Our People
John Bottoms - Principal
John graduated in Arts and Law from the Australian National University in 1974 and commenced work in the Commonwealth Attorney Generals Department, Canberra before entering private practice as a Solicitor in 1976.
He subsequently joined the Northern Territory Crown Solicitors Office as a Crown Prosecutor. He also participated in the Northern Territory Land Claims in the 1970's. He managed the Aboriginal Legal Aid Office in Townsville specialising in criminal defence work in the Supreme Court and District Court, before moving to Cairns 29 years ago.
John was a Committee member for 23 years and Secretary for 20 years of the Yorkeys Knob Boating Club and was actively involved in the Club's $12 million marina development at Half Moon Bay .
Anne English - Principal
Anne English graduated from Monash University in Victoria in Arts and Law in 1980, joined the firm in 1981 and was admitted as a partner in 1986.
For many years, her field of expertise has also included maritime, mining and native title law. She has acted for both Aboriginal land owners and mining companies in extensive negotiations regarding compensation agreements.
She has developed an extensive practice in general administrative law and also in the Local Government area.
This experience extends to the development and implementation of by-laws, administrative procedures, permit and licensing arrangements and extensive liaison between Government Departments and clients.
Kirstiana Ward
Kirstiana graduated from James Cook University with a Bachelor of Laws in 2008 in the top 5% of her class. Kirstiana received numerous academic awards including the Connolly Suthers Contract Law prize in 2006, the Wettenhall Silva Human Rights award in 2008, admission to the Dean’s List in 2008 and awarded a lifetime membership to the Golden Key.
During her degree Kirstiana was the President of the student law association, Inter Alia in 2007-2008 and a student representative in 2006-2007. Kirstiana was also the JCU student representative to the Far North Queensland Law Association in 2007-2008.
Kirstiana was admitted as a solicitor to the Supreme Court of Queensland in February 2010 and the High Court in 2011.
Kirstiana is passionate about the environment and serves as a management committee member to the Environmental Defenders Office North Queensland.
Kirstiana spent 5 years living and working in London and has travelled extensively. She is also grateful to be the mother of two delightful children.
Areas of law that I specialise in here are:
- marine and admiralty
- general commercial
- workplace health and safety
- criminal matters
- Aboriginal land law
Sandra Sinclair -Family Law Consultant Lawyer
Between 1998 and 2006 Sandra was the Principal of Fleurieu Law, a boutique law firm south of Adelaide.
This was a busy general practice involved in all practice areas, including personal injury, contract law, business law, family law, criminal law and Wills and Estates law.
She sold the firm in 2006 after deciding to relocate to Queensland. After moving about a bit, Sandra settled in Cairns at the end of 2008 after she purchased a small existing law firm.
Since that time the practice grew a significant family law practice, as well as other areas of law including criminal, litigation and some commercial law.
In about mid-2011 Sandra and the Principals of Bottoms English Lawyers commenced negotiations with a view to merging the two firms, and that merger did occur in October 2011. Sandra is now employed as a consultant and practices almost solely in the area of Family Law. This practice includes work for couples that are (or were) in de facto relationships, complex property matters, and all other family law matters.
Sandra is a member of the Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia and was admitted to the High Court of Australia in 1998.
In 1921, Mr Kezilas Snr - who had previously come to Australia and obtained employment as a shipwright with the Cairns Harbour Board - returned to Megisti, the Greek island of his birth, married Mrs Kezilas and returned with her to Cairns. In 1924 Mr Kezilas built a home for his family at 63 Mulgrave Road, where their children were born and where the family lived. Mr Jim Kezilas, a local builder, was one of the children born in the house. After the deaths of Mr and Mrs Kezilas, the property was sold in 1984 and subsequent owners added to the house to make it into office premises. The property was purchased by the current owners, John Bottoms and Anne English, in August 2007 for use as business premises for their law firm, Bottoms English Lawyers. John and Anne have decided to name the premises "Megisti House" to maintain the link between themselves and the original owners of the property.