Cairns Compensation Lawyers vs Maurice Blackburn compared on fees, specialists and offices (2026)

On our October 2026 scoring of Cairns Compensation Lawyers vs Maurice Blackburn, Cairns Compensation Lawyers scores 41/100 (87th in Queensland) and Maurice Blackburn scores 97/100 (1st). Only Maurice Blackburn has a QLS Accredited Specialist, and both have offices in Cairns and Far North Queensland. Scores count public records, not case results.

At a glance

Cairns Compensation Lawyers87th in Queensland

41/100

Maurice Blackburn1st in Queensland

97/100

Both in

Cairns and Far North Queensland

Facts checked 20 Oct 2026.

Cairns Compensation Lawyers vs Maurice Blackburn side by side

Every fact below comes live from each firm’s checked profile. Swap either firm, or add a third, with the lists.

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Cairns Compensation Lawyers vs Maurice Blackburn, side by side

FactCairns Compensation LawyersMaurice Blackburn
Score (out of 100)41/10097/100
Best forLocally owned Cairns compensation practice. The claims arm of Preston Law, operating from Spence Street, Cairns City.Regional and remote Queensland access. 16 QLD offices including Mackay, Gladstone and Gympie, plus Mount Isa by appointment.
Has a QLS Accredited SpecialistNot publishedYes
Published fee terms
Home page states all claims run on a no-win no-fee basis: 'We pay any costs you may incur on a claim and there…Home page states all claims run on a no-win no-fee basis: 'We pay any costs you may incur on a claim and there are no hidden extras'. The client pays only after receiving compensation. About page says no-win no-fee applies to 'most compensation claims'. Free claim assessment with a lawyer.
No Win, No Fee cost agreements are offered in practice areas including road, work and public place injury, med…No Win, No Fee cost agreements are offered in practice areas including road, work and public place injury, medical negligence, abuse, superannuation and dust diseases, 'only when we believe your case is reasonably likely to be successful'. No Win, No Fee covers professional fees only. 'In most cases' disbursements such as court filing fees or medical reports 'must be paid whether you win or lose', except in class actions and dust disease matters where disbursements are payable only if successful. A written estimate and Costs Agreement are provided before work starts. Free claim check offered.
Doyle's GuideNot listedLeading 2026
Google rating5.0 (49)4.7 (373)
Queensland officesCairns CityBrisbane +15 offices
Claim types5 of 8
Car accident (CTP), Medical negligence, Public liability, TPD & superannuation, Workers compensation
8 of 8
Abuse claims, Car accident (CTP), Dust diseases, Medical negligence, Motorcycle accident, Public liability, TPD & superannuation, Workers compensation
Firm typeIndependent Queensland firmNational firm
FoundedNot published1919
Facts checked20 October 202620 October 2026

Facts come from each firm’s profile, with sources and check dates. How scores work.

Key differences between Cairns Compensation Lawyers and Maurice Blackburn

  • Score. Cairns Compensation Lawyers scores 41/100 and ranks 87th of 132 Queensland firms. Maurice Blackburn scores 97/100 and ranks 1st.
  • QLS Accredited Specialist. Cairns Compensation Lawyers has none on the QLS register. Maurice Blackburn has Michelle James, Jillian Barrett, Alison Barrett, Tom Rynders and Darren Moore.
  • Doyle’s Guide 2025/2026. Cairns Compensation Lawyers is not listed. Maurice Blackburn is listed as Leading (2026).
  • Published fee terms. Both firms publish them on their websites.
  • Queensland offices. Cairns Compensation Lawyers has 1 office (Cairns and Far North Queensland). Maurice Blackburn has 16 (Greater Brisbane, Bundaberg and the Fraser Coast, Cairns and Far North Queensland, Central Queensland, Central West Queensland, Gold Coast, Mackay and the Whitsundays, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba and the Darling Downs and Townsville and North Queensland).
  • Claim types. Cairns Compensation Lawyers lists 5 of 8 and Maurice Blackburn lists 8 of 8. Only Maurice Blackburn lists abuse claims, dust diseases and motorcycle accident.
  • Firm type. Cairns Compensation Lawyers is an independent Queensland firm. Maurice Blackburn is a national firm, founded in 1919.

Which firm suits which need

No firm suits everyone. For each common need, this shows which of the two firms meets it, from checked public records:

Based on each firm’s profile. Check the firm handles your claim type before you contact it.

If you want

Consider

Why

A QLS Accredited Specialist in Personal Injuries Law

Maurice Blackburn

Checked on the QLS register

A Doyle’s Guide 2025 or 2026 listing

Maurice Blackburn

Doyle’s Queensland plaintiff lists

Fee terms you can read before you call

Both firms

Published on the firm’s website

More Queensland offices to meet in

Maurice Blackburn

16 offices against 1

Abuse claims claims

Maurice Blackburn

Listed by Maurice Blackburn only

Dust diseases claims

Maurice Blackburn

Listed by Maurice Blackburn only

Motorcycle accident claims

Maurice Blackburn

Listed by Maurice Blackburn only

An independent Queensland-owned firm

Cairns Compensation Lawyers

Not part of a national or listed group

About Cairns Compensation Lawyers

Cairns Compensation Lawyers is the compensation practice group of Preston Law, a Cairns-based law firm. It acts for people injured in workplace accidents, road and car accidents, and accidents in public places. See the full Cairns Compensation Lawyers profile.

About Maurice Blackburn

Maurice Blackburn is a national plaintiff law firm. It says Maurice Blackburn started the firm in 1919. See the full Maurice Blackburn profile.

How we compared them

Both firms are scored out of 100 on the same public records: a QLS Accredited Specialist (25 points), Doyle’s Guide listings (up to 20), Google rating (up to 20), fee terms published on the firm’s website (15), claim types (up to 10) and Queensland offices (up to 10). Neither firm paid to appear, and we take no referral fees. Read the full method.

Frequently asked questions

Neither is better for every claim. On our published scoring, Cairns Compensation Lawyers scores 41/100 and Maurice Blackburn scores 97/100. Scores measure public facts such as QLS accreditation, Doyle’s Guide listings and published fee terms, not results in individual cases, so check which firm handles your claim type and has an office near you.

Our check of the Queensland Law Society register found no Accredited Specialist in Personal Injuries Law at the firm. The register is public, so you can check it yourself.

Yes. Our check of the Queensland Law Society register lists Michelle James, Jillian Barrett, Alison Barrett, Tom Rynders and Darren Moore as an Accredited Specialist in Personal Injuries Law.

Cairns Compensation Lawyers lists 1 Queensland office (Cairns and Far North Queensland). Maurice Blackburn lists 16 (Greater Brisbane, Bundaberg and the Fraser Coast, Cairns and Far North Queensland, Central Queensland, Central West Queensland, Gold Coast, Mackay and the Whitsundays, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba and the Darling Downs and Townsville and North Queensland). Both have an office in Cairns and Far North Queensland.

First, check that the firm handles your claim type. Then compare QLS specialist accreditation, the nearest staffed office and the fee terms. Finally, ask each firm who will run your claim and for its written costs disclosure before you sign.

Sources