Special Counsel – Family Law
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. The focus of her firm is with Family Law matters, Wills and Estates along with Estate Disputes.
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.