Presenters

Cathie Blanchfield, Principal, Blanchfield Nicholls Family & Private Advisory
Cathie Blanchfield has practised exclusively in family law and related areas since admission over 30 years ago. After some years in partnership with Stuart Fowler, in 2007 Cathie established Blanchfield Nicholls with Nigel Nicholls. Cathie has been named as a leading family lawyer in the Doyles Guide consistently since 2016, including in High Value and Complex Property Matters. She enjoys the challenges inherent in communicating sometimes difficult concepts in family law, and working to understand each client's particular needs and expectations while giving realistic advice. In 2025 Cathie’s long standing interest and expertise in drafting and advising clients in relation to financial agreements was recognized by her inclusion as one of 15 lawyers in the inaugural Doyle’s Guide list of leading pre-nuptial and financial agreement lawyers in Australia. Cathie has written and presented many papers on family law issues for members of the profession undertaking continuing legal education.

Amanda Nates, Assistant Director, Child Support Program, Services Australia
Amanda Nates is an Assistant Director in the Child Support Program branch within Services Australia with 20 years’ experience. Amanda has maintained a particular focus on the legislative provisions relevant to agreements, and on supporting legal practitioners to prepare agreements that are validly made and can be properly implemented.

Alfonso Layson, Principal Lawyer, Coleman Greig Lawyers
Alfonso Layson is a Principal Lawyer and Accredited Specialist in Coleman Greig’s Family Law Team. Alfonso has more than 10 years’ experience in Family Law. His key practice strengths include advocacy, pre-nuptial binding financial agreements, complex property matters, surrogacy and adoption, as well as Hague Convention matters. Alfonso has worked with a diverse range of clients throughout his career including representing industry professionals from employee level to Directors and Chief Executive Officers. Alfonso also has significant experience acting as an Independent Children’s Lawyer (ICL), a Court appointed advocate acting for children in high risk and highly contentious parenting matters. He is a confident advocate for his clients and has experience in all Family Law Courts, Family Mediation and other forms of dispute resolution. Alfonso is empathetic and approachable, communicating personally with his clients to cover all bases so that they are aware from the outset as to the prospects of their case.