Delve into all the current issues for Family law property matters in one day. Explore the rights and interests in trusts and the distribution as a part of the asset pool. Unpack the current approach taken towards initial and external contributions and dealing with disputed debts from third-parties. Stay informed with an annual update on recent cases and legislative changes, including the Family Law Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2023 – Property Disputes Amendment. Gain all your ethics and skills points though an in-depth discussion of identifying the assets from a lawyer and forensic accountant perspective, dealing with violence and coercive control in a family law practice and key ethical issues commonly missed in practice.

Presenters

Simone Fraser, Barrister, 19 Inns Chambers
Simone has been admitted as a legal practitioner since 2007 and commenced practice at the Bar in 2013. Simone regularly appears in the Federal Circuit Court and Family Court and has experience in High Court leave applications. She practices primarily in the area of family law and is a Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner, a nationally accredited mediator and a nationally accredited family law arbitrator. Prior coming to the Bar, Simone was an Associate to Justice Philippides of the Supreme Court of Queensland and worked in private practice. Simone subsequently spent several years working in-house before returning to private practice as a solicitor. Simone was the recipient of the Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarship from Bond University where she completed a Bachelor of Laws with Honours and a Bachelor of International Relations. She also holds an MBA which she completed at the European School of Management, Paris. Simone was named in Doyle’s Guide 2021 as a recommended junior counsel in Queensland for family law, parenting and children’s matters and family law mediation. Simone is currently one of the Counsel Assisting to the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability. Simone has chambers in Brisbane and on the Gold Coast.


Kay Feeney, Director, Feeney Family Lawyers
Kay has been an expert in family law for more than 35 years. She was admitted as a solicitor in 1985 and has been the director of Feeney Family Law since 2011. Kay is an accredited Family Law Specialist. She combines her Family Law expertise with an understanding of her clients’ issues and expectations to promote a safe, calm, and respectful rapport. She possesses a high level of legal technical competency and holds a clear tenacity of purpose. She ensures that her clients feel supported and are not vulnerable to any imbalances of power. Kay boasts extensive litigation experience with particular interest in mediation, collaboration, and arbitration. She is a Nationally Accredited Mediator and Arbitrator for family law matters and a qualified Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner. Her wisdom and experience as a mediator are highly requested. She has experience in property matters involving high value and working in complex corporate structures. She is also an expert across a range of other family matters, including parenting disputes complicated by parental deficits and special needs children. She also has vast experience as an Independent Children’s Lawyer. Kay comes recommended in the Doyle’s Guide of Leading Family & Divorce Lawyers in Brisbane for 2022. She has presented “How to limit conflict in Family Law matters” at two US conferences and presented at two European conferences “Family Lawyers & Legal Professional Privilege” and “Property Settlements & Spouse Maintenance for the Elderly”.


Olivia Phillips, Director, Phillips Family Law


Alison Ross, Partner, Hopgood Ganim
Alison Ross specialises in complex property matters and other financial matters arising from relationship breakdowns. She has worked exclusively in family law since 1996 and has extensive experience in both matrimonial and de facto relationship law. Alison's expertise includes advising on international family law matters, both financial matters and those relating to children, including relocation and child abduction. An Accredited Family Law Specialist, Alison is the immediate past Chair of the Queensland Law Society's Family Law Committee. She is a member of the Queensland Law Society Continuing Professional Development Committee. She is also a member of the Family Law Practitioners' Association, the Law Council of Australia's Family Law Section, the Child Protection Practitioners' Association of Queensland and Queensland Collaborative Law. Alison has been ranked a leading lawyer in Doyles Guide to Leading Family and Divorce Lawyers - Brisbane since 2012.


Robert Gordon, Barrister, Inns of Court


Carissa Lacey, Associate Director, Forensic Commercial Team, Vincents


Neil McGregor, Barrister, Brisbane Chambers
As a highly experienced barrister in Brisbane, Neil McGregor appreciates the challenge of family law trial work and advocacy. Neil has achieved a successful career as a barrister, previously solicitor, assisting litigants in attaining their best result in in a timely manner whilst reducing financial and emotional cost. The short-term and long-term effects that family law disputes and litigation have on families is a real consideration for Neil in the conduct of his professional work and he often goes above and beyond the call of duty to meet individual client needs. "I am conscious that family disputes and proceedings are very emotional and can be stressful and confusing, even for the toughest of people," Neil says. "I am conscious of how the client is experiencing the litigation when guiding my clients through the process." Neil was admitted as a barrister and solicitor in New Zealand in 1974 before moving to Australia. In Queensland, he was admitted as a solicitor in 1980, and then a barrister in 1984. He is a nationally accredited Mediator, a Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner (R1005156), and an Arbitrator under s.10M of the Family Law Act 1975. Whilst specialising predominantly in the field of Family Law for more than 25 years, Neil's career includes a wide range of disciplines including drawing Wills and contracts; conveyancing and complex commercial transactions; criminal work (trial and appellate); personal injuries; and civil, commercial and property litigation. The totality of his experience gives Neil a deep pool of knowledge and capability to ensure each case receives the best possible outcome for that person and their individual circumstances. Due to the range of social problems which are often inextricably linked with family law disputes, Neil evaluates each case to determine whether the underlying concern can be addressed more effectively before a Court decision. Throughout his career, Neil has contributed to a number of publications such as Butterworth's Court Forms and Pleadings Queensland, and was a reporter for the Queensland Reports. He regularly presents and speaks at specialist legal conferences and seminars on the many facets that make up Family Law.


Sarah Dibley, Special Counsel, Lander & Rogers


Shannon Walker, Associate Director, Vincents


Pippa Colman, Director, Pippa Colman Family Law
Pippa is one of the most distinguished and highly sought after Accredited Family Law Specialists in the field of family law and also as a Mediator and Arbitrator. She is renowned for her expertise in navigating complex legal matters with discretion and precision, as well as her compassionate approach to clients in distress, and her willingness to go the extra mile to help them, which sets her apart as a trusted advisor. Pippa is also well known for her dedication to continuing professional development and has, since the 1980s, delivered seminars and talks for the Queensland Law Society, the Sunshine Coast Law Association, the Accord Group of Sydney, in Australia, Hong Kong and Malaysia, Legalwise seminars, the Television Education Network, the Queensland University and the Sunshine Coast University.  Pippa has been an active member of the Sunshine Coast Law Association since the 1970s, has been a president of the Association and is and has been a committee member for many years.  Pippa was a member of the Committee which established the Maroochydore Neighbourhood Centre in the 1970s.  She was an active member of the Sunshine Coast Community Legal Service for many years.  In 1995, she helped establish the Sunshine Coast Family Contact Centre Association (Inc) which helps children maintain relationships with both of their parents and was recognised by the Supreme Court for her efforts. Pippa has been a member of the Suncoast Business Network, an association of Sunshine Coast business owners, for more than 10 years and is a current member of the Maroochydore Chamber of Commerce. Since 2018 Pippa has been recognised by Doyles Guide as a Leading Family & Divorce Lawyer for the Sunshine Coast and Regional Queensland.


Leeann Murphy, Special Counsel, Cooper Grace Ward
Leeann Murphy practices exclusively in family and relationship law and advises clients on both matrimonial and de facto property settlements. Her experience includes advising on alternative dispute resolution (including collaborative law), child-related matters, spousal maintenance and binding financial agreements. Leeann holds qualifications in Laws and International Business from Griffith University.