Law . Business . Relationships
Family Law | Wills & Estates | Property | Management Rights | Business & Commercial
Tax Advice & Disputes | Strata & Body Corporate | Commercial Litigation
Welcome to Small Myers Hughes
Founding Directors’ Michael Small and Col Myers, along with fellow DIrector Craig Nicol, have been practising law on the Gold Coast their entire careers and together have over 50 years of experience as law firm partners.
Based on the Gold Coast, Small Myers Hughes Lawyers provides specialist legal advice and assistance to clients throughout all of Australia on State and Federal matters.
Our firm has a diverse range of skills and expertise that is geared towards obtaining positive outcomes in business and family relationships. We focus on helping families and professionals to manage, grow and protect their assets in the short and long term, creating legacies that can be left for future generations.
What We Do
At Small Myers Hughes, we provide top shelf legal advice to clients Australia wide whilst
simultaneously focusing on developing open and honest relationships with you.
Our Core Practices
Law . Business . Relationships
Law
We Deliver Expert Solutions
Our dedicated teams of proactive lawyers, led by partners and accredited specialists, have extensive experience in identifying specific legal or business problems and finding alternate options and expert solutions for you. Due to the multi-disciplinary structure of our firm we have the ability to offer you advice and solutions on a range of issues that may arise, ensuring a consistent, thorough and professional service.
Business
We Achieve Practical Outcomes
Our lawyers will strategise and work with you to achieve the most practical outcomes for you and your situation. We have a breadth of experience and understanding relating to the vast range of issues which can present themselves. More importantly, we have insight into how the different parties involved may respond to an issue, thus managing this to your advantage.
Relationships
We take the time
We pride ourselves on our exemplary client care and transparency in our business dealings with our clients. We will take the time to explain, guide and support you through the entire process, from start to finish. Because of our personalised approach and attention to detail, we are highly regarded by our clients and our industry peers.
We ensure you understand
Our highly qualified and experienced lawyers recognise you will not benefit from legal knowledge without a clear understanding of how the law applies to you, your family and your work or business. When we communicate with you, we do so in a language you are comfortable with by removing as much legal jargon as possible. This ensures that you fully understand the considerations, issues and relevant processes being used to assist in achieving your desired outcomes.
Communicating With You
We provided legal advice and services to clients Australia wide. If unable to meet with you personally, we can converse with you live through modern technology using conference phones, Zoom, Teams and the like.
Our Services
We Act For Clients In A Range Of Industries
Small Myers Hughes regularly consult with members and peak bodies within these industries.
Our high level of expertise extends to these Industries
Accounting
Small Myers Hughes Lawyers provides support and works collectively with accountants to achieve optimum results for clients. We have acted for and with many large accounting groups and specialise in interpreting and explaining taxation legislation, which is amongst the most complex law in Australia.
Over the years, our lawyers have established strong working relationships with a large number of accountants which has helped provide clients practical and consistent solutions.
We provide support and advice on:
- Tax and superannuation
- Wills and estate planning
- Tax effective divorce
- Property divisions
- Business sales and purchases
- Structuring
Financial Planning
Small Myers Hughes Lawyers supports financial planners and their clients by working together to create practical solutions. Our pragmatic approach to law ensures that industry professionals and clients understand what it is we are doing and how it affects them and their personal circumstances.
Our team acts for a range of people within the financial planning industry such as sole practitioners to high net worth individuals and organisations. Our aim is to provide clear and concise advice that allows financial planners and their clients achieve their financial goals.
We provide support on a range of services including:
- Tax and superannuation
- Family law
- Estate planning
- Business structuring
- Self managed super funds
- Property investments
Management Rights
Small Myers Hughes Lawyers has extensive experience and knowledge in the Management Rights industry. We not only provide services for clients buying and selling Management Rights but also for those already in the industry such as Body Corporate Managers, Committees and Property Developers.
Our team, led by Principal Col Myers, includes highly qualified and experienced lawyers in Management Rights, Strata and Community Titles.
Our lawyers maintain strong working relationships with other industry professionals, as we understand the importance of delivering a cooperative and consistent service to our clients.
