Gain insights and practical guidance to ensure you’re up to date on the latest cases and strategies on everything in relation to assessing contributions, distributions, addbacks, and hidden tax liabilities when dividing up the pool of assets in your property matters and financial settlements, from a stellar line-up of leading family law practitioners. Stay for the afternoon and gain all your CPD compulsory core units.

Presenters

Rachel Slat, Director, Slat Family Lawyers
Rachel Slat is an Accredited Specialist in family law. She has over 25 years of experience working on complicated financial and parenting cases. Voted as a Doyle’s Guide Recommended Leading Family & Divorce Lawyer in NSW every year since 2017, she has presented and chaired many CPD events. Rachel is trained as a collaborative lawyer, President of the Sydney CBD practice group for 7 years and President of the NSW governing body for 3 years. Rachel is a nationally accredited mediator, with a focus on financial disputes, some with attached parenting issues.


Elaine Clarke, Partner, Newnhams Solicitors
Elaine graduated from Macquarie University with a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Politics in 2013, and during her studies, was awarded the Macquarie University Prize for her achievements in the Family Law unit. Elaine joined Newnhams, which is a boutique family law firm, consistently recognized by the Doyle’s Guide, in July 2014 and since that time, has practiced almost exclusively in the area of family law. In 2019, Elaine received her Specialist Accreditation in Family Law from the New South Wales Law Society, undertook and became a Collaboratively Trained Lawyer and was named as a Doyle’s Guide ‘Rising Star’ for 2020. Elaine has experience in a variety of family law matters including financial, spousal maintenance, child support and parenting proceedings that involve multifaceted issues such as; property settlements involving complex corporate and trust structures, third parties and interveners, international aspects including parties/assets/entities that are overseas, multi-jurisdictional issues involving related proceedings in the Federal, Supreme and Criminal Courts, relocation of children and allegations of family violence/sexual abuse. Before joining Newnhams, Elaine worked in a commercial firm for 6 years, prior to and post completion of her degree, where she assisted and was exposed to a variety of matters, with a particular focus on insolvency and bankruptcy law. This experience has proven invaluable in respect of family law matters that include corporate and trust entities/issues.


Ms. Caroline Counsel, Managing Partner, Caroline Counsel Family Lawyers
Caroline Counsel is the principal of Caroline Counsel Family Lawyers: Better Families, Brighter Futures. She is an Accredited Family Law Specialist, trained as a Collaborative Lawyer and Mediator & Arbitrator and Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner of some 35+ years’ experience. Caroline is a Past President of the Law Institute of Victoria (2011) and Honorary Life Member. Caroline has been a Board member of the LIV, LCA and has been Co-Chair of the LIV’s Collaborative Practice Section and presently holds the Family Violence Portfolio for the Institute as well as Co-Chair of the Family Violence Working Group at the LIV. Caroline is a State government appointed member of the Industry Taskforce on Family Violence. She is one of the inaugural board members of the Victorian Legal Admissions Board (appointed by Victorian Attorney General June 2015) and still sits on the VLAB Board as well as the Admissions Committee.


Nicole Armstrong, Managing Director, The Relationship Practice NSW
Nicole Armstrong is committed to working with individuals and families who are experiencing conflict or issues within their relationships - past or present. Nicole’s approach is consultative and inclusive. Comfortable working within high conflict situations, Nicole has a strong understanding of family dynamics, with a special interest in working with adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse. (CSA) Her practice has been developed to assist people to manage relationship, parenting and conflict situations in their lives enabling them to move forward in positive and meaningful ways. Nicole’s corporate background is as a business owner of over twenty years in client focussed communication and mediation with ten years tertiary and postgraduate lecturing and mentoring in these fields. Her field of personal interest is ethics. Nicole's current research is in parental alienation and coercive control within and post relationships. Nicole practices as a Family Therapist alongside her practice as a Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner [FDRP].


Alison O’Neill, Clinical Psychologist, Sydney Collective Psychology
Alison O'Neill is an Australian-based health professional. Alison is trained as a Clinical Psychologist and Psychologist and practices in Sydney. Special interests: Clinical and forensic assessments and provides psychological treatment for children, adults and families in the criminal and civil domains.


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 practiced 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.


