Lindsay Woods

Lindsay Woods graduated with a Bachelor of Laws in 1986 and was admitted as a solicitor in 1987.  He is a Queensland Law Society Accredited Specialist in Family Law, having successfully completed the accreditation process in 1997.  In that same year he became a Queensland Law Society approved mediator, a role he performed for some eleven years.

Since 1997, Lindsay has practised almost exclusively in family law and de facto relationship matters.  He moved to the Sunshine Coast from Toowoomba in 2004, and in 2009 he teamed up with friend and colleague, Damien Cogill, to establish Cogill Woods Legal Services Pty Ltd.

With close to 35 years’ experience as a lawyer (and over 23 years as a Family Law Accredited Specialist), Lindsay understands the stress and turmoil that people go through when their world is turned upside down due to a relationship breakdown.  His extensive knowledge and experience enable him to empathetically support and guide his clients through tough times.  He provides practical, strategic and up-to-date advice and looks for sensible, cost-effective solutions from an early stage.  He listens to his clients and works closely with them with a view to achieving beneficial outcomes. 

Lindsay firmly believes in pursuing negotiated settlements wherever possible.  To that end, he often recommends dispute resolution processes such as mediation and arbitration as a means of resolving many family law disputes, rather than resorting to court litigation.  He explains processes and options in plain English so his clients are less daunted by the unchartered waters ahead of them. 

Lindsay has the expertise to diligently represent clients in financial disputes, ranging from uncomplicated, modest property pools to large, complex ones including companies, trusts, self-managed superannuation funds and such like.  It gives Lindsay great satisfaction to achieve fair, reasonable and commercially sensible outcomes for his clients through negotiation, thereby minimising the angst and stress associated with relationship breakdowns and often saving his clients legal expenses along the way. 

Parenting disputes are a substantial part of Lindsay’s practice as a family law solicitor.  Whilst these disputes are mostly between biological parents of the children concerned, Lindsay also acts for other interested parties such as grandparents, step-parents, aunts and uncles.  Lindsay appreciates the very sensitive nature of parenting disputes and the importance of making suitable arrangements for children’s ongoing care and financial support.  He provides clear advice and guidance concerning the legal obligation placed on parents and the court to regard the best interests of the children as the most important consideration.

Often it is prudent to enlist the services of experts in other fields to assist in dealing with some family law disputes, whether the issues at stake relate to parenting matters or property matters.  When necessary, Lindsay collaborates with reputable professionals (including his client’s existing professionals) to enhance the prospect of a good result.  The professionals include the likes of accountants, valuers, forensic experts, counsellors, psychologists and psychiatrists.

Although Lindsay strives for amicable dispute resolution and encourages his clients to do the same, it is inevitable that some disputes end up in court.  In those situations, Lindsay provides astute representation to achieve the best possible outcome in the uncertain arena of court litigation.

Away from work, Lindsay enjoys time with his family, trying to keep fit, yoga, listening to music (mostly from the 1960s and 70s), following the NRL, bush-walking, bike-riding, gardening, and keeping abreast of current affairs.