Team Members

Melinda Ranson

Special Counsel
Melinda has a passion for helping clients to achieve their personal goals in relation to some of the toughest decisions any of us will face – what happens when you no longer have capacity or have passed away?

Melinda is a special counsel in the private client team at Cooper Grace Ward. Her areas of expertise include succession law, trusts and dispute resolution.

Melinda has extensive experience in estate planning for large family groups, taking a holistic approach to all structures (companies, trusts and superannuation) to ensure it is not only the client’s personal assets that will pass as desired, but all structures will follow. Having also acted in estate disputes, Melinda brings experience from the point of view of when an estate plan ‘goes wrong’.

  • Solicitor – Supreme Court of Queensland
  • Bachelor of Laws – University of Queensland
  • Master of Laws – Australian National University
  • Bachelor of Arts– University of Queensland
  • Affiliate Member – Society of Trust and Equity Practitioners (STEP)
  • Recognised as a Rising Star – Wills, Estates and Succession – Doyles Guide 2017, 2021 and 2024
  • Finalist – Lawyers Weekly 30 Under 30 Award 2019 and 2017
  • Acting for individuals and family groups to develop an estate plan considering personal assets, structures and superannuation.
  • Preparing family agreements to document transactions involving family members and group structures for intergenerational wealth transfer.
  • Reviewing trusts and superannuation to ensure assets flow to the right people in accordance with applicable legislation.
  • Advice to trustees and executors on duties, interpretation of deeds and amendments that are required to stay up to date.
  • Acting for executors or applicants in family provision applications, statutory wills, contested probate and judicial advice applications.
  • Instructing counsel in court matters and attending mediation to settle disputes early where possible.