If you are a family lawyer wanting practical guidance on the issues shaping current practice from the Judiciary, leading barristers and family law specialists, the Family Law Conference has what you need. Examine the latest family law property settlement decisions and reforms, effects of family violence and coercive control on property matters, explore trust structures, and post-Shinohara asset dissipation. Take a deep dive into the new material wastage provision, disclosure duties, FCFCOA practice, AI risk and governance and the preparation of persuasive affidavit evidence. Gain clear, practice-ready strategies from form experienced experts and leave better equipped to advise, manage risk and advance your clients’ matters with confidence.

Presenters

Catherine Spain, Barrister, Waratah Chambers
Catherine was admitted to the Bar in 2012 and has practised exclusively in the area of family law since that time. Catherine has appeared in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia in both first instance and appeal hearings and in the Supreme Court of NSW. Catherine also completed her mediation training through Bond University and mediates both parenting and property disputes. Catherine has been named as a recommended family law counsel in the Doyle’s Guide each year since 2016. Catherine is also a member of the NSW/ACT AFL Tribunal and the Australian Netball Tribunal.

Martina Storgato, Partner, Mills Oakley
Martina possesses significant experience in the family law jurisdiction and related areas, with extensive qualifications and legal experience spanning 25 years in civil litigation and practice in superior courts of Australia. Martina is highly regarded for her expertise in complex financial matters, matters involving bankruptcy, corporations, trusts and overseas assets, and intricate parenting matters involving criminal law aspects, third parties, local and international child abduction matters. Martina previously was the Principal of Thornton Storgato Law Pty Ltd from 2008 to 2023. Martina has demonstrated extensive experience in mediations and case management, accelerating her experience within Alternative Dispute Resolution and negotiation frameworks by training as a Mediator and Collaborative Lawyer. As a member of the Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia, Australian Institute of Family Law Arbitrators and Mediators and National Mediator Accreditation Scheme, Martina’s practice denotes that all issues are viewed from a balanced perspective with a focus on resolution to avoid litigation unless necessary.

Ian Coleman SC ADCJ, Culwulla Chambers
Acting Judge of the District Court of New South Wales. Judge Ian Coleman SC was admitted to practise as Solicitor Supreme Court of NSW 6 March 1974. Having gone to the NSW Bar in 1975 he practised as a barrister until 1991 when he was appointed to the trial division of the Family Court of Australia. In 1991 he was appointed to the Appeal Division Family Court of Australia and sat as a Western Plains Judge of the Family Court of Australia between 2009 and 2013 when he returned to practice at Culwulla Chambers. Ian practised at the Sydney Bar in the areas of agriculture, environment, mining, equity, commercial and complex family law property settlement, equity in family law and appeals. He is an arbitrator appointed pursuant to the Family Law Act, a nationally accredited mediator, an accredited mediator under the Farm Debt Mediation Act and on the panel of mediators for the Supreme and District Courts. Other positions he has held are Judge Advocate - Australian Defence Force 1992- 1997 and Commissioner, Australian Law Reform Commission January 1993- December 2003 and Adjunct Professor in the School of Law University of Western Sydney.

Alicia Elliott, Practice Director, Broun Abrahams Burreket
Alicia is an accredited specialist in family law with over 15 years of exclusive practice in the field. She is recognised in the 2025 Doyle’s Guide (New South Wales) as a pre-eminent parenting and children’s matters lawyer and a recommended leading family and divorce lawyer. Known for her clear, pragmatic advice and compassionate approach, Alicia helps clients navigate emotionally charged matters including parenting disputes involving family violence, addiction, mental health challenges, and international relocation. She also advises on high-value and complex financial matters, including trusts, overseas property, and business interests. Alicia is deeply committed to resolving disputes cost-effectively and in the best interests of her clients and their children.


