Gain valuable insights into key topics shaping family law parenting matters. Examine recent reforms one year on with a focus on safety and Rice & Asplund codification, unpack the complexities and risks of Parental Alienation and assess the impact of new amendments to the Hague Child Abduction Convention regulations. Gain valuable insights from the latest case updates and understand the influence of parental mental health on parenting capacity from an adolescent and family Psychiatrist. Finally, tailored for family law practitioners, gain essential practical guidance on managing urgent parental applications, meeting ethical obligations in family law parenting matters, and tips for sustaining a thriving family law practice and cover off your ethics, professional skills and practice management.

Presenters

Carly Mirza-Price, Partner, Mills Oakley
Carly is a Partner in the Mills Oakley Family Law team in Sydney. She has twelve years of experience working exclusively in the area of family law. Carly has a sound expertise in a range of matters including property settlements (both married and de facto), involving complex financial and corporate structures and third-party issues, parenting matters (domestic and internationally), binding financial agreements, child support, divorce and collaborative family law. Carly also has experience in family provision matters.


Maurice Edwards, Special Counsel, Rafton Family Lawyers
Maurice Edwards is an Accredited Family Law Specialist (NSW Law Society) a Registered Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner (FDRP), a Nationally Accredited Mediator (NMAS) and an Accredited Family Law Arbitrator (AIFLAM) and a Collaborative Family Lawyer. Maurice has recently been elected as the NSW representative to the board of the Australian Institute of Family Law Arbitrators and Mediators (AIFLAM). As the RAMP leader he heads a team of mediators, arbitrators, FDRP’s and parenting coordinators and conflict coaches dedicated to providing easy access to a family law resolution. Maurice has a special interest and has presented at seminars and conferences on the Hague Child Abduction and Child Protection Conventions, Binding Financial Agreements, Childhood Gender Dysphoria and on various forms of dispute resolution including collaborative law, mediation and arbitration. He has been working in the family law space for over 40 years.


Kylie Chesterman, Barrister, Level 14 Inns of Court Chambers
Kylie was called to the Bar in 2016, having been admitted as a legal practitioner in 2011. She maintains a practice predominantly in family law, criminal law and domestic violence. Prior to commencing at the private Bar, Kylie worked in a boutique family law firm and as a Legal Officer at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. Kylie was also a Legal Associate in the Queensland Court of Appeal to the Honourable Robert Gotterson AO and in the District Court to Sarah Bradley AO. Kylie holds a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) and a Bachelor of Psychological Science from Griffith University. Kylie has a keen interest in complex financial matters as well as parentage disputes in de facto relationships. She was involved in the case of Clarence & Crisp [2016] FamCAFC 157 as both a solicitor (at the trial) and then junior counsel in the appeal.


Dianne Pendergast, Barrister, Brisbane Chambers
Dianne Pendergast was admitted to practice law in 1986. Since then she has practiced predominantly in family law, wills and estates, child protection and domestic violence. Dianne was a partner in a boutique practice until 1992, when she was appointed as a registrar of the Family Court where she worked as a mediator, conciliator and conducted interim hearings for the next 14 years. In 2006 Dianne was appointed to the statutory position of Adult Guardian (Qld.). Dianne has practiced as a barrister for the last 13 years.


Tijana Petkovic, Director, Blanchfield Nicholls
Tijana is one of the Directors at Blanchfield Nicholls, a leading Family Law practice in Sydney and Australia as recognised by the independently researched and peer nominated Doyles Guide from 2015-2023 inclusive. Tijana has practiced exclusively in family law for 15 years, and has experience in a variety of parenting and property matters, including acting for parties with significant asset pools, matters involving complex business structures, spousal maintenance claims, child abuse and child sexual abuse matters, overseas relocation, as well as representing third parties who have been joined to family law litigation. Tijana has a special interest and expertise in complex financial matters and matters with international elements including where jurisdiction is in dispute, assets are held across other jurisdictions, where a parent wants to relocate with the child overseas and matters pursuant to the Hague Child Abduction Convention. While Tijana regularly appears in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia as well as the Supreme Court and is a confident litigator, she is also trained and has experience in Collaborative Practice. She advises and guides families and individuals towards practical, amicable and respectful solutions to their family law problems and understands that litigation is a last resort for most clients. Tijana is a member of the Family Law Section of The Law Council of Australia, International Academy of Collaborative Professionals, Collaborative Professionals NSW, Central Sydney Collaborative Forum and is an occasional guest lecturer at the University of Technology, Sydney, lecturing in the family law undergraduate program and juris doctor program. Tijana regularly presents papers to members of the legal profession, as well as other professionals on family law issues. Tijana has been recognised as a ‘Family Law Rising Star NSW 2018’ by the Doyles Guide for 2018.


