Shine Lawyers opens in Campus Alpha                          Press Release 27/04/2011 v5

Queensland’s renowned damages litigation firm Shine Lawyers is expanding its Gold Coast City activities, adding a new office at Robina to complement its busy practice at Southport.

The office is in CBDRobina’s Campus Alpha building, to which the Brisbane-based law firm has acquired naming rights along with a 355 square metre space, which is undergoing fitout.

The first-floor north-facing premises are held under a five-year lease with option, negotiated by Tania Moore, of CB Richard Ellis.

The office is due to open in late May and will have an initial nine staff.

Founded in Toowoomba in 1976, Shine Lawyers has grown to become the largest provider of plaintiff litigation services in Queensland and the third largest in Australia.

The law firm has an association with famed US justice fighter Erin Brockovich whose investigations as a law clerk led to a 1996 court decision against Pacific Gas and Electric, requiring it to pay $US330 million in damages to residents of a small town poisoned by leakage of chromium 6 into groundwater for more than 30 years.

Erin has partnered with Shine Lawyers since 2007 and is currently investigating environmental claims in several Australian states.  

The CBDRobina practice lifts to 24 the number of offices operated by Shine Lawyers, which has a presence in all major Queensland centres as well as four offices in Melbourne and one each in Sydney and Perth.

Shine Lawyers Robina Office Branch Manager Kimberly Allen said the CBDRobina premises would accommodate up to 20 personnel, in line with the Southport office, and staff would be employed progressively as the work of the practice expanded.

``We wanted an office to serve residents of the central and southern Gold Coast City, and CBDRobina is an appealing and expanding business hub in an easy-to-access central-city location,’’ she said.

``Also, we required a building with good disability-access, adequate parking, and one to which we could acquire naming rights.

``Campus Alpha met all those requirements and the size and shape of the leased space works well for us.’’

The three-level Campus Alpha provides 4500 square metres of floorspace on Investigator Drive, close to Robina Station, and was developed by Robina Projects Australia.

The leasing deal takes occupancy to 84 per cent in the building, where tenants include Queensland Health, Department of Disabilities, education provider EIM, and POD Legal.

RPA General Manager Hylton Slater said Shine Lawyers recognised CBDRobina as the Gold Coast City’s place-to-be business location and he was delighted the company was able to meet its needs.

``Shine Lawyers is a respected law firm that brings a new dimension to CBDRobina, broadening and deepening its legal services offering,’’ he said.

``We have no doubt that Shine Lawyers’ presence in CBDRobina will be a welcome addition.’’

Remaining Campus Alpha spaces range from 111 square metres to 356 square metres and leasing is being handled by Marcus Weld, of Robina Marketing Australia.