This series will give you with the skills to take your practice to the next level. In this four-part series, hear from three FCFCOA Senior Judicial Registrars as they share their insights & discuss tips for young players. Gain an overview of issues to be considered in financial settlements, plus an explanation of Div7A, CGT and other tax implications. In Part four, an experienced panel of accredited specialists will discuss the different ADR options available.

Family Law Essentials Series: View from the Bench: Tips and Traps for Young Players

In the first part of this four-part series, hear from three Senior Judicial Registrars from the FCFCOA as they generously share their insights and discuss tips and traps for young players.

Presenters

Sarah Yigit, Associate, Pearson Emerson
Sarah Yigit is a Senior Associate at Pearson Emerson Family Lawyers, an Executive Councillor of the Young Lawyers branch of the Law Society of NSW and is the Chair of the NSW Young Lawyers Family Law Sub-Committee in the Law Society of NSW. Sarah was admitted to the Supreme Court of Victoria and the High Court of Australia in March 2021 and commenced practising as a family law solicitor in New South Wales in June 2021. Prior to joining Pearson Emerson in June 2021, Sarah worked as the Associate to the Deputy Chief Justice of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 1), as it is now known was, for two years, and prior to that as an Associate to two Judges of Division 2. Sarah has also worked and volunteered for over three years' in providing access to justice for victims of gender based violence. Sarah currently volunteers as a Family Law Solicitor for Marrickville Legal Centre. Sarah has a passion for promoting diversity, substantive equality and wellbeing in the profession and actively seeks to promote opportunity, community and support for Young Lawyers.

Senior Judicial Registrar Sharney Jenkinson
Sharney commenced practice as a volunteer law clerk with Victoria Legal Aid in 2006. Upon her admission to practice in 2007 she worked as a solicitor in a small suburban firm in Melbourne specialising in family law and family violence matters. In 2011 she joined the Queensland Bar, before returning to Victoria in 2012. Her practice at the bar included a focus on family law, particularly independent children’s lawyer matters. She has been a Senior Judicial Registrar in the Sydney Registry of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia since 2021.

Senior Judicial Registrar Brett McGrath, Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia
Brett commenced his time at the Court as a Registrar with the Family Court of Australia and Federal Circuit Court of Australia in 2019 was selected as one of two National Registrars to oversee the implementation of the new National COVID-19 List, designed to triage and hear urgent family law matters arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. As well as being involved in the development and expansion of the Courts’ new parenting and property Dispute Resolution project and National COVID-19 List, Brett was appointed as a Senior Registrar of the Court in November 2020 and then again as a Senior Judicial Registrar of the new Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia from 1 September 2021.

Senior Judicial Registrar Angela Hayward
Angela was admitted to practice in 2002 after completing her studies and working 4 years as a Family Law Clerk in a South West Sydney law firm. She later obtained her Masters degree in Family Law in 2019. Whilst in private practice she worked exclusively in Family and Criminal Law. Angela commenced her time at the Court as a Registrar with the Family Court of Australia and Federal Circuit Court of Australia in 2017 and was selected to oversee the implementation of the National Registrar’s Pilot in conducting first return dates in the Federal Circuit Court of Australia (as it was then), the National COVID-19 List and the National Contravention List. Angela was appointed as a Senior Registrar of the Court in November 2020 and then again as a Senior Judicial Registrar of the new Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia in September 2021. Angela deals exclusively with hearing and determining contested interim matters and undefended final hearings.

Family Law Essentials Series: Family Law Financial Settlements: An Overview of Essential Issues to be Considered

In the second part of this series, gain an overview of the financial disclosure and compliance required in Family Law financial settlements.

Presenters

Sarah Yigit, Associate, Pearson Emerson
Sarah Yigit is a Senior Associate at Pearson Emerson Family Lawyers, an Executive Councillor of the Young Lawyers branch of the Law Society of NSW and is the Chair of the NSW Young Lawyers Family Law Sub-Committee in the Law Society of NSW. Sarah was admitted to the Supreme Court of Victoria and the High Court of Australia in March 2021 and commenced practising as a family law solicitor in New South Wales in June 2021. Prior to joining Pearson Emerson in June 2021, Sarah worked as the Associate to the Deputy Chief Justice of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 1), as it is now known was, for two years, and prior to that as an Associate to two Judges of Division 2. Sarah has also worked and volunteered for over three years' in providing access to justice for victims of gender based violence. Sarah currently volunteers as a Family Law Solicitor for Marrickville Legal Centre. Sarah has a passion for promoting diversity, substantive equality and wellbeing in the profession and actively seeks to promote opportunity, community and support for Young Lawyers.

