Meet the team

More than 19 years’ experience in family law

Averil’s clients will tell you she is honest, clear, clever, responsive, strategic, focused on solutions and that she has a dry sense of humour.

Averil’s colleagues say she is kind, loud, hard-working, practical, level-headed, community-minded, sometimes demanding and fun.

Averil’s friends know her to be loyal, caring, reliable, a bit funny, a good parent, an excellent ocean swimmer and a keen golfer.

Averil will tell you she has an interest in working with clients interested in the collaboration process. She is, however, also a skilled litigator and advocate. Averil has broad experience and enjoys  drafting pre-nuptial and during relationship financial agreements for clients in all stages of life.

Averil will also tell you she has extensive experience advising clients with high net wealth, and an in-depth understanding of the additional needs of those working in emergency services, particularly those in the Australian Federal Police.

Averil is the current Co-Chair of the ACT Family Law Committee.

More than 16 years’ experience in family law

Brooke’s clients will tell you she is empathetic, calm, methodical, pragmatic and incredibly skilled at reducing conflict yet fierce (when required).

Brooke’s colleagues say she is compassionate and caring, thoughtful, wears her heart on her sleeve, chic but daggy and driven.

Brooke’s friends know her to be loyal, kind, patient, selfless, non-judgmental, a good parent and a sun-loving-horse-riding-wakeboarding-country-music-tragic.

Brooke will tell you she has expertise in all aspects of family law, including property and parenting matters, child support, spousal maintenance and de facto relationships. Her passion is Collaborative practice (being an Accredited Collaborative Law Practitioner) and resolving matters outside of the litigation space.

She has acted for clients in complex financial and parenting cases including international matters. Brooke has extensive experience in drafting complex agreements such as Financial Agreements (including pre-nuptial agreements).

Brooke’s tertiary studies in Psychology have equipped her with an understanding of the sensitivities that feature prominently in family law matters, particularly family violence matters and matters involving children with special needs.

Brooke is Co-Secretary of the Canberra Collaborative Family Lawyers Practice Group, a member of the Canberra Region Family Law Professionals Association and the Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia .

More than 11 years’ experience in family law

Lauren’s clients will tell you she is empathetic, practical, settlement-focussed, understanding, knowledgeable and insightful.

Lauren’s colleagues say she is delightful, entertaining, stylish, enthusiastic, approachable, respectful and that she has the worst ergononmic set up in the whole office.

Lauren’s friends know her to be smart, vivacious, outgoing, funny, quirky, a skilled make-up artist, dedicated to her pet cockatiels (Tony and Moira) and hopelessly into Eurovision.

More than four years’ experience in family law 

Chelsea’s clients will tell you she is understanding and compassionate, approachable, reassuring, a great listener and outcome-focused.

Chelsea’s colleagues will tell you she is calm, diligent, authentic, meticulous and someone who takes pride in her work and support of clients.

Chelsea’s friends know her to be considerate, loyal, honest, funny, a proud oodle parent, a foodie and a pilates addict.

Chelsea will tell you about her interest and experience with parenting matters, including complex matters, and her understanding of the intersection between family violence and risk to children. She has experience working in matters relating to international child abduction, care and protection matters and matters with culturally and linguistically diverse clients.

Samantha’s clients will tell you she is empathetic, reliable, attentive, supportive.

Samantha’s colleagues say she is adaptable, hard-working, approachable, collaborative and resourceful. They will also tell you they call her Sam.

Samantha’s friends will tell you she is a creative person, a DIY enthusiast, good listener, the master of multi-tasking, adventurous and proud dog mum to Billie and Bo.

Samantha says she is proactive and empathetic with strong problem-solving skills. She is efficient, yet thorough. Samantha adds a cost-effective element to all our client’s matters (working closely with the Partners and our Senior Associate) and enjoys working with clients as they move through their family law journey.