Susan McNeil
Susie McNeil was called to the Queensland Bar in March 2007, after admission as solicitor in 2005. Susie has a broad commercial litigation, building and construction, property and insurance law practice.
Susie has been listed in Doyle’s Guide as one of Queensland’s leading Building and Construction junior counsel (2017 to 2025), and as one of Australia’s recommended Building and Construction junior counsel (2018 to 2025). In 2024, Susie was named in the 17th Edition of The Best Lawyers in Australia for her expertise in Commercial law, Insurance law and Litigation. In 2025, she was recognised in the 18th Edition of Best Lawyers for her expertise in Commercial Law, Construction/Infrastructure Law, Litigation and Insurance law.
Susie has appeared as counsel in Queensland’s Court of Appeal, Supreme Court, District Court, Magistrates Court, the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT), as well as represented clients in commercial arbitrations and expert determinations.
Susie acts as a mediator in construction, commercial, property and insurance disputes. She also acts and accepts appointments as a facilitator for expert conclaves. In addition to commercial litigation, building and construction and insurance law, Susie has experience in body corporate dispute litigation.
She has represented clients in disputes involving defective design and construction, public infrastructure, pipelines, roadways and bridges, commercial and domestic buildings, combustible cladding, issues with coatings (to concrete surfaces, sewage facilities and public stadium infrastructure), damage to large and small marine vessels (including superyachts), and fire damage to marine vessels and buildings. She has represented clients in arbitrations involving pipeline infrastructure disputes, sewage plants, railway infrastructure and energy infrastructure disputes in Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory. She has acted in insurance recoveries in respect of damage, dealing with issues of liability and complex quantum claims, including the Queensland flood litigation class action.
Susie has represented clients in relation to infrastructure contractual disputes (including contractual disputes, delay claims, variation claims, transport and ITC disputes), acting on behalf of both corporations (contractors and principals), the State Government and government statutory bodies including the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (the QBCC).
Susie is currently the Secretary of the Building Dispute Practitioners Society (BDPS) (Queensland Chapter), having previously served as the President between 2021 to 2023. She has been on the committee since 2013. She was a Board Member of the Australian Women Lawyers between 2011 and 2014, serving as the Vice President in 2013-2014. She served as President of the Queensland Women Lawyers Association between 2009 to 2011, and was a committee member between 2003 and 2016.
Prior to being called to the Bar, Susie was a solicitor in Brisbane with Quinlan Miller & Treston Lawyers.
Recent Cases
> Farmers Fruit Box & Plastics Pty Ltd & Anor
v Select Carbon Pty Ltd & Anor [2023] QSC
241
> Norsgaard v Aldi Stores (A Limited
Partnership) [2023] QCA 204
> Norsgaard v Aldi Stores (A Limited
Partnership) [2022] QDC 260
> Demex Pty Ltd v Marine Civil Contractors
Pty Ltd & Anor [2022] QSC 141
> Davies & Ors v Gold Coast City Council
[2021] QDC 135
> Total Lifestyle Windows Pty Ltd v Aniko
Constructions Pty Ltd & Anor [2021]
QSC 92
> Queensland Building and Construction
Commission & Anor v Groupline
Constructions Pty Ltd [2020] QCA 245
> Welsh v Boutique Venues Pty Ltd [2020]
QDC 18
> Royal and Sun Alliance Insurance Plc v
DMS Maritime Pty Ltd [2019] QCA 264
> Groupline Constructions Pty Ltd v
Queensland Building and Construction
Commission & Anor [2019] QSC 311
> Shailer v Buckley & Anor [2019] QDC 161
> Mitchell Ogilvie Menswear Pty Ltd v Rapid
Edge Pty Ltd [2019] QSC 136
> Manasse v Shine Lawyers Pty Ltd [2019]
QSC 123
> Allen v G Developments Pty Ltd & Ors
[2019] QSC 107
> DMS Maritime Pty Limited v Royal
Sun Alliance Insurance Plc [2018] QSC 303
> Partington & Anor v Urquhart
(No 3) [2018] QCATA 136
> Brown v Jackson [2015] QSC 355
> Goodhue v Volunteer Marine Rescue Association Incorporated [2015] QCA 234
> Miller & Anor v Lida Build Pty Ltd [2013] QCA 332
> Amricama v Red Carpet Real Estate [2014] QSC 267
> JV Pub Group v Red Carpet Real Estate [2014] QSC 232
> Thompson Residential Pty Ltd v Hart & Anor [2014] QDC 132
> Higgins Coatings Pty Ltd v Cure-It
Chemical Applicators [2014] QDC 130
> Body Corporate for Sunseeker Apartments v Jasen [2012] QDC 051
> Body Corporate for Sunseeker Apartments v Jasen [2009] QDC 162
> Mair Renovations v Miller [2015] QCAT 333
> Partington v Urquhart [2015] QCATA 067
> DC Mills Developments v Fitch [2015] QCAT 114
Areas of Practice
> Body Corporate Disputes
> Building & Construction
> Contract
> Commercial
> Insurance
> Lease Disputes
> Mediators
> Personal Injury
> Property
Admissions
2005 Admitted as a solicitor to the
Supreme Court of Queensland
2007 Admitted as Barrister
Qualifications
LLB (QUT)
BA (QUT)
Memberships
> Queensland Bar Association (BAQ)
> Australian Bar Association (ABA) Futures
Committee (2019 to present)
> BAQ Equal Opportunity Subcommittee, member (August 2015 to 2020)
> Building Dispute Practitioners Society (BDPS) - Committee Member December (2013 to present); President of the Qld
Chapter (2021 to 2023)
> Australian Women Lawyers Association (AWL) - Board Member (2010 to 2014);
Vice President (2013 to 2014)
> Women Lawyers Association of Queensland (WLAQ) - Committee Member (2003 to 2015; President (2009 to 2011)
Contact Details
E: smcneil@qldbar.asn.au
P: (07) 3210 6885