Antonella Sanderson, Principal Solicitor & Director, Family Law Matters
Founder and Principal Solicitor / Director of Family Law Matters, Antonella has been dedicated to focusing her career in Family Law since University days in 1994, and officially began her legal career focused firmly in Family Law starting in 1999. Antonella thoroughly enjoys mentoring and training young lawyers who identify Family Law as their area of passion – she runs a practise that encourages her young lawyers to be proud of their chosen specialty, where education is a high priority, and now working from home is the welcome norm. This year, Antonella is looking forward to learning to sail – and try out the mobile coverage at 50 nautical miles offshore on a 34 foot catamaran – hoping MS Teams video conferencing will still work from all the way out there.

Family Law Essentials Series: Div 7A, CGT and other Tax Implications in Simple Terms

In the third part of this series, hear from a Tax consultant discuss Div 7A, CGT and other Tax concepts in simple terms, to equip you with the necessarily tools to apply in your practice.

Presenters

Sarah Yigit, Associate, Pearson Emerson
Sarah Yigit is a Senior Associate at Pearson Emerson Family Lawyers, an Executive Councillor of the Young Lawyers branch of the Law Society of NSW and is the Chair of the NSW Young Lawyers Family Law Sub-Committee in the Law Society of NSW. Sarah was admitted to the Supreme Court of Victoria and the High Court of Australia in March 2021 and commenced practising as a family law solicitor in New South Wales in June 2021. Prior to joining Pearson Emerson in June 2021, Sarah worked as the Associate to the Deputy Chief Justice of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 1), as it is now known was, for two years, and prior to that as an Associate to two Judges of Division 2. Sarah has also worked and volunteered for over three years' in providing access to justice for victims of gender based violence. Sarah currently volunteers as a Family Law Solicitor for Marrickville Legal Centre. Sarah has a passion for promoting diversity, substantive equality and wellbeing in the profession and actively seeks to promote opportunity, community and support for Young Lawyers.

Chris Ardagna, Partner – Tax Consulting, Pitcher Partners
Chris Ardagna is a partner in the tax consulting group of Pitcher Partners Sydney and has been advising on tax issues affecting large privately-, owned businesses and listed companies for over 15 years. Chris re-joined the firm in December 2018, having previously been a partner from 2007 - 2011. Prior to re-joining the firm, he was a tax partner at a boutique law firm for a number of years. Chris has experience in advising clients on a broad range of tax issues, including tax efficient structuring for investing in and out of Australia, corporate reorganisation strategies and cross-border employment issues. In addition, Chris has considerable experience dealing with disputes with the revenue authorities, including managing reviews and audits, seeking private rulings, objecting to assessments, appealing objection decisions and settling disputes with the revenue authorities. Recent examples of engagements include: Structuring of property development projects; Structuring of a proposed merger between Australian and US businesses in the IT industry; Capital gains tax and tax consolidations implications of corporate restructures ; Structuring of property financing arrangements; Resolution of long-running dispute with the Commissioner of Taxation involving various international tax and administrative law issues. Chris has also been working with high wealth families and privately held groups in relation to business succession and estate planning matters for almost 10 years. His problem-solving skills and practical approach, together with his tax knowledge, enable him to quickly understand the needs of his clients and provide them with commercially focused and tax efficient solutions. Having been involved in a number of family disputes arising from both a lack of planning for generational change and poorly drafted estate plans, Chris draws from that experience to ensure the appropriate estate and succession plans are in place for clients. This experience extends to: Structuring and managing inter-generational wealth transfer during the principal's lifetime; Structuring new and updating existing estate plans including the use of testamentary trusts ; Business succession planning including structuring buy-sell agreements, shareholder/unitholder agreements, and employee equity arrangements ; General asset protection strategies; Resolving disputes involving trust and estate assets and entitlements both through negotiation and litigation.

Family Law Essentials Series: To Collaborate, Mediate, Arbitrate or Litigate… That is the Question!

In the final part of our four-part series, hear from three leading Family law specialists as they explore which different ADR options, equipping you to properly advise your clients on which option will provide the best outcome for your client.

Presenters

Sarah Yigit, Associate, Pearson Emerson
Sarah Yigit is a Senior Associate at Pearson Emerson Family Lawyers, an Executive Councillor of the Young Lawyers branch of the Law Society of NSW and is the Chair of the NSW Young Lawyers Family Law Sub-Committee in the Law Society of NSW. Sarah was admitted to the Supreme Court of Victoria and the High Court of Australia in March 2021 and commenced practising as a family law solicitor in New South Wales in June 2021. Prior to joining Pearson Emerson in June 2021, Sarah worked as the Associate to the Deputy Chief Justice of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 1), as it is now known was, for two years, and prior to that as an Associate to two Judges of Division 2. Sarah has also worked and volunteered for over three years' in providing access to justice for victims of gender based violence. Sarah currently volunteers as a Family Law Solicitor for Marrickville Legal Centre. Sarah has a passion for promoting diversity, substantive equality and wellbeing in the profession and actively seeks to promote opportunity, community and support for Young Lawyers.

