Join leading barristers, accredited specialists and experts for a full-day advanced program examining the latest developments shaping family law practice. Unpack critical updates on Shinohara and addbacks, trusts and equitable interests, expert evidence, family violence reforms and key 2025 decisions. Delve into the ethics, professional skills and practice management that family lawyers need with practical guidance on managing high-conflict personalities, developing third-party joinder applications and meeting professional obligations in property matters. Essential for experienced family lawyers seeking current case law, practical strategies and expert insights for complex disputes.

Presenters

Roger Harper, Barrister, Culwulla Chambers
Roger Harper was admitted to the Bar in 2002. He was formerly employed as a solicitor in a general practice in Western Sydney. Between 1996 and 2002, he worked for the Legal Aid Commission of NSW; predominately in the Family Litigation section specialising in the representation of children. In 1999 I was accredited as a specialist in Family Law. He practices primarily in Family Law including property, private and public law children's and appellate work and over the past ten years my practice has shifted substantially to appearances and advice in complex financial matters. He is the contributing author to the Family Law enforcement chapter [205-7465]-, [205-7635] of Halsbury's Laws of Australia and the contributing headnote author to Family Law Reports (LexisNexis Australia).


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.

Tijana Petkovic, Director, Blanchfield Nicholls
Tijana has worked exclusively in family law since her admission over 15 years ago. She has experience in a variety of parenting and property matters, including acting in matters with significant asset pools, complex business structures, spousal maintenance claims, child abuse and child sexual abuse matters, overseas relocation and matters pursuant to The Hague Child Abduction Convention. Tijana has special expertise in family law matters with international elements including matters where jurisdiction is in dispute, assets are held across other jurisdictions and where a parent wants to relocate with the child overseas. Tijana is the current President of the City of Sydney Law Society, which represents more than 13,000 solicitors practising in the Sydney CBD region. Tijana is a member of the Family Law Section of The Law Council of Australia, Central Sydney Collaborative Forum, Collaborative Professionals of NSW, Australian Association of Collaborative Professionals and the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals. Tijana 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 ‘Recommended Parenting & Children’s Matters Lawyer NSW 2025′ and prior to that a ‘Family Law Rising Star NSW 2018’ by the independently researched and peer nominated Doyles Guide. Tijana joined Blanchfield Nicholls in 2014 and was appointed a Director in July 2016.

Rachel Slat, Director, Slat Family Lawyers
Rachel Slat is an Accredited Specialist in family law. Now in her 30th year of practise and with her own law firm, she is experienced in complicated financial and complex parenting cases. She has her own firm: Slat Family Lawyers in Sydney and has regularly been voted as a Doyle’s Guide Recommended Leading Family & Divorce Lawyer in NSW. Rachel is a nationally accredited mediator, with a focus on financial disputes. Trained as a collaborative lawyer, Rachel was President of the Sydney CBD practice group for 7 years and President of the NSW governing body for 3 years. Rachel has presented and chaired many CPD events.


Michael Todd, Barrister, Family Law Chambers
Michael was called to the Bar in 2018 and, since that time, has undertaken extensive work exclusively in the Family Law Jurisdiction, both at first instance and appellate level. He has conducted cases across the broad spectrum of Family Law and regularly appears in the Family Court of Australia, the Federal Circuit Court of Australia and the Full Court of the Family Court, both in New South Wales and interstate. Prior to being called to the bar, Michael was a Partner of a preeminent specialist Family Law firm in Sydney and frequently appeared as solicitor advocate. For over 15 years, Michael has practiced exclusively in the area of Family Law, and attained specialist accreditation in Family Law through the Law Society of New South Wales in 2015. Michael has developed a wide practice in Family Law and has substantial experience in all aspects of the jurisdiction; including: Complex parenting disputes involving issues such as relocation (intrastate, interstate and international); child abduction and recovery; alienation; mental illness; drugs and alcohol; Complex property disputes between married or de facto partners; Child support disputes; and Spouse Maintenance disputes. Michael is regularly invited to present papers and seminars, and was recognised as among the Leading Junior Counsel in Family Law in New South Wales in the 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 editions of the Doyles Guide. In addition, Michael was recognised as among the Leading Parenting and Children’s matters barristers in the 2025 edition of the Doyles Guide. Michael accepts briefs to appear in the city, suburban and regional Family Law Courts and Federal Circuit Courts.

