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.

LL.B NMAS JP(Qual)

John is admitted as a lawyer in the State of Queensland and is a nationally accredited mediator. He has been practising in litigation and dispute resolution for over 20 years.

John has also been a conciliator for the Anti-Discrimination Commission (Qld) and the Fair Work Commission, dealing with a wide range of matters.

John has also had experience in small law firms, a national ‘top-tier’ law firm and as in-house counsel for leading Queensland companies. He has taught at three leading Australian Universities, including in the subjects ‘Civil Procedure’, ‘Expert Evidence’ and ‘Dispute Resolution’. John sits on the Queensland Law Society’s ADR Committee and serves as a panel mediator for Queensland Government Departments and Tribunals.

In addition to mediation and conciliation, John has also conducted many Restorative Justice Conferences (including Youth Justice Conferences under Queensland State Legislation).

John assist clients with investigations and resolving workplace issues that require a particularly conciliatory approach, as well as mediating workplace disputes.

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.

LLB (Hons), BSocSci (Psych)

Cherie is an admitted lawyer with over two decades of experience. Combining her legal skill set with her psychology training, Cherie has assisted Devaneys’ clients investigating allegations of sexual assault, sexual harassment, bullying, misconduct and corrupt conduct.

Since graduating in law and psychology from Bond University with Honours in 1997, Cherie has practiced as a criminal and civil litigation solicitor. Cherie’s experience includes acting in various matters including a large-scale international fraud case in the High Court of Hong Kong and working extensively with victims and witnesses of historical child abuse.
In addition to Cherie working with Devaneys, she currently lectures at Bond University in ‘Expert Witness and Dispute Resolution’ and ‘Intellectual Property Rights and Data Exchange’ and has previously lectured in ‘Evidence’ and ‘Victimology’. Cherie is also a trained facilitator in the counselling and rehabilitation of domestic violence perpetrators.
Cherie headed the marketing campaign for Chris Nyst’s best-selling crime fiction novels, ‘Cop This!’ and ‘Gone’. She also co-produced and distributed the feature film ‘Crooked Business’ and managed the profiling of Nyst Gallery – a pro bono art exhibition gallery for up-and-coming artists.

B. Bus (HRM), LLB, GDLP, Bar Prac, MAHRI

Shelley-Anne is admitted as a lawyer in the State of Queensland and is a HR professional certified by the Australian HR Institute.

Shelley-Anne began her professional career when she graduated from Griffith University with a Bachelor of Business. She went on to work as a HR professional in the hospitality industry for a number of years before embarking on a career in law enforcement with the Queensland Police Service (QPS). As a general duties police officer and police prosecutor, Shelley-Anne was exposed to a diverse range of criminal and quasi-criminal investigations and prosecutions.

During her time with QPS, Shelley-Anne completed her Bachelor of Laws at the Queensland University of Technology, after which she went on to become a crown prosecutor with the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).  Her experience with the QPS and DPP allowed Shelley-Anne to comprehensively understand the importance of robust, meticulous, and thorough investigation methods including a forensic and disciplined approach to collecting evidence.

After a decade working with the Queensland State Government, Shelley-Anne moved into private sector where she continued working with government and private industry in her areas of expertise, including employment, industrial relations, safety, and quasi-criminal law.

Fifteen years post admission as a legal practitioner, Shelley has built an exceptionally strong capability in corporate and legal advisory, investigations, and people related issues arising in the workplace.