Principal – Mark McAuliffe

Mark hold degrees in Jurisprudence, Law and Science (Viticulture & Oenology). He was admitted to practice as a solicitor in 1981.

From 1981 to 1989 Mark was with the firm of  Downing & Downing. He then went on to establish McAuliffe & Associates as a litigation and commercial law firm.

In 2008, Mark left St Georges Terrace in Perth to set up McAuliffe Legal in Margaret River and Busselton.

Mark specialised as a litigation lawyer for over 25 years. Since starting McAuliffe Legal, he does extensive work on a range of matters including commercial transactions and disputes, family law, wills and estate planning, litigation and personal injuries.

Mark and his wife run their own vineyard at Rosa Glen and consequently he has a good understanding of the wine industry. He has extensive experience in wine law, in particular in relation to vineyard and winery contracts, supply, distribution and bottling agreements and liquor licensing.

In a personal capacity he has held numerous Director and Chairman roles on various public and private boards. He is also the Past President of the Not-for-Profit South West Autism Network, continues to sit on the board of Management and is an advisor to the Dianne Memorial Trust (Liech).

Senior Solicitor – Clare Gleeson

Clare was admitted as a solicitor in 2006. She holds degrees in Law and in Environmental Science. She commenced her career in local government at the Shire of Augusta Margaret River where she worked for 5 years as a Legal Officer. She then worked at a top tier firm Lavan Legal in Perth for 5 years, working her way up to Senior Associate of that firm.

Clare is specialised as a town planning and environment lawyer, however since joining McAuliffe Legal, Clare has developed an interest in family law, general litigation and commercial law. She has also gained experience in a range of matters including lease drafting, wills and estates and personal injury matters.

She brings to McAuliffe Legal extensive experience working in the land development industry, development projects, environmental matters and general local and state government administration issues.

Her experience in the planning area includes working on numerous litigations, development and subdivision proposals, appeals to the State Administrative Tribunal, land use conflict resolution, planning, building and health prosecution proceedings, as well as drafting planning laws and policy.

Clare has been involved in a range of environmental matters including clearance of native vegetation, threatened flora and fauna, project referral requirements under various local, state and commonwealth laws, noise regulations, contaminated sites and water licensing.

She is the on the committees of the National Environmental Lawyers Association (WA), the Law Society’s Town Planning and Environment Committee and Women Lawyers of Western Australia.

Solicitor – Amelia Englert

Amelia holds a Bachelor of Laws degree and was admitted as a lawyer in 2006. After the completion of her degree, Amelia worked at the Shire of Augusta Margaret River as a legal/planning officer for 10 years.

Apart from being specialised in planning law, Amelia also has an interest in commercial law, family law, building and construction disputes, estate planning and litigation.

Amelia’s prior experience included the preparation of complex lease documents, working on State Administrative Tribunal proceedings, providing administrative advice, being responsible for compliance matters and drafting specific planning documents.

Since joining McAuliffe Legal, Amelia has gained experience in family law proceedings, building disputes, neighbour disputes, debt recovery proceedings and the drafting of wills and other estate planning documents.

Amelia is a member of the Law Society of Western Australia and is on the Law Society’s Country Practitioners Committee. Amelia is also interested in pro bono work and has been involved with the State Administrative Tribunal pro bono scheme.