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Stephen Comino and Arthur Comino is a law firm that commenced on the 4th of May 2005. Arthur Stephen Comino, the principal of the firm, was born in Brisbane in 1955 of parents of Greek heritage, namely Stephen Comino and Penelope Comino, and was admitted as a solicitor in 1981 after completing degrees in economics (1976) and law (1979) at the University of Queensland. From 1982 to 1987 he completed a Bachelor in Classical Philology at the University of Salonica in Greece. Arthur Comino speaks Greek, Italian and French and is learning Chinese and Spanish. Stephen Comino, Arthur’s father, was a consultant to the firm from its inception. He was and continues to be the inspiration of the firm, having been Queensland’s first Greek-speaking solicitor, and having commenced practice in 1953. At the time of passing on 28 September 2013, he had worked 60 years continuously as a lawyer in Queensland. Stephen and Arthur worked together as father and son from 1978.
About Stephen Comino & Arthur Comino
Stephen Comino was born in Laidley in 1928. His parents arranged for him to be taught Greek by a native Greek teacher. His father paid for him to enter into articles in the Catholic firm of Bergin Papi and Finn and concurrently he completed the Solicitors Board course and was admitted as a solicitor in 1953. As Queensland’s first Greek-speaking solicitor his clientele initially comprised many Greek clients but it became a broad based clientele. He introduced CPI reviews into his leases when that was not done. He developed a standard lease which was renewed and the blanks in the precedents of names were typed in. As a member of the Kytherian Association of Queensland, he assisted the Association in its litigation to uphold in the High Court a charitable gift “for the erection and/or benefit of a Sanatorium and/or Hospital in the Island of Cerigo.” As the Honorary solicitor of the Twelfth Night Theatre his firm successfully defended as far as the High Court the actor Norm Staines who was charged with using obscene language, namely the words “fuckin’ boong” in a stage play. He pioneered the use of the legal system to defend the environment and wildlife.
Stephen’s Initiation into Conservation
Stephen’s initiation into conservation causes started with him joining the Cooloola Committee in the 1960’s which was successful in pressuring the State Government to stop sandmining. Together with his good friend Llew Wyvill QC he continued with many other causes along the Queensland Coast including advising the Queensland Conservation Council and the Moreton Island Protection Committee and the Friends of Hinchinbrook as well as branches of WPSQ in their fights against ill-conceived development. The Leisuremark case overturned a proposed massive development on the Noosa North Shore that would have destroyed its pristine waters. Stephen acted for John Sinclair over many years in the 1970s and 1980s in his battles to protect Fraser Island as world heritage, in cases that went to the High Court, the Local Government Court and to the Supreme Court to protect Sinclair’s reputation against Premier Bjelke Petersen.
Further Work
His legacy also includes a High Court misrepresentation case and a Supreme Court of Appeal case successfully overturning a will. In the law, as in life, he chose to do the right thing rather than take the easy path, no matter what the price. As a lawyer, he said that the most important thing you have is your integrity and your professional independence. Stephen practised law for more than 60 years. He has two children:
- Arthur Comino (son)
- Maria Comino (daughter)
Assistance to the Aboriginal Kuku Djungan Tribe
In 1991 he assisted the aboriginal Kuku Djungan tribe to obtain a transfer of a pastoral lease containing their traditional lands and they honoured him by making him an honorary elder of the tribe. In 1994 Stephen received an Australia Medal for service to conservation and to the law, particularly as it affects the environment. From 1992 to 1994 Stephen was President of the Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland and helped carry it through a difficult period after the 1992 Mabo native title decision when there was a heated debate over conservation and Aboriginal custodianship of the land. He travelled extensively around the State to meet and discuss the issues with Society members.
Further Conservation Efforts
In 1989 Stephen acted for the Central Queensland Speleological Society in its High Court and Supreme Court litigation instigated to protect the endangered ghost bats and fended off heavy criticisms from other law firms for doing so.
This was not new for Stephen as the conservation cases were always unpopular amongst the profession and work was done on a pro bono basis.
Although the legal case was unsuccessful the negative publicity led to conservation of neighbouring lands to protect some of the caves.
Carla Alexander
Carla Alexander was born in Auckland, New Zealand and is an experienced legal secretary for over 25 years.