How One Specialist
Firm Changed the Way Abuse and Integrity Matters Are Run
Donaldson Law was created to show that there is a better way to run abuse and integrity matters – one that takes survivors’ safety seriously, confronts powerful institutions, and uses the full range of legal tools, not just “business as usual” litigation.
Established in 2016 by award-winning lawyer and veteran Adair Donaldson, the Firm quickly built a national reputation for its trauma-informed work in abuse claims, ADF matters and other complex compensation and integrity issues. From the outset, the focus has been on careful listening, clear advice and outcomes that respect the person as much as the legal result.
With a close-knit team of lawyers and paralegals bringing decades of combined experience, Donaldson Law has always favoured processes that minimise unnecessary conflict and re-traumatisation. At the same time, the Firm has never shied away from holding institutions, government bodies and insurers to account when negotiation or redress processes are not enough.
In July 2024, Donaldson Law became a foundation brand of the Better Lawyers Group, led by Enterprise Legal Founder and Managing Director Peta Gray. The move was a deliberate step to protect and grow what Adair and Practice Manager Samantha Donaldson had built: a safe, specialist practice for highly vulnerable clients and a genuinely supportive workplace for staff.
Today, Donaldson Law continues to operate with the same trauma-informed philosophy and the same national focus – now backed by the broader systems, leadership and values of Better Lawyers Group. We don’t run a general “personal injuries” practice. Our work is deliberately concentrated on abuse law, ADF entitlements, personal integrity violations and reparation pathways, so we can stay deeply across the law, the reforms and the realities of this specialist space.
◈ The EL Vision
- External Vision – To be Australia’s leading trauma-informed firm for abuse, ADF and personal integrity matters, known for using the law to secure safe, robust outcomes while holding institutions and decision-makers to account.
- Internal Vision – To be a place where our team can do this difficult work in a healthy, ethical and sustainable way, supported by the infrastructure and culture of Better Lawyers Group so they can focus on what matters most: our clients and their outcomes.
◈ The EL Mission
Our mission is to:
- provide clear, honest advice to people who have experienced abuse, personal integrity violations or institutional failures;
- design legal strategies that minimise unnecessary conflict and re-traumatisation, while still being prepared to run traditional litigation and other formal processes where they are needed to properly protect our clients’ interests; and
- use individual matters, where possible, to contribute to broader cultural and systemic change.
We do this by combining extensive expertise in abuse, ADF and compensation law with a team-based, trauma-informed way of working that has been proven in hundreds of matters across Australia.
◈ Our Vision
- External Vision – To be Australia’s leading trauma-informed firm for abuse, ADF and personal integrity matters, known for using the law to secure safe, robust outcomes while holding institutions and decision-makers to account.
- Internal Vision – To be a place where our team can do this difficult work in a healthy, ethical and sustainable way, supported by the infrastructure and culture of Better Lawyers Group so they can focus on what matters most: our clients and their outcomes.
◈ Our Mission
Our mission is to:
- provide clear, honest advice to people who have experienced abuse, personal integrity violations or institutional failures;
- design legal strategies that minimise unnecessary conflict and re-traumatisation, while still being prepared to run traditional litigation and other formal processes where they are needed to properly protect our clients’ interests; and
- use individual matters, where possible, to contribute to broader cultural and systemic change.
We do this by combining extensive expertise in abuse, ADF and compensation law with a team-based, trauma-informed way of working that has been proven in hundreds of matters across Australia.
Collaborative Where Possible, Fearless Where Necessary
Our work sits at the intersection of law, trauma and power. The way we practise reflects that.
- Collaboration first
Wherever it is safe and appropriate, we explore negotiated and out-of-court pathways – including redress schemes, apologies, changes to practices and confidential settlements. These options can reduce the strain of litigation and often allow more control over timing and process. - Litigation when it’s required
Some institutions only move when they are required to. When collaborative pathways can’t deliver a safe or adequate outcome, we are prepared to run traditional litigation or other formal processes and to see them through. A trauma-informed approach does not mean avoiding court at all costs; it means being clear about the risks and benefits so we can recommend the path that best aligns with your safety and goals. - Process built around you, not us
We structure matters to minimise the number of times you have to retell what happened and to give you multiple points of contact within the team. You choose how much detail to share and at what pace. We are upfront about timeframes, likely steps and where the difficult points may be, so there are fewer surprises, even if having those conversations is difficult. - National reach, consistent approach
We represent clients in every Australian State and Territory. While the law and schemes differ between jurisdictions, our approach stays the same: careful preparation, respectful communication and strong advocacy, whether we are corresponding with an institution, negotiating with an insurer or preparing for a hearing.
Proudly Based in Regional Queensland, Working With Clients Across Australia
Donaldson Law is based in Toowoomba, Queensland and works with clients throughout Australia. Being a regional firm has shaped our perspective: we understand the pressures on people and communities who may not live near a capital city, and we are used to working flexibly to meet clients where they are – in person, online or in a hybrid way.
Many of our clients have been thinking about contacting a lawyer for a long time before they pick up the phone or send an email. When they do, they get a team that is prepared, organised and genuinely focused on making the legal process as manageable as it can be.
◈ Our Values
At Donaldson Law, our values are not posters on a wall – they show up in how we staff your matter, how we communicate and how we make decisions.
- Collegiality – Your matter is not carried by one person in isolation. We work as a team, drawing on the strengths of multiple lawyers and support staff. That means you have more than one point of contact, and we can maintain momentum on your matter.
- Care – We treat your story with respect. That shows up in the time we take to prepare, the way we structure conferences, and the care we take in our written and verbal communication. We are conscious that the legal process sits alongside your broader life and wellbeing.
- Clarity – We explain the law, your options and the possible consequences of each pathway in plain language. That includes being honest about limitations, uncertainty and where the law may not be able to deliver everything you understandably want.
- Accountability – Our work is about holding institutions and systems accountable for harm. We apply the same standard to ourselves: being transparent about costs, following through on what we say we will do, and acknowledging when we need to change approach.
- Innovation – We are open to doing things differently where it leads to better outcomes or a healthier process – from how we structure fees within Better Lawyers Group, to creative use of existing schemes, to non-traditional resolutions that better reflect what you want from the process.
Meet the People Behind the Practice
Your matter will never sit with just one person. Our lawyers and support staff work together so you have more than one point of contact and the benefit of our combined experience in abuse, ADF and integrity matters.
Get to know the people who may be working alongside you.
Make a Confidential Enquiry
It takes courage to take the first step. Complete the request form and we’ll reach out or book an initial call with our trauma-informed team below.