Our team

Dr Brooke Thompson brings to Jasper Fogerty Lawyers a breadth of experience across the private sector, academia and legal policy. Her exposure to these different areas of law gives her a formidable suite of skills essential to strong and strategic representation.

Brooke commenced her career in banking and finance at a top tier global law firm. Her six years in this space honed her negotiation and analytical skills, and gives her a unique insight into the commercial and corporate context of white collar and regulatory crime. And if working at the highest level in commercial law wasn’t enough of a challenge, in 2021 Brook was awarded her PhD in law at the University of Queensland. She has been published across multiple formats, including the prestigious University of NSW Law Journal, and maintains a role in the university sector as an External Research Fellow.

Brooke’s interest in criminal law developed from her time spent as a Senior Policy Solicitor at the Queensland Law Society, where she saw first-hand the importance of proactive and diligent legal representation to the overall outcome of a case. “Criminal defence lawyers have a critical role in the criminal justice system…to act with strength and skill and do whatever is necessary to advance and protect their clients within the bounds of the law”.

Brooke’s highly advanced analytical skills have led to her becoming the go-to person in our office for cases involving complex legal argument or abstract principles of law. She currently has a keen interest in cases involving “similar fact” evidence in sexual cases, and the legal rules governing admissibility of evidence generally.

Outside of the courtroom, Brooke has a passion for legal pluralist approaches and comparative law and is a former Vice President of the Queensland Chapter of Pride in Law, an apolitical association focusing on diversity within the law.

Publications: Thompson, B. Family Provision and Islamic Wills: Preserving the Testator’s Wishes through Testamentary Arbitration? (2023) University of NSW Law Journal, Vol 46(1)

Navigating Dual Legal Systems: Islamic Inheritance Law in Australia’s Secular Legal Framework (PhD Thesis), University of Queensland Law Journal, 2022

Do Islamic Succession Laws for Muslim Women Violate the Current Human Rights Framework? Developing an Ethical Working Model for Muslim Minority Nations, Muslim World Journal of Human Rights, 2016.

Following 12 months as an Associate to not one but two Judges of the District Court of Queensland, Liz commenced her career as a criminal lawyer at Jasper Fogerty Lawyers. Liz was admitted as a legal practitioner in March 2023. Her passion for criminal law emerged following her exposure to criminal trials in the District and Children’s Courts.

Prior to entering the world of law, Liz competed as a dancer on state, national and international platforms. This background ensures that Liz knows better than most the importance of hard work and that “proper preparation prevents poor performance”. Her ability to be calm under pressure gives her a clear competitive advantage in the courtroom, and she never loses focus on providing excellent client outcomes.

“In my dancing and legal careers I have worked alongside people of diverse cultural, social and economic backgrounds. In my dealings with clients, I foster empathy and respect, and hopefully make the criminal justice process less intimidating for those caught up in it”.

With her background in performance, Liz is a natural courtroom advocate. She enjoys being able to go above and beyond in a case. Her highly organised and effective approach is born of her strong belief that everyone is entitled to a fair go, and her desire to help her clients during a difficult time.

Liz works across a wide range of criminal law matters including domestic violence, commonwealth offences, drugs and sexual offences and traffic and regulatory crime.

Kara Thomson joined Jasper Fogerty Lawyers in 2024. A leading Personal Injuries and Insurance lawyer, she has previously appeared in the Australian Financial Review Best Lawyers List for 2020 and 2021 (insurance) and in the Doyles' Guide to Leading Queensland Lawyers in 2019 to 2022 (personal injuries).

Kara has an extraordinary background of service to the legal profession, and wider community. She served with distinction as the 2022 President of the Queensland Law Society, and currently holds appointments to the Queensland Prostitution Licencing Authority Board and the Panel of Public Assessors in QCAT (medical). In 2023 she received the Women Lawyers' Association of Queensland Women Lawyer of the Year award.

Kara's decision to make the move into criminal defence reflects her passion for courtroom advocacy. "Throughout my career I have consistently fought for those seeking a fair go in the justice system. I understand how distressing and stressful court proceedings can be. My background in civil law gives me a powerful and unique set of lenses in the criminal law space".

Kara is widely known in legal circles for her unflappable, positive approach to her work, and strong sense of justice and ethics. She has a well-developed capacity for focused, evidence-led litigation strategies and a solid foundation of technical skills.

Kara works across a wide range of criminal law matters, with a special expertise in matters where causation may be in issue, such as driving and violence offences, and industrial manslaughter. She has a down to earth and compassionate demeanour and strives to achieve the best possible outcome for her clients.