About Us

LLB, GDLP, MAHRI

Lawyer, Investigator and certified HR professional.

Efthimia conducts external and independent investigations for government, boards, employers and law firms. Efthimia is appointed to legal services and investigations panels and has extensive experience undertaking complex investigations in the public and private sector. Efthimia is also a trusted advisor called upon to provide recommendations to government and boards following findings of systemic issues.

Efthimia has an expert understanding of the theory of investigation standards, procedural fairness, practices and procedures, employment principles and conduct obligations in the private and public sector. Efthimia has an intimate knowledge of the public sector and a strong track record advising in ethical, integrity and public interest matters.

Efthimia commenced her career at MinterEllison and over her 6 years there, she gained experience in litigation and employment law. In 2010, Efthimia up the opportunity to work with Peter Davis QC on the legal team for the Queensland Attorney General in the Office of the State Coroner Inquest into the death of Mulrunji (the Palm Island death in custody inquest). It was as a result of this inquest experience, Efthimia’s career was steered in the direction of government investigations and public sector integrity and ethics.

The majority of Efthimia’s current engagements involve undertaking complex independent investigations and reviews for government and boards. Efthimia is frequently briefed to provide advice and undertake investigations for integrity and ethical standards units, people and culture departments, boards of directors and other law firms. For the past decade, Efthimia has been the Lawyer and Advisor for the Australian Paramedics Association in Queensland and Tasmania and representing paramedics is a passion of hers.

Efthimia is often engaged as a speaker at legal and HR symposiums and conferences and she is renowned for her sharing her expertise with clients and colleagues. Efthimia has a love for the law and is driven by fairness and justice. In 2020, Efthimia was awarded the Australian Lawyers Alliance Queensland Civil Justice Award.

Licenced PI (QLD)

The nature of private and covert investigation work means that it is essential that the Partner responsible for private investigation work is not identified on our website. Our private investigator Partner is a Licenced Private Investigator and Commercial Field Agent with extensive experience in discreet and covert investigations.

BSc PgDL MQLS MAppLing, Barrister (UK), Solicitor (Queensland and High Court)

Alison is an admitted and experienced lawyer who has assisted Devaneys’ clients investigating code of conduct and policy breaches, sexual harassment, bullying and corrupt conduct.

Alison commenced her legal career in the UK having been admitted as a barrister to the Bar of England and Wales in 2003. Alison worked for a litigation firm in Jersey, Channel Islands. Alison’s experience in multi-jurisdictional litigation is underpinned by her disciplined and rigorous approach to evidence gathering and analysis.
After emigrating to Australia in 2007, Alison worked as an Associate in a Gold Coast firm specialising in commercial litigation and government advisory. She qualified as a solicitor in Queensland in 2010 and was admitted to the High Court of Australia in 2011. From private practise, Alison moved into teaching legal professional practise as an associate professor at Bond University in 2012.

Combining her passion for law and linguistics, Alison completed her Master of Applied Linguistics at Monash University in 2019. As part of her studies, Alison investigated how language use, stress and intonation can change in situations such as during criminal witness interviews, witness examination and cross-examination. She also examined the effects of misinterpretation or reinterpretation of oral
evidence when the witness’s first language is not English.
Alison’s extensive experience in both private practise, legal teaching and linguistics continues to provide a sound basis for her diligent and accurate investigatory and advisory work.