Dedication, commitment and quality service.

Paul V Scanlan, a Gold Coast local, opened his own legal practice in Southport with 3 staff members. The office, named “Shepherd House,” was a small building on Scarborough Street, opposite the Southport Court House.

Paul, one of the Gold Coast’s leading criminal solicitors, earned the nickname Paul “Loophole” Scanlan for his skill in getting clients acquitted of criminal charges. He built strong relationships with the local judges, often socialising with them at The Queens Hotel.

Over the years, the practice continued to play a pivotal role in assisting many Southport residents, not only in criminal law, but commercial/conveyancing and general law.

Peter Mahoney becomes Article Clerk to Paul Scanlan.

The practice moved from Shepherd House in Scarborough Street to the Commonwealth Bank Building in Nerang Street, Southport.

Aidan O’Keefe joins the fast-growing firm and is offered partnership with Paul in 1981. The firm continues to be known as Paul V Scanlan.

Paul Scanlan retires from the practice, Peter graduates from law and joins the partnership with Aidan and the firm becomes known as Scanlan O’Keefe & Mahoney.

During this period, the practice continued to grow. With an increasing number of clients and the market boom of the 1980s, our small firm needed larger premises. In 1986, Peter and Aidan purchased a plot at 17 Suter Street, Southport, and purpose-built an office for us.

At this time, our firm became known as O’Keefe & Mahoney.

Initially, the building housed two businesses: a financial advisor in the front and O’Keefe & Mahoney in the rear. However, we soon outgrew our space and eventually took over the entire building.

Aidan and Peter took a chance on a 20 something year old Solicitor who was to come on board to assist Peter Mahoney with the ever-growing commercial part of the practice. That Solicitor’s name was Simon Bennett, who at the time was working for another Gold Coast legal firm.

Simon was rewarded for his work and was offered partnership in 1999 where O’Keefe Mahoney Bennett was born.

Simon was to play a pivotal role throughout the 2000’s in the ever-changing landscape of O’Keefe Mahoney Bennett and was to shape our firm into what is today. He wasn’t afraid of making changes and pushed hard for our firm to become the leading and most well-respected practice on the Gold Coast.

Today OMB employs over 60 staff with 5 partners, 15 solicitors and 40 support staff.