Ian Miller - Partner

Originally hailing from Victoria where he practised as a solicitor, and as a barrister at the Melbourne Bar, Ian " Mitch" Miller relocated to Noosa in 1979, as legal adviser to a property development group. Realising the potential of the area, he decided this was the place to be and joined the firm in 1987 to establish Sykes Pearson and Miller with Rod Sykes and Drew Pearson.

With a strong belief in balancing work and home life, Mitch is a fitness addict and is often spotted running with his dog anywhere from Noosa Sound to Main Beach, and through the Noosa National park (without dog!). A noted perfectionist, Mitch has established a strong and loyal client base and has been personally involved in a number of successful developments along the river at Gympie Terrace.

A lover of the finer things in life, most notably travel, wine, cars, rock music and the Essendon Football Club, Mitch resides with his wife Olivier on the water on Noosa Sound.

Mitch specialises in strata developments, body corporate, management rights, subdivisions, commercial joint ventures and partnership, commercial and residential property sales, and wills and estates.

Michael Sobey - Partner

Born and bred on the Sunshine Coast, Michael and his young family (wife and 3 kids between 3 and 12) returned to Noosa in 1997. Michael became a partner of the firm 2001. More likely to be spotted having a beer at the Sunshine Beach Surf Life Saving Club than having a run through the national park, he has been lured by the local attractions taking up surfing approximately 5 years ago.

Michael has degrees in both Law and Arts (Modern Asian Studies). Partway through his degrees he travelled overseas and lived in Japan to develop his cultural and language skills. All that remains is a love of sashimi, Asahi beer and an ability to count to 10 in Japanese.

Michael also heavily involves himself in the local community being involved with the Tewantin-Noosa Cricket Club, the St Thomas More school board and is a director of the Sunshine Coast Housing Company, a not-for-profit public Company dedicated to obtaining affordable housing solutions on the Sunshine Coast.

Michael specialises in retail and commercial leasing, management rights, body corporate, commercial property, business sales, and business structuring.

Julian McNamara- Associate

Julian (or Jed as he is more commonly known) has been admitted as a solicitor since 1993. Prior to joining Sykes Pearson Miller, Julian spent the majority of his professional working life on the Sunshine Coast, the last 9 years in Noosa running his own law firm. A “sea change” of sorts saw Julian jump at the opportunity to head up the litigation division of Sykes Pearson Miller to further enhance the firm’s reputation as being Noosa’s law firm “of choice.” 

Julian’s chosen area of specialty is litigation. He is regarded as one of the more experienced litigation lawyers in the Noosa area. Julian’s philosophy is to deliver outstanding client service, providing practical, real world solutions for his clients. There are also times when you have to stand shoulder to shoulder with your client and ‘fight the good fight’ to get the desired outcome. 

Julian prides himself on giving straight advice in language you can understand. Whether it is a dispute that needs sorting out (contract, business or domestic), chasing someone for money owed, an insurance claim needing to be made, an employment related matter, or anything else, Julian will be able to help you.

Julian is also assisting the partners establish an insolvency and bankruptcy practice. 

When not at work, Julian enjoys spending time with his wife and young family enjoying all the wonderful things Noosa has to offer, and playing the occasional game of golf. You wouldn’t know at by looking at him, but ‘Jed’ fancies himself as a master chef, and regularly spends time of a weekend creating culinary masterpieces (with the occasional glass of wine along the way), much to the “delight” of his family!

Fiona Allen- Associate

Fiona Allen works in the Commercial Property section.

Fiona has experience in Management Rights, Commercial and Residential Property, Business and Commercial Law, Banking and Employment. She has worked for National Firms in Brisbane before a 'sea-change' brought her to Noosa. Fiona predominately acts for small to medium sized businesses and business people.

Fiona is admitted as a solicitor in Queensland as well as in New Zealand. She has degrees in both Law and Commerce and can speak both New Zealand and Australian English. She is starting to develop an identity crisis during each year’s Bledisloe Cup mainly due to the consistently poor performance of her native country during the World Cup.

Fiona is a former representative Basketball player and a current referee. When not playing or reffing, Fiona can be found fishing at a secret location at North Reef.

Sophie Paras

Sophie has lived on the Coast since 1985 joining the hordes migrating from Melbourne, completing High School at Noosa District High.  After initially undertaking and completing a Bachelor of Arts (majoring in Government and History) at University of Queensland she decided to undertake a degree that may have some employment prospects. A Bachelor of Laws at QUT was the next choice.

 Sophie then became an articled clerk (a legal term meaning “indentured slavery”) and was admitted as a solicitor in 2001. Rapidly advancing her career, she then became a partner in a Maroochydore firm in 2003 where she stayed for a number of years. A short interval was then taken to boost Australia’s declining birth rate in 2009, and as she wanted to be closer to home on returning to full time work, a move to Noosa was on the cards.

 Clearly masochistic, she has recently taking up running again which she enjoyed before her pregnancy.  She also loves baking, which apparently was the motivating factor for her to take up running again.  Sophie also enjoys watching sport – particularly Rugby Union (although attending the Bledisloe Cup at Suncorp in 2008 with a Kiwi was a low point), Rugby League and Cricket.  “No girlie sports for me” she claims and apparently played on the girl's cricket and soccer teams at school (although those who know Noosa District High from that era probably wouldn’t know there was a difference).  Otherwise she tries to relax at home on her acreage amidst the chaos of husband, toddler and two border collies.

 Alissa Ratcliffe

 Details coming.