Presenters

Sarah Bevan, Principal, Sarah Bevan Family Lawyers
Sarah Bevan was admitted as a lawyer in New South Wales in 1999 and obtained specialist accreditation. She established Sarah Bevan Family Lawyers in 2002 and has always practised exclusively in all aspects of family law, including areas such as surrogacy, international cases and cases involving complex structures. Sarah is also an Accredited Arbitrator, NMAS accredited Mediator, a Collaborative trained lawyer and on the panel of Independent Children's Lawyer. She is a regular presenter of continuing legal education in family law.


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.


Stephanie Azzi, Senior Lawyer, Rafton Family Lawyers
Stephanie has completed a Bachelor of Law at the University of Wollongong, holds a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice and a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Human Resource management. In November 2019, Stephanie completed her Master of Applied Law (Family Law) and in 2021 she completed her Master of Applied Law (majoring in Family Dispute Resolution Practice). Stephanie is also a NMAS Nationally Accredited Mediator, has also completed her specialists training to become a qualified Collaborative Lawyer and is also a Parenting Coordinator and Conflict Coach. In 2021, Stephanie was a finalist in the Rising Star of the Year Award by the Women Lawyers Association of NSW. Stephanie is a skilled negotiator and regularly settles family law matters without the need for clients to proceed to Court. Stephanie recognises that dealing with separation is a stressful time for clients and her empathetic approach puts clients at ease. In addition to her dispute resolution strengths, Stephanie is also a strong advocate and has successfully represented clients in all areas of family law, including children’s matters, de-facto relationships, same sex relationships, spousal maintenance, property matters, child abduction and contravention applications. Stephanie will assist you resolve matters as quickly as possible and without protracted litigation by giving comprehensive and realistic advice.