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.


Neil Jackson, Barrister, Frederick Jordan Chambers
Neil Jackson holds a Bachelor of Law and Bachelor of Economics from Sydney University (both obtained in 1986), and a Master of Law from the University of New South Wales (obtained in 1996, majoring in a family law related subjects). He practised as a solicitor in Sydney from July 1986, largely specialising in personal injury litigation, family law and de facto relationships law, before being called to the New South Wales Bar in February 1997. From 1998 he was the National Editor of the CCH De Facto Relationships Service. As a solicitor, he was a member of the New South Wales Law Society Family Law Committee and the Committee of Family Law through the City of Sydney Regional Law Society. Further, he was part of the Sydney Registry of the Family Court of Australia's Duty Solicitor Scheme. He is also an accredited specialist through the Law Society of New South Wales in both family law and personal injury. In 1996 and again in 2003 he obtained a certificate through the Law Council of Australia and National Legal Aid, relating to the representation of children. Currently he practises as a barrister, exclusively in family law and de facto relationships law, at Frederick Jordan Chambers, Sydney. Neil Jackson is also a member of the Conciliators and Arbitrators Association, the Australian Association of Family Lawyers and Conciliators, and the Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia. Further, he is currently on the Legal Aid Committee of the Bar Association of New South Wales. From 1998 until 2011 he was also an active Director on the Board of Family Planning Association (NSW). Family Planning NSW is the organisation to go to when it comes to reproductive and sexual health in NSW. They are an independent, not-for-profit organisation focused on the promotion, collection and dissemination of reproductive and sexual health knowledge and information. Currently he is a Board Director of 3 Bridges. 3 Bridges is a community based organisation which develops and provides a range of community and welfare services in the St George and Sutherland Districts. In 2002 he was appointed as an Arbitrator of the New South Wales Compensation Commission. This is a position to which he has actively held for over three years. Many of his judgments can be found on the website of the Workers Compensation Commission, at www.wcc.nsw.gov.au/decisions.asp In 2004 he was appointed a Mediator of the New South Wales Supreme Court. In 2004 he was appointed an Arbitrator of the New South Wales District Court. Since 2007 he has been a Commonwealth Government appointed Family Dispute Resolution mediator. Neil Jackson is presently an Arbitrator of the Local Court of New South Wales. He has, in recent years, regularly contributed by way of lectures and seminars in family law related issues through the New South Wales Young Lawyers Association, a branch of the Law Society of New South Wales; and the New South Wales College of Law.


Karen Shea, Barrister, Frederick Jordan Chambers
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.


Dr Antony Milch, Child, Adolescent and Family Psychiatrist, Family in Mind
Dr Antony Milch has established a career as one of Sydney’s leading child adolescent and family psychiatrists. Over the past 30 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.


Susan Warda, Partner, Mills Oakley
Susan Warda is a Partner with national law firm Mills Oakley, an Accredited Specialist in Family Law, a Collaborative Lawyer, and a trained Parenting Coordinator. With extensive expertise in family law matters that involve complex financial issues, including property settlements dealing with family businesses, multiple assets, and superannuation splitting, she is highly regarded for both her knowledge and her professional approach. As an experienced mediator and trained collaborative law practitioner, Susan brings a wealth of experience working alongside other professionals to resolve clients’ disputes outside the Court system. Susan has played a pioneering role in the development of collaborative practice in Australia and is an advocate for alternative dispute resolution. As well as property and financial issues, Susan also acts for parents in a wide range of parenting disputes including Hague Convention Applications for international child abduction and complex matters concerning parenting arrangements. Susan is a fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL) and her achievements have seen her named again by Best Lawyers Australia Family Law 2024 as well as a Leading Family & Divorce Lawyer Sydney and a Leading Family Lawyer High Value & Complex Property Matters in the Doyle’s 2023 Guide. An active member of the profession and the community, Susan holds Board positions with the Australian Association of Collaborative Professionals and Variety the Children’s Charity Asia Pacific.