Petros Macarounas, Barrister, Frederick Jordan Chambers
Petros Macarounas is a barrister at Frederick Jordan Chambers. He maintains a broad practice, with his core areas of focus encompassing commercial and equity, common law, family law and criminal law. He appears predominantly for plaintiffs in personal injury matters, and insurers in motor vehicle property litigation, and his commercial practice sees him acting for both individuals and small companies. Other matters to which his experience extends includes worker’s compensation, wills and probate, fraud, building and construction and property. Prior to being called to the Bar, Petros practised as a solicitor at Henry Davis York and McLachlan Chilton, where he gained significant experience in the areas in which he continues to practice, providing him with a well-balanced approach when representing clients.

Darrell Barnett SC, Banco Chambers
Darrell Barnett SC practices across the commercial, corporations and general equity fields. He is regularly briefed to advise and appear in cases involving Corporations Act issues, schemes of arrangement, insolvency, alleged breaches of directors’ duties, valuation disputes, large commercial, contractual and property disputes and difficult issues of statutory construction, trust law and equity. High value family law property disputes involving complex trust or valuation disputes are also a feature of Darrell’s practice (where he appears for parties to the marriage and third parties). Darrell has been involved in a number of class actions, most recently in relation to the marketing of complex financial products to retail consumers and defective motor vehicle actions. He also appeared in the Pharmacare proceedings arising out of the collapse of Pan Pharmaceuticals and the J&J/DePuy ASR class action in relation to claims brought in respect of defective medical devices. Darrell’s class action clients have included plaintiffs, defendants, litigation funders, and insurers. Prior to joining the Bar, Darrell was a solicitor at Freehills specialising in State stamp duties and the structuring of large commercial transactions. At the Bar, he has continued to advise on large and complex commercial transactions and is well regarded for his legal knowledge and thorough, strategic insights.

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. 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. 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. Neil Jackson is presently an Arbitrator of the Local Court of New South Wales.

Paul Livingstone, Barrister, Frederick Jordan Chambers
Paul’s primary area of practice is family law. He also possesses specialist expertise in complex financial disputes, succession and family provision matters, matrimonial property disputes, and matters concerning child welfare and adoption. Paul is also a registered and accredited Arbitrator for Family Law Property matters. The depth of Paul’s practice within these areas extends to appearing in complicated areas, including child gender reassignment, and in leading cases on the international relocation and abduction of children. His High Court practice has included a parenting dispute regarding changing a child’s name and another concerning the constitutional power of the Commonwealth to make laws in relation to the treatment of third parties to a marriage. Other jurisdictions in which Paul regularly appears includes the Family Court of Australia, Full Court of the Family Court and the Federal Circuit Court. His expansive practice also sees him appearing interstate, with regular appearances in the Northern Territory. In addition to his family law practice, Paul frequently appears in the Succession Act / Family Provision Act List. He is familiar with the law and practice in this area and has appeared for both plaintiffs as well as defendants, including major charities. Paul offers a ‘holistic’ service and provides significant support to his instructing solicitors throughout the entire litigation process; from drafting applications, to assisting with collating evidence and drafting affidavits. With considerable experience in mediations, Paul also works hard to reach the most favourable outcomes for his clients. Prior to being called to the Bar, Paul practised as a solicitor at specialist family law firm and was Associate to Judge Bell of the District Court of New South Wales. He holds a Master of Laws from the University of Sydney, a Bachelor of Laws from the University of New South Wales and a Bachelor of Arts from the Australian National University. He was previously a contributing author of the CCH De Facto Relationships loose-leaf service and has delivered various academic papers to the North Shore Family Lawyers Group and at various professional conferences.

Mia Madafferi, Founder, Grey Rock Consulting
Mia Madafferi is the founder of Grey Rock Consulting, a specialist litigation lawyer with nearly 20 years’ experience, and the first person in Australia to be certified by Rebecca Zung as a Master High Conflict Negotiation Coach. Through Grey Rock Consulting, Mia works with both individuals and lawyers, providing the insights and training to navigate high-conflict matters and the practical strategies to communicate and negotiate effectively with challenging personalities.