Sue Abrams, Director and Solicitor, Abrams Turner Whelan Family Lawyers
Sue Abrams was admitted as a Solicitor to the Supreme Court of New South Wales and the High Court of Australia in 1982 after completing her BA LLB at Macquarie University. Sue was initially employed as a Solicitor with McDonell Moffitt Dowling Tayler where she developed a broad base of experience in a cross-section of areas, including Family Law, Conveyancing and Estate matters. In 1986 Sue became an Associate Partner of McDonell Moffitt Dowling Tayler. In February 1989 Sue established the firm Abrams & Associates and remained the sole principal of that firm until 30 June 2008, when Abrams & Associates merged with Turner Whelan to become Abrams Turner Whelan Family Lawyers. Sue has practised extensively in Family Law throughout her career, but also has considerable experience in other areas of law, including Wills and Probate, Conveyancing and General Law. Sue became an Accredited Specialist in Family Law in 1994 and since 1995 Sue has practised exclusively in Family Law. Sue has also been trained as a Mediator at Bond University and in 2007 Sue completed the basic and advanced training in Collaborative Law. Sue is a member of the New South Wales Law Society and the Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia. She is an Associate of the Australian Institute of Family Law Arbitrators and Mediators, a member of Collaborative Practice (NSW), a founding member and current Co-President of the Central Sydney Collaborative Forum and a member of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals. Sue's many years of experience as a Specialist Family Lawyer have equipped her with a wealth of knowledge and understanding of the whole range of Family Law issues. Sue has particular expertise and experience in complex Family Law property matters involving Trusts, Companies, Share Option Plans, Superannuation and Pensions. Sue is also highly skilled at achieving negotiated outcomes for clients and has conducted a number of successful Collaborative Law and mediated matters. Sue has also presented various papers to the profession and other professional groups in relation to Collaborative Practice.

Shelby Timmins, Director, Divorce Done Differently
Shelby Timmins is an Accredited Family Law Specialist, who holds a Masters in Law from the University of Sydney, is a Nationally Accredited Mediator, Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner and Collaborative Professional. Shelby is a member of Collaborative Professionals NSW and President of Southern Sydney Collaborative Professionals. Shelby has over 18 years experience in Family Law and spent much of this at one of Sydney's most respected specialist Family Lawyer firms. Shelby is passionate about doing things differently in the family law space and is determined to get parties and their lawyers to look at separation, divorce and the breakdown of families in a more respectful and future focussed way. With this in mind, Shelby has recently stepped aside from practising law and established her own family law dispute resolution practice which specialises in mediation and collaborative practice. Her business is called DIVORCE DONE DIFFERENTLY., #thinkoutsidetheboxfamilylawoptions,

Glenn Thompson OAM, Partner, Newnhams
Glenn Thompson is an accredited specialist in Family Law who is a Director of the firm Newnhams Solicitors. Glenn has specialised in Family Law for 38 years, is the Chair of the Specialist Accreditation Board in Family Law for NSW, is co-chair of the Family Law Committee of the Law Society of New South Wales, is a fellow of the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, and is on the Steering Committee of the Greater Sydney Family Law Pathways Network having been in the chair for 12 years. Glenn is also a member of College of Law Family Law Advisory Committee, and is an Adjunct Lecturer, Master of Laws (Applied Law) at the College of Law. Glenn became a qualified Arbitrator with AIFLAM on 31 October 2020 and a qualified Mediator with AIFLAM and NMAS on 30 May 2022. Glenn was a member of the Australian Law Reform Commission Advisory Committee in respect of the March 2019 report ‘Family Law for the Future – An Inquiry into the Family Law System’. Glenn was also a member of the Family Court’s Steering Committee on the Children’s Cases Program, the organising committee for the 14th National Family Law Conference held in Sydney 7-10 October 2014, and of the organising committee for the National Access to Justice and Pro Bono Conference held in Sydney 18-19 June 2015 as well as being a presenter. In 2010 Glenn was awarded the NSW Law Society President’s Medal in recognition of his significant personal and professional contributions to the betterment of law and justice in NSW and was one of three finalists for the Law Society Member of the Year in 2022. On 12 June 2017 Glenn was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for his services to Family Law and the Community. On 6 November 2016 Glenn completed the New York Marathon.