About Us
Kathy Matri
Principal
Kathy originally had a successful career in the Finance and Insurance industry attaining a middle management position in one of Australia’s leading finance companies.
In 1995 she left the finance world to pursue a legal career. Kathy commenced her legal career with top tier firms in Sydney’s CBD in various paralegal roles. In 1998, she joined one of Newcastle’s leading law firms as a Paralegal Clerk.
Over the next 5 years and following her admission in 2001, Kathy ran a busy practice undertaking Personal Injury and Litigation. This involved work with leading insurer clients and attending court appearances both in the Workers Compensation Court and District Court.
In 2003 Kathy joined a Central Coast based firm to head up their Family Law team and became a Principal of the firm in April 2008. During this time Kathy pursued further legal studies and also underwent mediation training.
In 2012 the concept of East Coast Family Lawyers was born with Kathy commencing practice as a sole practitioner.
Kathy has assisted her clients over the years with experience gained in dealing with complex financial matters which include family trusts and unit trusts, corporate structures and self-managed superannuation funds. Kathy has appeared in many matters that have involved not only parties to a marriage but also business partners, and other relatives. Kathy understands the complexities modern family and business arrangements create.
Kathy often appears in parenting matters that range from parents seeking to agree on day to day care arrangements for their children or children that are at risk of harm due to the complexities brought about by issues such as mental health issues, drug and alcohol addictions and domestic violence. She has many years’ experience in both the Family Court but also the Childrens Court of NSW.
For many years Kathy served on the Steering Committee of the Family Law Pathways Network being a local community-based group set up to bring organisations together specialising in delivering Family Law Services to the community. This involved Psychologists, Counsellors, Police Officers and the like all coming together to meet and learn about the various support services they can each put their clients in touch with. As a direct consequence, Kathy developed strong community relationships which she often calls upon to assist her clients through the most difficult times of their lives.
Kathy is a practical lawyer preferring to canvas all avenues for settlement however does not shy away from litigation when necessary and can be a forceful advocate when required.
Kathy spends her spare time, with her husband, children, grandchildren and her Angus cattle on her farm.
Monique Allan
Lawyer
Monique commenced a Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Science at the University of Newcastle. In 2013 she completed her Bachelor of Science with a major in Psychology graduating with Distinction and being placed on the Faculty of Science commendation list twice. In 2014 she completed her law degree graduating with First Class Honours and a Diploma of Legal Practice. She was admitted to practice law in 2016.
While studying law full-time, she completed legal training at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the University of Newcastle Legal Centre and Legal Aid at Gosford. Monique is passionate about family law and works almost exclusively in that area.
Monique has an empathetic approach to the practice of family law and takes the time to listen to clients at what is a very difficult time in their lives.
She provides her clients with clear and practical advice and prides herself on being able to negotiate outcomes for clients to avoid commencing Court proceedings and minimise legal costs. However, if it is necessary to commence Court proceedings, Monique is a strong advocate for her client’s interests and achieves excellent outcomes for her clients. She regularly attends Conciliation Conferences and Mediations to negotiate outcomes for her clients.
Much of her work focuses on property and parenting family law matters. The breadth of her work is extensive, ranging from complex property matters, conducting matters that involve family trusts, unit trusts, companies, businesses, self-managed superannuation and investment properties.
Monique is also experienced in parenting and children’s matters and has conducted matters that involve domestic violence, drug abuse, alcohol abuse and adopted children. She is skilled in dealing with sensitive personal issues and has represented clients who have been subjected to ongoing domestic and family violence and also clients who suffer from mental health issues.
Most clients that Monique meets are going through the hardest time in their lives and can be experiencing the loss of spending time with their children, having to move out of their family home or financial hardship. Monique is compassionate and understanding and strives to achieve the best possible outcome for her clients within the family law framework.
In her spare time Monique likes to read, spend time with her fiancé, family and friends and watch her sister play soccer.