PRESS RELEASE: BAGL merges with leading Sunshine Coast firm Stratum Legal

Bugden Allen Lawyers
This article has been fact-checked by our lawyers team

Table Of Contents

Share this Article:
Key Takeaways:

Content

2nd February 2023.

We are pleased to announce we have signed an agreement to complete a merger with a boutique body corporate law practice on the Sunshine Coast.

Bugden Allen Graham Lawyers (BAGL) has confirmed that from 15 February 2023 it will amalgamate its Queensland practice with Sunshine Coast-based specialist strata and property advisory firm, Stratum Legal, owned by leading body corporate specialist Michael Kleinschmidt.

CEO David Bugden said the merger with Stratum Legal creates a further expansion opportunity into body corporate legal work on the Sunshine Coast and throughout Queensland.

“Our senior partners Michael, Gary and Tim have known Michael Kleinschmidt for many years, having worked together on matters and as fellow members of the Australian College of Strata Lawyers. Michael and his team are highly specialised in this area, and their results-focused approach and innovation aligns well with our values and approach to legal work.”

The move will see 20-year strata law veteran Michael Kleinschmidt join as a Partner of the Queensland practice of Bugden Allen Graham Lawyers, along with his team of lawyers and support staff.

This is the second law firm Bugden Allen Graham Lawyers have acquired over the past 18 months, cementing themselves as one of the largest specialist strata and property law firms in Australia.

The firm is investing heavily into technology, and this merger with Stratum Legal will bolster their capabilities in the Queensland market, especially South-East Queensland which is set for a property boom thanks to the Olympics coming in 2032.

“The team at Stratum Legal have an approach to excellence and innovation that aligns with the values our team lives by every day,” Mr. Bugden said.

Echoing this sentiment, Michael Kleinschmidt described his reasons for the merger and his excitement for the opportunities the combination presents for his team.

“Over recent years I have watched with interest the formidable firm that Gary, Michael and Tim were assembling. With their depth of experience and expertise, including in the southern states and most recently Western Australia, I knew that my team would both complement the firm as a whole and the existing BAGL team in Queensland.” Mr Kleinschmidt commented.

“I had no hesitation in advising them that my staff and I would be delighted to join them.  I have been lucky enough to assemble a fantastic team of solicitors, paralegals and support staff and I’m very much looking forward to watching them develop with, and contribute to, the success of BAGL.” said Mr. Kleinschmidt.

The team at BAGL look forward to welcoming Michael, his team and his clients from 15 February 2023.

David Bugden

Group CEO

David has over 20 years of experience in the Australian and international property and technology sectors.

David started his career in Sydney as a property lawyer, working for a firm that specialised in strata and community titles. He has also run large property services businesses, including a 25,000-lot strata management business in Sydney and Perth and a multi-disciplined real estate agency in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Most of David’s career has been running innovative cloud-based technology companies that provide solutions to the global strata and property industries.

Before joining Bugden Allen, David was Chief Commercial Officer for ASX-listed Urbanise.com, a leading cloud-based strata management and FM platform. David ran the largest division of the company and was responsible for the strategy, product, sales, marketing, and customer support for their global Strata platform. In June 2015, Urbanise acquired David’s technology business Mystrata, which was a global leader in cloud-based management and accounting solutions for strata properties which he successfully ran for 12 years.

David holds degrees in law and commerce from Bond University and was admitted as a solicitor to the Supreme Court of New South Wales.

As the Group CEO for Bugden Allen and their subsidiary technology company PropLaw Tech Solutions, David is responsible for the strategic leadership of the firm and running the services and technology businesses that support our innovative growth plans.

David Bugden

David Bugden

GROUP CEO

David has over 20 years of experience in the Australian and international property and technology sectors. David started his career in Sydney as a property lawyer, working for a firm that specialised in strata and community titles. He has also run large property services businesses, including a 25,000-lot strata management...

View profile of David Bugden
Written by David Bugden
Group CEO

David has over 20 years of experience in the Australian and international property and technology sectors.

David started his career in Sydney as a property lawyer, working for a firm that specialised in strata and community titles. He has also run large property services businesses, including a 25,000-lot strata management business in Sydney and Perth and a multi-disciplined real estate agency in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Most of David’s career has been running innovative cloud-based technology companies that provide solutions to the global strata and property industries.

Before joining Bugden Allen, David was Chief Commercial Officer for ASX-listed Urbanise.com, a leading cloud-based strata management and FM platform. David ran the largest division of the company and was responsible for the strategy, product, sales, marketing, and customer support for their global Strata platform. In June 2015, Urbanise acquired David’s technology business Mystrata, which was a global leader in cloud-based management and accounting solutions for strata properties which he successfully ran for 12 years.

David holds degrees in law and commerce from Bond University and was admitted as a solicitor to the Supreme Court of New South Wales.

As the Group CEO for Bugden Allen and their subsidiary technology company PropLaw Tech Solutions, David is responsible for the strategic leadership of the firm and running the services and technology businesses that support our innovative growth plans.

David Bugden
Written by David Bugden GROUP CEO

David has over 20 years of experience in the Australian and international property and technology sectors. David started his career in Sydney as a property lawyer,...

ONLINE ENQUIRY

Contact us to arrange a consult with one of our team members.

Related Articles

Legislative Reform, New South Wales

28/06/2026

The Right to Charge: NSW Gives Strata Owners a New EV Pathway

Case Law, Western Australia

22/07/2026

Shutting down discussions between lot owners at general meetings – a breach of the Strata Titles Act 1985 (WA)?

Case Law, Western Australia

25/06/2026

Major structural defects inspections under sale contracts – what do they cover?

Locations

Our Locations Across Australia