About Us
Our Brisbane-based team of legal experts practise across a broad range of areas, from Wills and Estates to Property Law and beyond. Established more than a century ago, Cardew Salmon has spent generations building an understanding that every client’s needs are unique.
At Cardew Salmon, you are at the heart of everything we do. Our approach is simple and effective: delivering practical, personalised advice tailored to your circumstances — without over-servicing — to achieve efficient and meaningful outcomes.
From our base in Brisbane, our experienced team of solicitors is committed to serving clients throughout Queensland, all at a fair and reasonable cost.
Our History
Cardew Salmon traces its origins to the 1850s, when James Walsh established a legal practice in Ipswich, then part of the Moreton Bay District of New South Wales. In 1857 the practice was taken over by John Malbon Thompson, later a Member of the Queensland Parliament, and it has continued through successive generations of solicitors ever since. By 1934 it was recognised as the oldest legal firm in Ipswich.
Over the decades the firm has carried many names, among them Thompson & Havard, Foxton & Cardew, P. L. Cardew & Simpson, P. L. Cardew, Simpson & Merrell, and Cardew, Simpson & Smith. Pollet Loftus Cardew, an Ipswich local articled to the firm and admitted in 1880, took sole ownership of the Ipswich practice in 1896, and his name has been carried by the firm ever since. For much of its history the firm trained its own people. Many of its partners began as articled or managing clerks and worked their way to the top.
In 1982, Greg Ryan and Cecil Salmon purchased the practice in partnership from John Kennedy Smith, who retired on the sale. Greg sold his share to Cecil in 1985. Some time afterwards, the firm closed its Bribie Island and Brisbane offices and was renamed Cardew Salmon. Cecil led the practice for around four decades.
In 2022, Cecil approached Greg about retiring, and the practice returned to Greg and his sons, Rory and Riley. Together with Claudia Esmonde, they continue a tradition of practical, personal legal advice that has served Queensland for more than 150 years.
In Memoriam: Cecil Salmon
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Cecil Salmon in 2025. Cecil was a founding pillar of Cardew Salmon, serving as Principal for over 35 years and practising law for more than 42 years. Throughout his distinguished career, he helped thousands of clients with care, wisdom, and dedication — advising on commercial transactions, wills and estates, and serving as Legal Advisor to Ipswich and West Moreton Building Society.
Cecil’s legacy lives on in the firm he built and the lives he touched. He is deeply missed by his colleagues, clients, and all who had the privilege of knowing him.