Our major Management Rights services include:
- Advice on licencing, code of conduct, letting appointments and leasebacks
- GST and tax solutions
- Dispute resolution
- Acting in the sale and purchase of existing and off the plan management rights
- Due diligence reports
- Variations, renewals and exit strategies
- Attending and addressing body corporate meetings
- Partnership agreements, structuring and asset protection
- Advising developers on the creation and sale of management rights for their development (all states of Australia)
Our Strata and Community Titles services include:
- Assisting with the interpretation and understanding of legislation
- Advising managers and bodies corporate on all strata issues and by laws
Medical Specialists
Small Myers Hughes Lawyers supports the medical industry by providing legal advice and solutions to medical specialists, aged care facilities, private health sectors and medico organisations.
Our team delivers high quality, practical legal solutions and while we are not medical experts, we have vast experience working with the medical sector to collaboratively deliver clear and comprehensive results for clients.
Our major services include;
- Tax and superannuation issues
- Business Structuring
- Asset Protection
- Structures to minimise tax burdens
- Pre litigation proceedings
Property Development
Small Myers Hughes Lawyers provides legal services and advice on all types of property transactions including sales and purchases of residential, commercial and rural properties, property development, leasing, Management Rights and Body Corporate Law.
Our team acts for a number of developers and assist with the preparation of off the plan sales contracts including the production of all accompanying disclosure and body corporate documentation. We also act for private property owners and international and domestic investors on a variety of developments including incorporating land subdivisions, house and land packages, townhouse and high rise subdivisions and Management Rights.
Our lawyers understand there is no “one size fits all” solution when dealing with client’s property matters and always work efficiently to meet the tight deadlines that are often associated with this industry.
Our major services include:
- Property sales and purchases of residential, commercial and rural properties
- Advice on contracts and agreements
- Leasing
- Minimising income tax and GST obligations
- Joint venture agreements and Partnerships
- Management Rights
- Body Corporate Law
What Our Clients Are Saying
“Michael is the consummate professional and he has the ability of getting straight to the issue, no matter how complex. He achieves timely results and has an in depth knowledge of the law which extends well beyond family law. Michael is compassionate and always has time to talk through an issue even when he is overseas or away on holidays he will respond to his clients. I can not recommend him highly enough to anyone who needs a man of probity who knows his law and puts his client first.”
Dr. Jacqueline Kerr
“I was facing the prospect of losing everything I had worked so hard for which was awful, I was at breaking point. Mitchell not only was a very good lawyer negotiating my financial security, he was also helpful, compassionate and caring. I felt like a human being and not just a number.”
Annette Kontoleon
"The service I received from SMH was great. Michael and Jessica were very professional and were always quick to get back to me and let me know what was happening with my matter."
Peter, Civil Designer
“I have worked with Jared Maher on various matters over the past few years. I have found SMH to be extremely efficient in all the dealings we have had with them. Jared’s experience in BSA and building defects issues is excellent and we have found the issues resolved in a timely manner. I have no hesitation in recommending this firm to any prospective clients.”
Melissa Paul - Director, Strata Sphere
“Col has been my go to lawyer for more than 20 years. He and his team have looked after many property developments for me over the years and they always do a great job helping me get through each development. I like that I can call any team member and get the legal advice I need at the time. You could say that our relationship is more like a partnership than client and solicitor.”
Robert, Property Developer
“The advice and assistance that our Body Corporate has received from SMH Lawyers has been invaluable. Our Body Corporate has engaged them to assist us with formulating our onsite building managers schedule of duties, updates to our By-laws and they ensured the Body Corporates best interests were of utmost importance with three Deed of Assignments finalised over the past 10 years. I highly recommend SMH Lawyers and in particular Jarad Maher and Ben Ashworth.”
Jan - Chairperson (San Delles)
“As a Body Corporate Manager Company we work closely from time to time with Solicitors on wide and varied matters, so finding a company with efficient and knowledgeable staff is vital to our business. To that end we have used the services of Small Myers Hughes on many occasions, in particular with matters associated with property and body corporate legislation. We have always found their advice to be very sound and comprehensive, carried out in an efficient and timely manner and most importantly at reasonable rates. The staff that we have dealt with over the years always extend a courteous manner and tend to go beyond the brief, offering additional support if required. Based upon this experience that we have enjoyed we will continue to utilise the services of Small Myers Hughes into the future. We unreservedly recommend their services.”
Michael Groves - Director, AM Strata
"Thank you so much to you and your team for all the work and dedication you have brought to us. I am so blessed to work with such a smart, driven group of people. Look forward to working with you again in the soon future."
– Julie, Building Manager
Thank you Julie. You have been wonderful to deal with. I know your quick thinking saved settlement at the last moment and appreciate it. Your diligence also caught an issue with the PPSR releases which would have caused delays.
Nick - Client
