Meet the Team

Managing Solicitor

Mark Ramsland

Mark Ramsland has over 30 years' experience in court advocacy, principally in the area of criminal law.

He has appeared extensively in all criminal courts as well as in the appellate jurisdictions. In addition to criminal matters, he has had extensive experience with the NSW Crime Commission

and other quasi-criminal jurisdictions.

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Mark is a current member of the Law Society of NSW Criminal Law Committee and has a keen interest in drug and alcohol rehabilitation and community service work. He has been a director of Newcastle’s Soul Café and currently serves as Director of a not-for-profit residential rehabilitation facility, Connect Global Inc, located in the Port Stephens area just north of Newcastle. He has appeared in and written for a variety of published media sources inducing A Current Affair, ABC’s Background briefing, The Sydney Morning Herald, Daily Telegraph, The Newcastle Herald and the Law Society Journal amongst others.

Mark is a frequent speaker for men’s support services and associations and enjoys watching the Manly Sea Eagles in the NRL.

Consultant Solicitor

Mansell Laidler

Born and raised in Newcastle, Mansell Laidler, worked in the Attorney General's Department (Local Courts) for 20 years. He studied law by correspondence at Macquarie University. He was working as the clerk of the Court Woy Woy when he completed his degree and was "head hunted" by a Central Coast firm of solicitors. As a solicitor, Mansell has worked on the North Coast and Central Coast areas of New South Wales before returning to Newcastle in 1999.

In total Mansell has 45 years experience in the New South Wales legal system. As a solicitor, Mansell has extensive experience in Criminal Law and General Litigation.

Mansell is well known in the Local and District Courts in New South Wales for his acumen but also his good humour.

Mansell is married, has 4 children and 5 grandchildren of whom he is very proud. He enjoys a beer, music, the company of family and friends and still surfs regularly.

Consultant Solicitor

James Wallace

James completed his Legal Studies at the University of Newcastle in 1998 and was admitted as a Solicitor in February 1999. Since that time James has constantly been in practice in small firms throughout the Hunter and Newcastle regions including working in Singleton and Toronto before moving to Newcastle to be part of the Ramsland Laidler firm. For over 20 years James has been exposed to a wide variety of Legal Practice but in more recent times has come to focus his practice on Family Law work and Local Court criminal work.

James is an experienced family lawyer who is heavily involved in the family law arena in Newcastle; he is a past President of The Hunter Valley Family Law Practitioners Association and currently holds the position of Treasurer within that association. James is actively involved in the education of family lawyers particularly in areas of advocacy and preparation for Court matters.

In addition to his professional capacity, James continues to play high-level cricket in the Newcastle District Cricket Association.

Solicitor

Tadijana Ilicic

Tadijana Ilicic was admitted as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of NSW in April 2021 after completing her Juris Doctor/Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice at the University of Newcastle the same year.​

Tadijana represents clients in all areas of criminal law and is a detail-oriented solicitor committed to ensuring the best outcome for her clients. She appears in the Local, District and Supreme Courts.

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Tadijana's research interests include the defence of lawful correction and the use of restorative, rehabilitative, and therapeutic practices as alternatives to traditional punishment. 

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Tadijana is also a violinist, and has performed with numerous orchestras in Australia and Europe, toured with her own musical acts, and recorded with many artists.  

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