Sarah Bevan, Principal, Sarah Bevan Family Lawyers
Sarah Bevan has practised exclusively in all aspects of family law since being admitted as a lawyer in 1999. She established her own firm in 2002 and obtained specialist accreditation in 2005. She has a specialist practice in international cases, both parenting and financial, and is also one of the few lawyers in Australia with extensive experience in fertility law, in particular surrogacy. She is currently the President of Surrogacy Australia. Sarah is also an Accredited Arbitrator, Mediator, a Collaborative lawyer and a highly experienced Independent Children's Lawyer. She is a regular presenter of continuing legal education in family law.

Her Honour Judge Gillian Eldershaw, Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia
Her Honour Judge Eldershaw is a Judge of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2) presiding over general federal law and family law matters. Her Honour was appointed to the Court in April 2022 after many years in practice, of which 14 years were at the NSW Bar specialising in family law and employment-related disciplinary matters, investigations and public inquiries. In 2004, Her Honour graduated from the University of Sydney with First Class Honours in Law and, for the next few years, was a solicitor at Allens Arthur Robinson (as it then was), where she worked as a commercial litigator. Her Honour also has extensive regulatory experience, having previously been a Member of the NSW Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority which oversaw the licensing of Crown Casino after the 2021 Bergin Review and other Royal Commissions, and the Inquiry into the Star Casino. Her Honour is well-known for her commitment to the profession in relation to training of advocacy skills, court craft and preparation of evidence. She is regularly invited by the NSW Bar Association to assist with the Bar Readers’ Course and conducts advocacy workshops for regional practitioners and Independent Children’s Lawyers.


Tijana Petkovic, Director, Blanchfield Nicholls Family & Privacy Advisory
Tijana is a Director at Blanchfield Nicholls, one of leading specialist family law firms in Sydney. Tijana has worked exclusively in family law since her admission over 18 years ago. Tijana has extensive experience in a variety of parenting and property matters, including acting in matters involving significant asset pools and where complex business structures are involved; representing third parties and interveners; spouse maintenance claims; parenting matters involving allegations of family violence, risk and abuse; overseas relocation and matters pursuant to The Hague Child Abduction Convention. Tijana particularly enjoys acting 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 also trained in Collaborative Practice. 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 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 2026′ and prior to that a ‘Family Law Rising Star NSW 2018’ by the independently researched and peer nominated Doyles Guide.


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 17 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, 2025 and 2026 editions of the Doyles Guide. In addition, Michael was recognised as among the Leading Parenting and Children’s matters barristers in the 2025 and 2026 editions of the Doyles Guide. Michael accepts briefs to appear in the city, suburban and regional Family Law Courts and Federal Circuit Courts.

Mark Anderson, Barrister, Frederick Jordan Chambers
Called to the Bar in 1990, Mark’s core areas of practice encompass family law, law relating to children’s care and protection and adoption. He has built a solid practice in these areas, with particular emphasis on appellate and prerogative relief advocacy.


Rebecca Gilbert, Partner, Pearson Emerson Family Law
Rebecca was admitted to practice as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of New South Wales and High Court in July 2013. She holds a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and a Bachelor of Arts from Macquarie University. She also holds a Masters of Law from Australian National University. Rebecca is a Family Law Specialist accredited by the Law Society of NSW. Rebecca has once again been recognised in Doyle’s 2026 Guide to the Australian Legal Market as a recommended practitioner for Parenting and Children’s Matters in New South Wales. Doyles Guide has previously recognised Rebecca as a Rising Star in family law in the Australian Legal market. Rebecca joined Pearson Emerson Family Lawyers in 2018 after practicing in family law as a solicitor for 5 years. During her time in practice, Rebecca has gained experience in all manner of family law matters, along with matters in other areas of law including conveyancing, family provision and estates, and civil litigation. Rebecca has refined her practice to work exclusively in Family Law and holds a passion for work on both complex property and parenting matters. She is focused on achieving results which minimise the stress which is often the result of difficult separations and the breakdown of families, and maximise the benefits for her clients.  Rebecca is collaboratively trained and can offer this as an alternative way for clients to reach a commercially sound resolution to their dispute.