“You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.”  C S Lewis 

Don't overlook this exceptional opportunity to join Judge Bender and a prominent panel of family law experts as you tackle trial preparation, post-compliance and readiness hearing. Avoid potentially costly mistakes in your preparation that could affect the success of your client’s case with takeaway tips and insights.

Presenters

Olivia Grobtuch, Partner, Kennedy Law
Olivia Grobtuch is a founding partner of Kennedy Partners, one of Doyles Guide "top tier" Melbourne firms. She is a member of the Family Law Section of the Law Institute of Victoria and the Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia. Olivia has been practising in family law for over 30 years. She obtained her accreditation as a family law specialist in 1990 and has been a member of various committees of the Law Institute of Victoria including sub-committees dealing with family law reform. She has presented numerous papers relating to specialist family law topics and has regularly attended family law conferences in both the national and international arenas. She has been involved in a number of important matters in the High Court of Australia and has also worked extensively on international family law matters, and is a fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers.


Kuppy Nambiar, Director, Nambiar Hogg Family Lawyers
Kuppy Nambiar is a founder and director of Nambiar Hogg Family Lawyers established in 2022. Having worked in a number of leading specialist Family Law firms, she has over 30 years of experience in Family Law. Kuppy attained Specialist Accreditation in Family Law in 2001. She is known for her firm but fair approach in providing practical advice with empathy, care and humour. Kuppy is committed to professional development and education. She frequently presents at conferences and seminars for other Family Lawyers, and for many years has been an instructor at Leo Cussen Centre for Law in Family Law and Ethics. Kuppy has volunteered at several community centres including Prahran Legal Service. Kuppy is regularly recognised in Doyle's Guide including as a Recommended Family Lawyer and Recommended Parenting Lawyer. Nambiar Hogg Family Lawyers is also recognised in Doyle’s Guide as a Recommended Family and Divorce Law firm. Kuppy is a member of the Family Law sections of the Law Institute of Victoria and the Law Council of Australia and a past member of the Family Law Advisory Committee to the Accreditation Board of the Law Institute of Victoria for Family Law, responsible for assessing and examining candidates for accreditation in Family Law.


Her Honour Judge Evelyn Bender – Federal Circuit Court and Family of Australia
Her Honour was appointed to Division 2 of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (then the Federal Magistrates Court of Australia) on 15 September 2008 and presides in the Family Law jurisdiction. In addition, Her Honour is notably active in committees concerning Family Violence including the Family Law Courts Family Violence Committee. Her Honour commenced her professional career as a country solicitor before returning to Melbourne where Her Honour became the Family Law partner in a large suburban firm. Her Honour was then a Registrar of the Family Court of Australia for thirteen years. At the time of her appointment Her Honour was the Family Law In-House Counsel at Victoria Legal Aid.


Barry Berger, Principal, Dignity EDR Dignity.Legal
Barry graduated from Monash University with a Bachelor of Economics (1972) and Bachelor of Laws (1974). He saw the introduction of the Family Law Act in the mid-seventies from the previous Matrimonial Causes Act, and has practiced through the many and varied changes of Family Law since then. During his career, Barry has been the Head of Family Law at a number of prominent firms and was the co-founder and Managing Partner of Berger Kordos Lawyers and prior to that he was the Head of the Family Law Department of Home Wilkinson Lowry which subsequently became HWLE. In 2021 together with Leon Berger (who is also a Family Law Accredited Specialist FDRP and Mediator), Barry established Dignity EDR - Effective Dispute Resolution and Dignity.Legal, an initiative which specialises in out-of-court settlements through negotiation, Mediation, Collaboration and provides expert guidance in all relationship matters. He has been an Accredited Specialist in Family Law and a Mediator since 1991, and recently became an Accredited AIFLAM Arbitrator. Barry is committed to helping people effectively find family law resolutions at all stages of their relationship. Barry Berger is one of Australia’s most experienced family lawyers and is known in the profession for giving strategic legal advice in complex family law matters, an innovator in Relationship Dispute Resolution and collaborative law , and a champion of value-pricing for professional services. In his spare time, Barry has a keen interest in cycling, art and creativity, Armagnac and urban anthropology.