Presenters

Jason Walker, Partner, Forte Family Lawyers
Jason Walker is a partner of Forte Family Lawyers and has over 20 years of experience helping clients through family and relationship breakdown. He is accredited by the Law Institute of Victoria as a specialist in Family Law (2005). Jason has particular expertise in complex parenting matters and complex financial litigation. Jason’s practice includes international family law, often involving jurisdictional and forum disputes. He is a Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers, a worldwide association of practising lawyers who are recognised by their peers as the most experienced and skilled family law specialists in their respective countries. Jason is a member of the IAFL Executive Committee. In December 2018, Jason was elected as the Victorian solicitor representative to the Executive of the Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia, the peak national body for Lawyers. He is the current Deputy Chair of the Family Law Section. Jason is the editor of Australian Family Lawyer and regularly presents on family law issues. Jason has also served as the Chair of the Family Law Section of the Law Institute of Victoria. He was a founding member of the LIV Children’s Law Specialisation Advisory Committee, responsible for assessing and examining candidates for specialisation in Children’s Law. Jason is regularly named in the Doyle’s Guide list of Leading Family and Divorce Lawyers (Melbourne). Jason has also been ranked in the Doyle’s Guide list of Preeminent Family & Divorce Lawyers (Melbourne), Leading High-Value & Complex Property Matters Family Lawyers (Melbourne), and list of Preeminent Parenting & Children’s Matters Lawyers (Victoria). Doyle’s Guide is drawn from peer opinion. Jason is also named in Best Lawyers Australia.


Jeanette Swann, Barrister, Owen Dixon Chambers East
Before coming to the Bar in 2013, Jeanette Swann was a solicitor for over 18 years and was a director of a legal practice in Melbourne. Jeanette worked as a solicitor in city, suburban and rural practices. In addition to developing expertise as a family lawyer, Jeanette also gained many years of experience as a solicitor in handling general commercial, property, insolvency, common law and estate matters. Jeanette became a Victorian Accredited Family Law Specialist in 2001. Since coming to the Bar, Jeanette has practised exclusively in the area of family law. She is available to take briefs in all areas of family law and is available for interstate work. Jeanette has a particular interest in parenting cases with a relocation aspect, property matters, Binding Financial Agreements and appellate advocacy. Jeanette is also an experienced mediator. Jeanette has served for several years on the Foley’s List Committee and is the CPD Co-ordinator for the Family Law Bar Association.