Principal & Head of Departments- Family & Civil Law

Selena Cartwright, Principal of the firm, holds a Bachelor of Arts (majoring in sociology) and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of New England and has over ten years experience in the legal industry.

Selena was born and bred in Gympie and undertook her secondary education at James Nash State High school, where she was Vice School Captain during her final year. Upon completing school Selena secured full time employment in the firm as an Articled Clerk. Over the next five years Selena worked full time whilst externally completing, on a full time basis, a dual degree in Arts/Law. Her first day at university was on the day of her graduation.

After completing her five year articles of clerkship with the firm, she was admitted as a Solicitor of both the High Court and Supreme Court. Within 18 months of her admission, at just 24 years of age, Selena was promoted to partnership. In January, 2008 Selena became the sole Principal. She now overseas all aspects of the practice, in addition to managing her own case load. Her business acumen and dedication to the industry, staff and client’s has seen her named:  

• 2011 Sunshine Coast's Rural/Remote Manager of the Year in the Australian Institute of Management Excellence Awards.
• 2010 Gympie’s Businesswoman of Excellence;
• 2009 Queensland’s Commonwealth Bank Business Owner of the Year in the Telstra Women in Business awards.
• 2009 Queensland finalist in the Telstra’s Women in Business Awards in two categories the Marie Claire Young Women in Business award and the Commonwealth Bank Business Owner Award;

• 2009 National Finalist in the Telstra’s Women in Business Awards in the Commonwealth Bank Business Owner Award;
• One of four finalists’ in the 2008 Queensland's Business Review's Women in Business Awards;
• One of three finalists in the 2008 Queensland’s Emergent Woman Lawyer of the Year Awards.

Selena holds a special interest in helping people who are involved in the breakdown of a relationship and prides herself on achieving the best possible outcome for her client’s, in addition to providing tactical advice which ensures her client's rights are protected.

Throughout her career Selena has practiced predominately in family law and been involved in both national and international family law matters and brings a wealth of experience in complex property matters, children’s matters (including international children’s cases under the Hague Convention), paternity disputes, child support issues, domestic violence, spousal maintenance and de facto property settlements.

In the conduct of all of her matters, and in the management of the practice, she strives for excellence and has achieved some amazing outcomes including the successful retrieval of a child from Croatia who had been missing from Australia for three years.

She is a member of the Queensland Law Society, the Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia, the Women Lawyers Association, the Young Lawyers association, the Gympie Women in Business Network,  Gympie Chamber of Commerce and Gympie Go-Getters.

When not working in or on the business, Selena is also committed to supporting her local community, devoting her time to working on the management committee of the Gympie Women’s & District Health Centre as well as the Gympie Weroona Association. She is also a board director of United Synergies.

Selena’s enjoys spending quality time with family and friends and travelling abroad. To date she and her husband have travelled throughout Asia, Europe and America.