Mark McGrath
Director, Solicitor & Notary Public
Profile
Mark focuses on commercial law including property development and town planning, leasing and conveyancing of commercial property, structuring and conveyancing of businesses and rural property transactions. Mark can also provide assistance in relation to building and construction disputes.
As an industry leader, Mark is well known for his long standing and active interest in town planning issues involving developers and councils across Queensland. Mark was admitted as a Fellow of the Development Industry of Australia in 2011 in recognition of his long standing and passionate service to the development industry in Queensland.
After completing a 4 year Law degree at QUT in Brisbane, Mark came “home” to Mackay in early 1994 to work in the legal industry. Mark has been admitted as a solicitor since January 1996 and has been a Principal at McKays since July 2003.
Being one of the fifth generation of the McGrath family to live and work in the Mackay region, Mark’s long term knowledge, passion and commitment to the Mackay region is of benefit and value to McKays and its clients.
Mark added to his legal qualifications by completing a Master of Laws majoring in Commercial Law from the Queensland University of Technology. Focusing on commercial law in his Masters course has given Mark a significant advantage in advising and helping business, rural and commercial law clients to achieve their goals. Mark remains an industry leader in his field by continuing to update his legal knowledge and skills.
The Archbishop of Canterbury conferred the title “Notary Public” (for Queensland) on Mark, on 25 August 2010, so that he has specialist witnessing skills to assist the Queensland community (involving especially international documents). In July 2016, Mark was advanced to the status of Fellow of The Australian and New Zealand College of Notaries.
Mark is currently chairman of the judiciary for the Mackay Rugby Union. He is involved in and assists many regional charities and sporting organisations.
Mark is a former director of the Trudy Crowley Foundation Ltd. This is a not for profit charity with the goal of assisting people in Regional Queensland with ovarian cancer. Mark and McKays Solicitors remain strong supporters of the Trudy Crowley Foundation Ltd.
Expertise
In recent years, Mark has advised clients on:
The successful structuring and sale terms of various industrial and commercial premises in the Mackay region.
Resolving Planning and Environment Court ligation matters for developers with local governments, which enabled the development to proceed as planned.
Resolving terms of Infrastructure Agreements for developers with local governments regarding development rights and obligations to facilitate development.
The successful structuring and sales and purchases of sugarcane farms in the Mackay and Proserpine regions with water rights and harvesting issues.
The successful leasing of various retail centres with multiple retail tenants in Mackay and Whitsundays.
Membership and Appointments
Member of the Queensland Law Society
Fellow of the Urban Development Institute of Australia (Qld branch) (UDIA)
Fellow of the Australian & New Zealand College of Notaries
Member of the Queensland Society of Notaries
Justice of the Peace (Qualified)
Admitted to practice in the High Court of Australia and the Supreme Court of Queensland
Member of the Chamber of Commerce (Mackay branch)
Past Judiciary Chairman for Mackay Rugby Union
Past Board member at Holy Spirit College, Mackay
Past President of the Pioneer Swim Club
Past Director of the Trudy Crowley Foundation Limited (Ovarian Cancer charity)
Past President of the UDIA (Mackay/Whitsunday) branch