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 practiced as a solicitor in Sydney from July 1986, largely specializing 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. In 1996 and again in 2003 he obtained a certificate through the Law Council of Australia and National Legal Aid, relating to the representation of children. Currently he practices 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. From 1998 until 2011 he was also an active Director on the Board of Family Planning Association (NSW). Family Planning NSW is the organization to go to when it comes to reproductive and sexual health in NSW. They are an independent, not-for-profit organization focused on the promotion, collection and dissemination of reproductive and sexual health knowledge and information. Currently he is a Board Director of 3 Bridges. 3 Bridges is a community based organization which develops and provides a range of community and welfare services in the St George and Sutherland Districts. In 2002 he was appointed as an Arbitrator of the New South Wales Compensation Commission. This is a position to which he has actively held for over three years. Many of his judgments can be found on the website of the Workers Compensation Commission, at www.wcc.nsw.gov.au/decisions.asp In 2004 he was appointed a Mediator of the New South Wales Supreme Court. In 2004 he was appointed an Arbitrator of the New South Wales District Court. Since 2007 he has been a Commonwealth Government appointed Family Dispute Resolution mediator. Neil Jackson is presently an Arbitrator of the Local Court of New South Wales. He has, in recent years, regularly contributed by way of lectures and seminars in family law related issues through the New South Wales Young Lawyers Association, a branch of the Law Society of New South Wales; and the New South Wales College of Law.


Tijana Petkovic, Director, Blanchfield Nicholls
Tijana is one of the Directors at Blanchfield Nicholls, a leading Family Law practice in Sydney and Australia as recognised by the independently researched and peer nominated Doyles Guide from 2015-2023 inclusive. Tijana has practiced exclusively in family law for 15 years, and has experience in a variety of parenting and property matters, including acting for parties with significant asset pools, matters involving complex business structures, spousal maintenance claims, child abuse and child sexual abuse matters, overseas relocation, as well as representing third parties who have been joined to family law litigation. Tijana has a special interest and expertise in complex financial matters and matters with international elements including where jurisdiction is in dispute, assets are held across other jurisdictions, where a parent wants to relocate with the child overseas and matters pursuant to the Hague Child Abduction Convention. While Tijana regularly appears in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia as well as the Supreme Court and is a confident litigator, she is also trained and has experience in Collaborative Practice. She advises and guides families and individuals towards practical, amicable and respectful solutions to their family law problems and understands that litigation is a last resort for most clients. Tijana is on the Executive of the City of Sydney Law Society, serving as Secretary for a second term. Tijana is a member of the Family Law Section of The Law Council of Australia, International Academy of Collaborative Professionals, Collaborative Professionals NSW, Central Sydney Collaborative Forum and 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 ‘Family Law Rising Star NSW 2018’ by the Doyles Guide for 2018.


Rebecca Gilbert, Special Counsel, Pearson Emerson
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. Doyles Guide recognized Rebecca as a Rising Star in family law in the Australian Legal market for 2019. 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 minimize the stress which is often the result of difficult separations and the breakdown of families, and maximize 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.


Chris Ardagna, Partner, Pitcher Partners
Chris Ardagna is a partner in the tax consulting group of Pitcher Partners Sydney and has been advising on tax issues affecting large privately-, owned businesses and listed companies for over 15 years. Chris re-joined the firm in December 2018, having previously been a partner from 2007 - 2011. Prior to re-joining the firm, he was a tax partner at a boutique law firm for a number of years. Chris has experience in advising clients on a broad range of tax issues, including tax efficient structuring for investing in and out of Australia, corporate reorganisation strategies and cross-border employment issues. In addition, Chris has considerable experience dealing with disputes with the revenue authorities, including managing reviews and audits, seeking private rulings, objecting to assessments, appealing objection decisions and settling disputes with the revenue authorities. Recent examples of engagements include: Structuring of property development projects; Structuring of a proposed merger between Australian and US businesses in the IT industry; Capital gains tax and tax consolidations implications of corporate restructures ; Structuring of property financing arrangements; Resolution of long-running dispute with the Commissioner of Taxation involving various international tax and administrative law issues. Chris has also been working with high wealth families and privately held groups in relation to business succession and estate planning matters for almost 10 years. His problem-solving skills and practical approach, together with his tax knowledge, enable him to quickly understand the needs of his clients and provide them with commercially focused and tax efficient solutions. Having been involved in a number of family disputes arising from both a lack of planning for generational change and poorly drafted estate plans, Chris draws from that experience to ensure the appropriate estate and succession plans are in place for clients. This experience extends to: Structuring and managing inter-generational wealth transfer during the principal's lifetime; Structuring new and updating existing estate plans including the use of testamentary trusts ; Business succession planning including structuring buy-sell agreements, shareholder/unitholder agreements, and employee equity arrangements ; General asset protection strategies; Resolving disputes involving trust and estate assets and entitlements both through negotiation and litigation.