In the final part of our four-part series, hear from three leading Family law specialists as they explore which different ADR options, equipping you to properly advise your clients on which option will provide the best outcome for your client.

Presenters

Sarah Yigit, Associate, Pearson Emerson
Sarah Yigit is a Special Counsel at Pearson Emerson Family Lawyers, an Executive Councillor of the Young Lawyers branch of the Law Society of NSW and is the Chair of the NSW Young Lawyers Family Law Sub-Committee in the Law Society of NSW. Sarah was admitted to the Supreme Court of Victoria and the High Court of Australia in March 2021 and commenced practising as a family law solicitor in New South Wales in June 2021. Prior to joining Pearson Emerson in June 2021, Sarah worked as the Associate to the Deputy Chief Justice of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 1), as it is now known was, for two years, and prior to that as an Associate to two Judges of Division 2. Sarah has also worked and volunteered for over three years' in providing access to justice for victims of gender based violence. Sarah currently volunteers as a Family Law Solicitor for Marrickville Legal Centre. Sarah has a passion for promoting diversity, substantive equality and wellbeing in the profession and actively seeks to promote opportunity, community and support for Young Lawyers.


Sue Abrams, Director and Solicitor, Abrams Turner Whelan Family Lawyers
Sue Abrams was admitted as a Solicitor to the Supreme Court of New South Wales and the High Court of Australia in 1982 after completing her BA LLB at Macquarie University. Sue was initially employed as a Solicitor with McDonell Moffitt Dowling Tayler where she developed a broad base of experience in a cross-section of areas, including Family Law, Conveyancing and Estate matters. In 1986 Sue became an Associate Partner of McDonell Moffitt Dowling Tayler. In February 1989 Sue established the firm Abrams & Associates and remained the sole principal of that firm until 30 June 2008, when Abrams & Associates merged with Turner Whelan to become Abrams Turner Whelan Family Lawyers. Sue has practised extensively in Family Law throughout her career, but also has considerable experience in other areas of law, including Wills and Probate, Conveyancing and General Law. Sue became an Accredited Specialist in Family Law in 1994 and since 1995 Sue has practised exclusively in Family Law. Sue has also been trained as a Mediator at Bond University and in 2007 Sue completed the basic and advanced training in Collaborative Law. Sue is a member of the New South Wales Law Society and the Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia. She is an Associate of the Australian Institute of Family Law Arbitrators and Mediators, a member of Collaborative Practice (NSW), a founding member and current Co-President of the Central Sydney Collaborative Forum and a member of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals. Sue's many years of experience as a Specialist Family Lawyer have equipped her with a wealth of knowledge and understanding of the whole range of Family Law issues. Sue has particular expertise and experience in complex Family Law property matters involving Trusts, Companies, Share Option Plans, Superannuation and Pensions. Sue is also highly skilled at achieving negotiated outcomes for clients and has conducted a number of successful Collaborative Law and mediated matters. Sue has also presented various papers to the profession and other professional groups in relation to Collaborative Practice.


Shelby Timmins, Director, Divorce Done Differently
Shelby Timmins is an Accredited Family Law Specialist, who holds a Masters in Law from the University of Sydney, is a Nationally Accredited Mediator, Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner and Collaborative Professional. Shelby is a member of Collaborative Professionals NSW and President of Southern Sydney Collaborative Professionals. Shelby has over 18 years’ experience in Family Law and spent much of this at one of Sydney's most respected specialist Family Lawyer firms. Shelby is passionate about doing things differently in the family law space and is determined to get parties and their lawyers to look at separation, divorce and the breakdown of families in a more respectful and future focussed way. With this in mind, Shelby has recently stepped aside from practising law and established her own family law dispute resolution practice which specialises in mediation and collaborative practice. Her business is called DIVORCE DONE DIFFERENTLY.


Glenn Thompson OAM, Partner, Newnhams
Glenn Thompson is an accredited specialist in Family Law who is a Director of the firm Newnhams Solicitors. Glenn has specialised in Family Law for 38 years, is the Chair of the Specialist Accreditation Board in Family Law for NSW, is co-chair of the Family Law Committee of the Law Society of New South Wales, is a fellow of the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, and is on the Steering Committee of the Greater Sydney Family Law Pathways Network having been in the chair for 12 years. Glenn is also a member of College of Law Family Law Advisory Committee, and is an Adjunct Lecturer, Master of Laws (Applied Law) at the College of Law. Glenn became a qualified Arbitrator with AIFLAM on 31 October 2020 and a qualified Mediator with AIFLAM and NMAS on 30 May 2022. Glenn was a member of the Australian Law Reform Commission Advisory Committee in respect of the March 2019 report ‘Family Law for the Future – An Inquiry into the Family Law System’. Glenn was also a member of the Family Court’s Steering Committee on the Children’s Cases Program, the organising committee for the 14th National Family Law Conference held in Sydney 7-10 October 2014, and of the organising committee for the National Access to Justice and Pro Bono Conference held in Sydney 18-19 June 2015 as well as being a presenter. In 2010 Glenn was awarded the NSW Law Society President’s Medal in recognition of his significant personal and professional contributions to the betterment of law and justice in NSW and was one of three finalists for the Law Society Member of the Year in 2022. On 12 June 2017 Glenn was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for his services to Family Law and the Community. On 6 November 2016 Glenn completed the New York Marathon.

Family Law Essentials Series

This series will give you with the skills to take your practice to the next level. In this four-part series, hear from three FCFCOA Senior Judicial Registrars as they share their insights & discuss tips for young players. Gain an overview of issues to be considered in financial settlements, plus an explanation of Div7A, CGT and other tax implications. In Part four, an experienced panel of accredited specialists will discuss the different ADR options available.