Our People

Stephen Dixon

Managing Partner

As a practicing lawyer, Steve has worked for interstate and overseas law firms and along with his partners has built Bell Dixon Butler to be the largest legal practice on the Fraser Coast.  Steve has a long history of community involvement which is recognised by his life membership of Apex.  He also has a strong interest in business development and has been the President of the Hervey Bay Chamber of Commerce for seven of the last eight years and is the Regional Chair on the Commerce Queensland Policy Council.  Steve also represents the region on the USQ Council and is a member of the Hervey Bay RSL Committee.  Steve is married with two young children, has recently taken up golf (again) and is active in a myriad of local and regional community activities.

Derek Butler

Partner

Derek is our resident expert in all things conveyancing and commercial.  A practicing solicitor since 1985, Derek is a founding Partner of Bell Dixon Butler in 1994. Over many years, Derek has built up extensive knowledge of the local property and commercial market and has developed a wide network of contacts.  Away from work, Derek's passion is for all things aviation, British cars and classic motorcycles.

Margarett Kummerfeld

Partner

Margarett was admitted in 1986 and practised initially in areas of commercial development and finance with a large Gold Coast Firm. Margarett then moved into commercial litigation and insolvency until moving to Hervey Bay in 1992. She recommenced in general practice in 1995 and has practised predominantly in family law and estate litigation since that time. Margarett heads up the Family Law Department at Bell Dixon Butler and shares the supervision of the Succession and Elder Law Department with Larry Bell.  Margarett is qualified as a mediator with the Institute of Arbitrators and Mediators, Australia (IAMA) and is well equipped to deal with more complex property and children's matters including superannuation splitting and subsequent succession planning issues.

David Buckley

Partner

David grew up in Hervey Bay, his parents moving here to takeover the Lazy Acres Caravan Park in the mid seventies.  After working in CBD Brisbane law firms where he began to develop his specialisation in property and commercial law, he moved back to the Bay in 1999 at the age of 29 to establish a practice, a family and live within 2 streets of the beach.  Having joined Bell Dixon Butler in September 2001 he has enjoyed the benefits of a well resourced and professionally run law firm that has enabled him to pursue his areas of interest - property, business and commercial law. David’s substantial client following now includes government bodies, major developers and business owners.  He is known for his lateral approach to legal problems and focus on applying his legal knowledge to achieve the outcome required by the client. David joined the Bell Dixon Butler Partnership on 1 January, 2008.

Larry Bell

Consultant

Larry was a founding partner of Bell Dixon Butler and has been practicing law for over two decades. Larry now specialises in Elder Law.  One of nature’s gentlemen, Larry has a genuine passion to help the elderly and their relatives through the complex legal and social issues of the later years of life.  A highlight for Larry was winning the Community Legal Award from the Queensland Law Society.

Claire Riddell

Solicitor

Claire worked at Legal Aid in Adelaide before moving to Hervey Bay in 2004 to join Bell Dixon Butler. Since that time she has developed professionally in her chosen legal specialisation of Family Law. Claire utilises her considerable mediation and conciliation skills to assist in the resolution of family law financial and children’s matters. Claire enjoys the balance of family lifestyle that living in a regional community provides, while having the opportunity to develop professionally at a large regional law practice.

Joel Blane

Solicitor

Joel is a local Hervey Bay lad who moved here with his parents in 1993. He completed High School at Urangan State High & completed his law degree at James Cook University in June 2004. Joel was then offered a chance to return home & complete his Articles of Clerkship with Bell Dixon Butler Lawyers in 2004. Joel completed his Articles with Bell Dixon Butler and was admitted as a Solicitor to the Supreme Court of Queensland in September of 2006. Joel has recently married a Victorian lass and is enjoying his foray into married life.

Joel is a keen sports & music enthusiast. He currently puts to use his musical skills as part of his Church’s young adults band and travels around to some of the smaller towns & churches in the Wide Bay area. Joel has recently taken to golf which, with his music, keeps him sane.

Kate Manttan

Solicitor

Kate was admitted as a Solicitor in March 2006.  Kate started her career with Carvosso & Winship at Buderim on the Sunshine Coast, where she worked in property, commercial and elder law.   Kate continues to work exclusively in the areas of property and commercial law and enjoys working alongside such experienced practitioners.

Having only recently moved to Hervey Bay, Kate is enjoying all that the Fraser Coast Community has to offer.