Before my recent retirement as a lawyer, of some 42 years, I practiced in Estate Law and particularly in the area of Elder Law or law relating to older people and their families.
My work extended to the numerous issues in life and estate planning, Centrelink, superannuation, disputes over Wills and Enduring Powers of Attorney, Advance Health Directives, retirement living and aged care, incapacity and disputes about incapacity and decision making, QCAT applications, elder abuse, family agreements, granny flats, family disputes and mediation.
I was voted by my peers as one of Australia’s “Best Lawyers in Seniors and Retirement law” and by ‘Doyle’s Guide’ as a preeminent lawyer in Queensland in Health and Aged Care and a leading lawyer in Wills, Estates and Succession law.
In 2022 I received the Queensland Law Society’s “Solicitor of the Year 2022 (Large Firm)” award.
I am the author of the award-winning book, “Avoiding the Ageing Parent Trap” published in 2021 by Big Sky Publishing and reprinted in 2024. It chronicles many family stories from his years of professional experience and offers advice and solutions to respond to the various strains and stresses that adult children will be exposed to in meeting the needs of their ageing parents.
I am an AMDRAS Accredited Mediator operating my own business – ‘Brian Herd Elder Mediation and Facilitation’ in which I both facilitate and assist families to understand the ageing issues and options and the mediation of disputes particularly within families.
My services are offered across Australia and can be provided in person or by digital platforms such as Zoom or Teams.