Meet Our Team
SMA’s mission is to provide our clients with prompt quality advice and excellent legal representation.
We take a genuine interest in our clients by listening to them and striving to understand their objectives, treating everyone with the respect and dignity they deserve, and go the extra mile to exceed their expectations in obtaining justice and equality.
SMA’s Team is equipped to represent you, no matter how difficult or complex the case may be. We understand the emotional impacts that legal matters can have, and devote the time to understand our clients’ position and genuinely believe that everyone matters.
SMA is dedicated to work hard for our clients, leaving no stone unturned in providing superior legal service in a timely, efficient and effective manner. We strive to maintain the highest standards of professional integrity, and have a passion for advocating for the rights of our clients. With the SMA Team in their corner, clients can be confident they will be guided towards positive outcomes.
SMA fosters and values an enjoyable working environment, based on open communication, mutual respect, and encourages teamwork, innovation, initiative and loyalty.
Our firm has over 20 years’ experience and specialises in all areas of Discrimination & Employment Law, and continues a long tradition of leadership, respect and service.
Let our experience be your advantage!
Susan Moriarty
Principal, BA, LLB (Hons)
Susan Moriarty is the Founder & Principal of the firm, Susan Moriarty & Associates. As Principal, she is dedicated to providing efficient, informative, and effective legal advice to clients. She oversees all legal work conducted by the firm, supervises all client cases, and is a well-respected, highly successful senior lawyer specialising in the employment, human rights, anti-discrimination and industrial spheres of law. She has over 20 years’ experience and remains very passionate about securing the best possible outcome for her clients.
In 1991, she was appointed chief political advisor to the then Queensland Attorney-General, the Honourable Dean Wells and was responsible for sponsoring and promoting Queensland’s first civil rights legislation including Freedom of Information, Judicial Review, Street Marching laws, Anti-Discrimination and Penalties and Sentences laws.
In 1993, she was appointed as a policy analyst to the Freedom of Information and Administrative Law Division. In 1996, she was appointed Principal Legal Adviser to the Queensland Anti-Discrimination Commissioner, Karen Walters. In February 1998, she was promoted to Executive Manager, Human Rights and Administrative Law where she administered the Criminal Injury Compensation Scheme on behalf of government.
Then in May 1999, she left the department to set up her own law firm specialising in workplace bullying in the Queensland public sector. Since then, she has worked tirelessly for the rights of her clients as the Principal of Susan Moriarty & Associates. She has been completely dedicated to protecting employees from breaches of the state and federal Discrimination Acts, Workplace Bullying and Harassment, Unfair Dismissal, Underpayments, and securing compensation and other remedies for proven breaches of these laws.
Susan’s personal aim is to help her clients reach a timely resolution, allowing them to deal effectively with a difficult and emotional situation and move on to better times. She lectures frequently on employment law matters as a service to the profession and for the purpose of ensuring that everyone’s human rights are understood, respected and protected.
In her spare time, Susan enjoys walking, literature, Scandinavian TV thrillers, and meditation.
Wade Butterworth
Lawyer | LLB, GradDipLP
Wade Butterworth commenced with the firm in 2021.
Admitted as a solicitor in 2021. Wade has assisted with matters in the Fair Work Commission, Industrial Relations Commission, Federal Circuit Court and the Queensland Human Rights Commission, and has also been involved in multiple conciliations and mediations.
Prior to starting with SMA, Wade volunteered at two community legal centres whilst completing his studies. His experience at the community legal centres strengthened his dedication for assisting clients who have been placed in a difficult position.
Throughout Wade’s studies and legal career he has always held a strong passion for employment law.
Outside of the office, Wade enjoys travelling, AFL and Cricket.