George Constantine Pharmacis   

George is the Principal Lawyer of a thriving legal practice. He has experience as a Solicitor practicing in multiple areas of law, particularly Family Law. He has a broad range of experience helping clients in all facets of family law, including: parenting and property matters, child support, spousal maintenance, financial agreements and de facto relationship matters. George provides a personal and tailored approach to all of his clients.

George is also an excellent Business lawyer with many years’ experience in all aspects of business law. Whether it be establishing new businesses, franchises and copyrights or successfully resolving commercial disputes and litigation, George can help you.

After completing a Bachelor of Laws degree, George undertook a Post-Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice at Bond University and was admitted as a legal practitioner in both the Supreme Court of Queensland and the High Court of Australia.

George currently serves as Treasurer of Robina Community Legal Centre Inc, Committee Member of Community Legal Centres Queensland  and is a member of the Queensland Law Society, Family Law Practitioner’s Association of Queensland, and Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia.

In recognition of his devotion and commitment to the community, he was recently awarded ‘Volunteer of the Year 2018’ by the Robina Community Legal Centre.

George is an avid martial artist and in his spare time (those few minutes he occasionally gets!) can be found enjoying these pursuits.

Christine Hilda Smith                                                                            

Christine holds a Bachelor of Business and a Bachelor of Laws from Southern Cross University. Following this she completed a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice with Distinction at the Australian National University.

Christine was admitted as a Lawyer by the Supreme Court of Queensland and holds a current practicing certificate. She has nearly twenty years’ experience working for the Government and has represented many clients before the Fair Work Commission and various tribunals having a passion and commitment to employment law. She is a published writer on health and safety and currently teaches Law two days a week at Southern Cross University. Currently she assists the office in all clerical functions and allocated legal matters.

Darren Hayes

Darren Hayes is a Special Counsel with extensive experience in wills, estates, and trust law. He has returned to private practice in Australia after contributing significantly to the development of trust and estate administration laws in the Pacific region, having worked as a technical advisor to the Governments of Samoa and Papua New Guinea. Darren played a pivotal role in modernising their legal frameworks, preparing will and estate precedents, and providing tailored training to enhance the administration of intestate estates. His work also included drafting key governance documents such as the Statement of Corporate Objectives, Board Rules, and Code of Conduct for the Public Trustee of Samoa and the Public Curator of Papua New Guinea.

In the area of litigation, Darren has prepared, advised on, and appeared in numerous guardianship proceedings, incapacity, and advocacy matters within the Supreme Court. He has managed a broad spectrum of claims involving estates, handling complex challenges to estate validity and administration. His litigation experience spans appearances in Queensland courts, including the Supreme, District, Magistrates, and Family Courts, as well as tribunals such as the Guardianship and Administration Tribunal and the Anti-Discrimination Tribunal.

Darren’s expertise in wills and estate planning is demonstrated by his personal involvement in the preparation of hundreds of Enduring Powers of Attorney. He has developed specialised clauses for a variety of transactions undertaken nationally by attorneys and has established will-making precedents while training staff in Australia and the Pacific. His supervision and drafting of thousands of wills include intricate testamentary discretionary trusts. He provides comprehensive estate planning advice for high net worth clients, often with assets held across multiple jurisdictions.

His estate administration experience is extensive, covering the obtaining of Probate and Letters of Administration across all Australian states and territories. Darren has also facilitated the resealing of grants in foreign jurisdictions and provided guidance on administering real and personal property internationally. He has advised national charities, trustee companies, and executors on the implications of Uniform Succession Law legislation and offers in-depth advice on challenging estate administration matters.

Darren’s business and personal succession advice encompasses estate and business succession planning, including every form of express trust and philanthropic structure. He is well-versed in the laws affecting international and national FIFO personnel and the protection and administration of assets across numerous foreign jurisdictions including the USA, UK, Russia, France, Singapore, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea. His experience extends to managing SMSF matters such as changes of control, trustee removal, and transitional arrangements.

Additionally, Darren has advised on the restructuring of complex business arrangements for individuals who have lost capacity or whose structures require modernisation to comply with current company, tax, and trust laws. This often involves coordinating with financial, accounting, tax, and business professionals to ensure efficient and compliant solutions for clients.

Margaret O’Hara

Margaret O’Hara is a Law Graduate at Pharmacis Canning Lawyers, where she supports the firm’s family law practice with professionalism, compassion, and a strong commitment to client care. Margaret is passionate about assisting individuals and families as they navigate some of the most significant and emotionally charged moments in their lives. She values the opportunity to help clients feel heard, informed, and supported throughout the legal process.

Margaret brings a strong academic foundation and a genuine interest in all aspects of family law, including parenting arrangements, property matters, financial issues, and domestic violence. She is dedicated to developing her skills and expanding her practical experience while contributing meaningfully to the team.

Outside her professional commitments, Margaret is an avid dancer and a dedicated baseball enthusiast. She enjoys the creativity and discipline that dance fosters, as well as the strategy, teamwork, and energy that baseball offers. These interests complement her approach to legal practice with balancing focus, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Driven by a desire to make a meaningful difference, Margaret is committed to ongoing learning, growth, and contributing positively to the lives of the clients and communities she serves.