Tuesday, 31 March 2026
From Trusts to Tax: Navigating the Legal Maze of Family Property Settlements
Family law property settlements are rarely confined to the four corners of the Family Law Act. In practice, they spill into a complex web of legal domains—where corporate structures, discretionary trusts, tax implications, bankruptcy, and estate planning all converge.
This session invites lawyers into the strategic heart of property disputes, where the legal terrain is anything but straightforward. Whether you're advising on a de facto split or navigating a high-net-worth separation, you'll gain practical insights to identify risks, protect client interests, and collaborate effectively across disciplines. Examine:
- The property settlement process
- Discretionary trusts and the interests of a beneficiary - a changing landscape
- The court's powers over corporate entities and third-party structures
- Taxation consequences in asset division
- The implication of death in family law proceedings
Presented by Chloe Rattray, Partner, and Prue McDonald, Senior Associate, Lander & Rogers
Description
Attend and earn 1 CPD unit in Substantive Law
This program is based on VIC legislation
* This interactive online recording includes questions and quizzes requiring critical thinking about the topics, so you have no annual limits to the number of points/hours you can claim with this format of learning. Please verify with your CPD rules
Chair
Elefteria Konstantinou, Barrister, Greens List
Presenters
Chloe Rattray, Partner, Lander & RogersChloe is a partner in Lander & Rogers' family and relationship law team. She is widely recognised for her dedication and personalised approach to family law and her clients. Chloe believes in the uniqueness of each client's circumstances, offering a high level of care and empathy to navigate through challenging times. Chloe's commitment to providing direct, thoughtful and commercially savvy advice in a clear and accessible manner ensures that clients are well-informed and feel supported throughout the process. She focuses on strategic early settlements to resolve matters efficiently, minimising the need for litigation and the stress it can entail. Chloe has been recognised as "One to Watch in Australia" by Best Lawyers for two consecutive years (2023 and 2024). She was also a finalist and the overall winner of the 2017 Lawyers Weekly 30 Under 30 awards for Family Law.
Prue McDonald, Senior Associate, Lander & Rogers
Prue is a Senior Associate in the Family & Relationship Law group at Lander & Rogers in Melbourne. She has a particular interest in complex property matters including those that intersect with trusts and equity. Prue was previously a Legal Associate in both the Newcastle and Melbourne registries of Division 1 of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia. Prue holds a Master of Laws from the University of Melbourne and a Graduate Diploma of Applied Law (Family Law) from the College of Law. She has also recently tutored family law in the JD program at the University of Melbourne.
Elefteria Konstantinou, Barrister, Greens List
Elefteria Konstantinou was admitted to practice in 1997 and came to the Bar in 2002. She practices in all State and Federal jurisdictions. Her particular focus is in wills and probate litigation. In addition to being experienced in Part IV claims made pursuant to the Administration & Probate Act 1958 Elefteria gives advice to estates where an approval of compromise is sought by reason of there being a minor or a specially represented beneficiary due to disability. She has an established practice in advising executors of estates and trustees for the purposes of applications made pursuant to O.54 of the Supreme Court (General Civil Procedure) Rules 2005 and the Trustee Act 1958. She regularly represents parties in mediations and is also briefed to assist parties in her role as mediator. Elefteria also presents regularly on Wills and Estates Law.
