A Boutique Practice Built on Clarity, Care, and Practical Expertise
KDC Legal is founded on a simple idea: Clients need clear, practical legal advice delivered with genuine care. We help clients understand their obligations and circumstances, manage and mitigate risk, and make confident decisions — without unnecessary complexity.
About Kevin Cartledge and KDC Legal
I’m Kevin Cartledge, the founder and principal of KDC Legal. My career spans more than two decades across criminal law, regulatory prosecutions, administrative law and government compliance and enforcement.
I began practice in 2005 with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Qld), conducting serious criminal prosecutions before moving into private practice with a respected criminal defence firm.
In 2013, I joined Brisbane City Council as an in‑house lawyer. During my 12+ years at Council, I led the litigation risk and enforcement team and conducted complex regulatory prosecutions and appeals and provided advice and representation on a wide range of compliance and enforcement matters. I worked with Council’s compliance and enforcement officers, supporting their decision‑making, strengthening their processes, and ensuring the delivery of lawful and effective enforcement functions.
I have developed an understanding of how regulatory frameworks operate in practice, how compliance issues emerge, and what good governance requires. Clients value my ability to distil complexity, explain the reasoning behind each step, and provide advice that is technically precise, commercially aware, and genuinely practical.
​
I am an experienced advocate having regularly conducted complex trials, hearings and appeals as solicitor advocate.
Why I Started KDC Legal
To offer a more personal, thoughtful approach to regulatory and compliance work — one where clients feel supported, informed, and confident at every step.
How I Work
Clarity First — Advice should be easy to understand and act on.
​
Thorough, Intentional Work — Every matter handled with care and precision.
​
Genuine Professional Care — Long‑term relationships built on trust and integrity.
Notable Court Matters
I appeared for the complainant as solicitor advocate on these appeals against conviction.
​
The company was charged with offences against the Planning Act 2016 for contravening a development approval and failing to comply with an enforcement notice. The director of the company was charged with offences for failing to take all reasonable steps to ensure the company complied with its obligations under the Act.
​
The complainant was successful. The appeals were dismissed and the convictions against the company and the director were confirmed.
I appeared for the complainant as solicitor advocate on the magistrates court trial and the appeal against conviction and sentence.
​
The Appellant was charged with an offence against the Planning Act 2016 for carrying out assessable development with a development permit (unlawful filling) and offences against the Environmental Protection Act 1994 for unlawfully depositing a prescribed water contaminant in a way so it could reasonably be expected to wash or otherwise move into waters and contravening a direction notice.
​
The complainant was successful. The appeals were dismissed and the convictions and sentences were confirmed.
​
This matter was appealed to the Queensland Court of Appeal and the High Court of Australia. Both courts refused leave to appeal and confirmed the convictions and sentences.
I appeared for Council as solicitor advocate on each of these appeals to the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) Appeal Tribunal.
Roy confirmed the decision in Imbrogno that where the Tribunal is satisfied that a dog has seriously attacked, or acted in a way that caused fear to, a person or another animal, the Tribunal must make the declaration.
​
The Council was successful on each appeal.
I appeared for the Appellant as solicitor advocate on the appeal against sentence.
​
The Appellant appealed against the fine and the length of disqualification imposed for a drink driving offence.
​
The Appellant was successful. The appeal was allowed and the fine and disqualification period imposed were reduced.
PRECISION, CLARITY AND CONFIDENCE • KDC LEGAL • REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE • KDC LEGAL •