Delve into the practical implications of the new Family Law Amendment Bill. Learn how to get the best outcomes in high conflict parenting cases and the practical issues, recent cases and appropriate applications when dealing with relocations and overseas travel. Gain insights on handling children with complex needs from a psychiatrist and understand the real impacts of parental alienation on separating families forming new relationships. WEB243N50Z

Presenters

Ms. Nicole Armstrong, Principal – Therapist,
Nicole Armstrong is committed to working with individuals and families who are experiencing conflict or issues within their relationships - past or present. Nicole’s approach is consultative and inclusive. Comfortable working within high conflict situations, Nicole has a strong understanding of family dynamics, with a special interest in working with adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse. (CSA) Her practice has been developed to assist people to manage relationship, parenting and conflict situations in their lives enabling them to move forward in positive and meaningful ways. Nicole’s corporate background is as a business owner of over twenty years in client focussed communication and mediation with ten years tertiary and postgraduate lecturing and mentoring in these fields. Her field of personal interest is ethics. Nicole's current research is in parental alienation and coercive control within and post relationships. Nicole practices as a Family Therapist alongside her practice as a Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner [FDRP].


Ms Karen Shea, Barrister,
Karen specialises in family law and children’s care and protection. Prior to coming to the Bar, Karen practiced as a family law solicitor for 18 years. Karen was a Family Law Advocate at Legal Aid NSW from 2009 to 2018. She has extensive experience in appearing for parties and children’s representatives in the Federal Circuit & Family Court of Australia, the Children’s Court and District Court. She also has experience in adoption proceedings and complex matters involving children in the parens patriae jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. In addition to her practice, Karen co-teaches Family Law Advocacy & Practice and Children & the Law at the University of NSW. Karen is named on the Doyles list of Leading Family Law Junior Counsel (NSW) 2023 and Leading Parenting & Children’s Matters Barristers (NSW) 2023.


Ms. Stephanie Lee, Principal Solicitor,
Principal Solicitor, Stephanie Lee is an Accredited Specialist in Family Law with over 17 years of experience successfully advising and representing private clients from Australia and overseas on the full range of family law issues. After having worked in leading boutique family law practices and award finalist firms, Stephanie established her own practice recently in 2017 servicing lower and upper North Shore Sydney areas. Stephanie joined Interrelate in 2020 with the primary goal of establishing a Family Law Social Enterprise focusing on Collaborative Practice. The Family Law Social Enterprise named I relate. Collaborative Family Law complements and extends Interrelate's current family and relationship services to provide families with holistic supports following separation outside of the Courts. Highly skilled in all aspects of family law, including property disputes, maintenance, parenting issues, child support, consent orders and financial agreements, Stephanie also has considerable expertise in managing complex financial settlements and "detangling" a couple's financial affairs. As a result, she has assisted many clients who have family businesses, trusts and large asset portfolios. Stephanie's substantial experience means she is able to provide trusted advice and solutions to all of her clients in accordance with their unique individual circumstances during what is often a difficult period in the lives of clients and their children. Stephanie is a Collaborative Professional who has been specifically trained to assist parties in reaching a family law agreement out of Court. Stephanie works collaboratively with other family lawyers and professionals from other disciplines such as financial advisors and family therapists to ensure a comprehensive approach to achieving the best outcome for the family. In addition to her role at Interrelate, Stephanie is a Mentor and offers guidance and advice to law graduates completing practical legal training at the College of Law.


Antony Milch, Psychiatrist,
Dr Antony Milch has established a career as one of Sydney’s leading child adolescent and family psychiatrists. Over the past 25 years he has worked extensively with children, adolescents and their families in both private and public settings on the Lower North Shore and Northern Beaches. Dr Milch has contributed to programs for adolescent mental health at The Black Dog Institute. Dr Milch regularly lectures and presents at conferences. He is a contributing author to the Practitioner’s Guide to Psychoactive Drugs for Children and Adolescents. He is the former chair of the NSW Department of Health stimulants subcommittee and the Northside Cremorne Clinic medical advisory committee. He has participated as a facilitator for The Black Dog Institute’s Troubled Teens program, where he has been running a workshops for GPs. Dr Milch is available for clinical assessments and therapeutic intervention. Here, he practices a bio-psychosocial approach within a systemic framework. Dr Milch has developed a special interest in medico-legal assessments. He is a respected expert in the Family Court of Australia and in other jurisdictions relating to child and family issues.


Mr. Malcolm Gittoes-Ceasar, Consultant, Lander & Rogers
Malcolm is an accredited family law specialist who has practised as a lawyer for 23 years, and solely in the family law jurisdiction since 2003. Malcolm is a consultant in our national Family & Relationship Law team, and brings a breadth of knowledge to all areas of family law, with a particular focus on high-net-worth property matters, complex parenting and advocacy. Malcolm has assisted clients across a broad spectrum of matrimonial and de facto family law disputes, most notably in complex and high value financial settlements and litigation; complex parenting matters involving significant risk issues, family violence and protracted and difficult litigation; drafting Binding Financial Agreements, particularly those entered into by parties at the outset of their relationship, and providing advice on asset protection and appearing in court as Solicitor Advocate in both interim and final hearings. Malcolm prides himself on being a clear communicator and adviser always taking a realistic and pragmatic approach. Where possible, Malcolm is focused on resolving matters without the need for court proceedings, however his experience in advocacy positions him as a market leader in matters involving court disputes. Malcolm was named the Lawyers Weekly Family Law Partner of the Year in 2019 and again in 2020. He was also named Lawyers Weekly Wellness Advocate of the Year in 2020. Malcolm is recognised by the Doyle's Guide as a Recommended Family & Divorce Lawyer.


Ms Skye Owen, Senior Associate, Lander & Rogers
Skye Owen is an accredited family law specialist, with a particular interest in complex parenting matters. She has worked solely in the family law jurisdiction since 2007, including serving as an Associate to a Judge of the Federal Circuit Court of Australia (as it was then known). Her extensive experience at the Court helped her to develop an understanding across a wide range of family law issues. In practice, Skye has assisted clients with financial matters and complex parenting cases involving family violence, and has also been involved in the Financial Abuse Clinic at Redfern Legal Centre, providing advice to clients in collaboration with commercial lawyers. During her time at the Court, Skye gained extensive experience in social science research relating to Family Law and understands the importance to families of resolving conflict for the benefit of Children. Prior to specialising in Family Law, Skye worked as a legal associate to several of the part-time Members at the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. She worked across a range of administrative areas including taxation, freedom of information, migration and social security.