanding early career achievements, including her contribution to academic research on coercive control. She co-authored the academic article “Criminalising Coercive Control after the Hannah Clarke Homicide: A Comparative Analysis”, published by the Thomson Reuters Criminal Law Journal, which examines the complexities of legislative reform in this area, in Queensland and New South Wales.
Director Angela Tondelstrand said the award reflected Shelly’s commitment to both legal practice and advancing discussion on important issues in family law.
“Shelly has demonstrated a rare combination of academic insight and practical skill. Her work on coercive control adds depth to understanding and knowledge of family law and benefits the clients and community we serve.”
Shelly said she was honoured to receive the recognition so early in her career.
“This award means a great deal to me. I’m passionate about using both research and practical experience to help shape better outcomes for families. It’s a privilege to be part of a team that values evidence-based approaches to complex and sensitive matters.”
Shelly works across a broad range of family law matters, applying evidence-based insights and a focus on client outcomes.
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