Explore recent FCFCOA changes with the Lighthouse & Evatt Lists, with SJR O’Neill & JR Jenkins. Learn how to initiate urgent parenting proceedings under Family Law Act reforms & your obligations under S121 of the Act and the ‘Harman Undertaking’. Explore relocation matters, evidence required, orders sought, the approach of the court and recent decisions. Lastly, learn how to support clients dealing with domestic violence, mental health, & substance abuse in family law cases.

Presenters

Kellie McDonald, Senior Solicitor, Women’s Legal Service NSW
Kellie McDonald is a Senior Solicitor at Women’s Legal Service NSW. She primarily assists vulnerable women who have experienced domestic and sexual violence, providing advice, advocacy, and representation in the areas of family law, AVOs, care and protection and victims support. She has worked as a solicitor in the community legal centre sector for the past 14 years advising disadvantaged community members, developing and delivering community legal education and advocating for a just and fair legal system.


Carly Middleton, Partner, Barkus Doolan Winning
Carly Middleton has experience with complex property cases involving family company structures and trust and valuation issues. Carly's practice also focuses on complex parenting matters including matters with an international aspect to them, including Hague Convention litigation. Carly is a dynamic and client-focused lawyer who takes pride in achieving the best outcome for clients, either through litigation or negotiation. Carly has worked exclusively in family law and was previously a Partner of a boutique family law firm in Sydney. Carly has presented papers both in Australia and overseas on Family Law and in 2018 "Doyle's Guide to the Australian Legal Market" has ranked Carly as and one of the "Leading" Family and Divorce Lawyers in Sydney.


Justine Clark, Principal, Tisher Liner FC Law
Justine Clark is an experienced lawyer who has an extensive and precise understanding of family law. She is a Principal of Tisher Liner FC Law and an Accredited Family Law Specialist. Justine’s particular areas of expertise include Complex property / high net worth matters; Property matters involving companies, trusts, SMSFs, businesses, taxation, disclosure and valuation issues; International property matters; International relocation (parenting) matters; Binding Financial Agreements and Child Support Agreements. Justine was an Associate to Justice Hugh Fraser QC of Queensland's Court of Appeal, and then Legal Associate to the Honourable Peter Young QC of the Family Court of Australia. Justine is a member of the Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia, the Law Institute of Victoria (and the former co-chair of the LIV Family Law Accreditation Committee), the LGBT Family Law Institute and a member of Pride in Law, Victoria.


Rachell Davey, Partner, Lander & Rogers
Rachell has practised in family and relationship law since 2000. She has been involved in all aspects of family law with particular expertise in complex property and financial matters. Rachell holds a Master' of International Law (2005) from the University of Melbourne and practises in international family law matters involving expatriate Australians, or for clients across multiple family law jurisdictions. She is highly adept at resolving complex property matters involving corporate entities, businesses, addressing the taxation implications of settlement and third parties. Rachell has extensive experience drafting financial agreements (both pre and post nuptial) and advising clients of the appropriateness of a financial agreement in their circumstances. She also assists clients with complex parenting arrangements involving interstate and overseas relocation. Rachell is an Accredited Specialist in Family Law (2005) and previous member of the Accredited Specialist Committee. She is listed in Doyle's Guide as a Rising Star in Family Law (2016) and a leading practitioner of Parenting and Children's Matters (2018 to 2022). She has been recognised in Best Lawyers (Australia) for her expertise in Family Law. Rachell is also a regular presenter and author covering family law topics.


Dr Renata Alexander, Barrister, Holmes List
Dr Renata Alexander was admitted to practice in 1979. From 1980 to 1997 she worked as an in-house solicitor and accredited family law specialist at Victoria Legal Aid in Melbourne. From 1997 to 2002 she was a Deputy Registrar with the former Family Court of Australia in Melbourne. She was called to the Victorian Bar in November 2002. Renata has also pursued post-graduate studies and an academic career. She has a Master of Laws by thesis on domestic violence (Monash University) and a PhD in law from Monash University with her thesis ‘Reflections on gender in family law decision making in Australia’. She has written/cowritten books on family law as well as numerous book chapters and articles. She is the coauthor of three books on child abuse and family law, the latest being Family Law in Australia (10th ed, Lexis Nexis, 2021). She is also the sole author of two books on family violence, the latest being Family Violence in Australia: The Legal Response (Federation Press, 2018). She is currently working on a book based on her PhD thesis. Dr Alexander has also been with the Faculty of Law at Monash University for many years. She currently teaches family law in the JD/LLM program. As a barrister, Renata practises exclusively in family law, specialising in family violence, child abuse, parenting cases and the separate representation of children.


Evelyn Young, Principal, Lighthouse Family Lawyers
Evelyn has practised exclusively in family law since 2011. She has extensive experience in all aspects of family law including property disputes, children’s matters, de facto matters, financial agreements, spousal maintenance, surrogacy and child support. Delivering the best possible outcomes to clients in a practical and cost effective manner is Evelyn’s overriding objective. She is also a trained Collaborative Lawyer, and enjoys assisting clients with the Collaborative Practice process. Evelyn is an Accredited Family Law specialist and is recognised in the 2019-2020 editions of Doyle’s Guide as a Recommended Parenting and Children’s Matter Lawyer. She has written and delivered papers on many areas of family law, and is a regular presenter. She was the joint winner of the 2015 LIV Rogers Legal Writing Award for the best contribution to the Law Institute Journal. Evelyn is a member of the Family Law Advisory Committee to the Accreditation Board of the Law Institute of Victoria for Family Law.


Dr Christopher John Lennings OAM, LSC Psychology
Christopher J. Lennings is a clinical and forensic psychologist and has worked as a clinician, academic and researcher in psychology for the past 44 years. He has published over 100 refereed articles and has presented as many conference papers and conducted more than 50 workshops, mostly on forensic issues. He is an experienced expert at all levels of the State and Commonwealth Court and Tribunal system and continues to work as a reviewer for AHPRA and occasional member of the NCAT. He has conducted almost 4000 forensic evaluations and prepared report for all levels of the criminal and civil justice system. He is a member and Fellow of a number of professional organisations. He was awarded the NSW Forensic College award for Research Excellence in 2008 and for psychological practice and professional work in 2017. In 2013 he was awarded an OAM for his services to psychology.