Simon Mason

(Brisbane based)

Simon received his Bachelor of Arts (psychology) and Bachelor of Laws from the University of New England, and upon completing his Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice was admitted to legal practice in 2016. In 2024, he received his Master of Laws (with honours) from Australia National University with a focus on administrative and commercial law. Simon is a National Mediator Accreditation System (NMAS) accredited mediator.

Simon principally practices in charity law and corporate restructuring and frequently consults with start-ups and small businesses seeking to build compliant practices.

Particular areas of interest include:

• Business start-ups (including mergers and acquisitions);
• Regulatory compliance of schools, NDIS businesses, early learning centres, churches, charities and allied health practices;
• Tax law;
• Privacy and Data storage law;
• Corporate Structuring (including Trust and Incorporated Association structuring);
• Governance and Policy design and consulting;
• Contracts, Property and Leasing; and,
• Employment, Contracting and Volunteering;

Simon has extensive experience in training and teaching, holding a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (TAE) and having previously managed a Registered Training Organisation (RTO). Outside of work hours, Simon regularly provides Community Legal Education seminars to culturally diverse groups in the Brisbane region.

Previously, Simon ran his own migration law practice and continues to lead Vocare Law’s immigration law practice. Simon has worked as a part of the Claims Assistance Providers (CAPS) with the offshore refugee cohort in the Nauru jurisdiction, and over the past ten years has been involved with a wide range of complex immigration matters including in judicial review, merits review, ministerial intervention, employer sponsored visas, family visas, refugee matters and character refusal and cancellation matters. Simon frequently appears in the federal court system as a solicitor-advocate for his migration clients.

Simon has a passion for supporting and resourcing the charity and not-for-profit sector. His experience as the manager of a not-for-profit vocational college and the lead legal practitioner of a social enterprise has demonstrated the significant social benefit that such institutions bring to the community. Simon finds working in this space deeply rewarding and has a particular interest in supporting entrepreneurs build social benefit into their business structure.

Simon stays active outside of legal practice. He enjoys various forms of activities such as mountain climbing, photography and personal fitness. Simon is a keen home chef, regularly undertaking cooking classes, and is a world traveller, having recently completed a motorcycle tour of north Thailand.