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Canberra Collaborative Family Lawyers
Not all lawyers advocate Collaborative Law to their clients. A group of local family law specialists are seeking to change that.
Canberra Collaborative Family Lawyers is a group that brings together Canberra’s leading Family Law Firms to assist families to keep away from Court.
The traditional role of the lawyer is to put on the boxing gloves and fight it out in the court, leaving the ultimate decision to the judge. Canberra Collaborative Family Lawyers encourage clients to choose Collaborative Law so that we can take the gloves off and work as a team to achieve a settlement that is controlled by the parties.
Canberra Collaborative Family Lawyers was established as a response to many lawyers shying away from Collaborative Law, choosing Court over Collaboration.
The collaboration between our local practice group members means that Canberra has a growing number of matters settling via Collaborative Law and avoiding the cost, delay and pain of litigation. The group aims to build trusting relationships between the lawyers across different firms so that the focus is on reaching agreement.
Find a Canberra Collaborative Lawyer
All of the members of Canberra Collaborative Family Lawyers offer a 20 minute free telephone appointment to discuss the merits of Collaboration.
Our members are listed below:
Anna Wynne
Anna Wynne & Associates
02 6190 6159
anna@awynnelegal.com.au
https://awynnelegal.com.au/
Free 20 Minute Discussion: Yes
“Using a collaborative process at separation means everyone in the team is using all their energy to problem solve and help the couple move forward. This results in creative outcomes focused on the family moving through separation with dignity.”
Averil Foster
Foster Johnson
02 6248 8477
afoster@fosterjohnson.com.au
www.fosterjohnson.com.au
Free 20 Minute Discussion: Yes
Collaboration allows parties to confine the issues to what’s important and relevant, and to resolve the property settlement in a time and cost efficient way.”
Brooke Johnson
Foster Johnson
02 6248 8477
bjohnson@fosterjohnson.com.au
www.fosterjohnson.com.au
Free 20 Minute Discussion: Yes
“Collaboration promotes and encourages a respectful working relationship between the parties which improves their relationship, to their benefit and most importantly to the benefit of their children.”
Claire Naidu
Claire Naidu & Co, Lawyers & Mediators
02 6109 0118
enquiries@clairenaidu.com.au
https://clairenaidu.com.au/
Free 20 Minute Discussion: Yes
“The collaborative family law process focuses on working together to obtain outcomes and resolution in family law matters without the intervention of the courts.”
Courtney Mullen
Foster Johnson
02 6248 8477
cmullen@fosterjohnson.com.au
www.fosterjohnson.com.au
Free 20 Minute Discussion: Yes
“Collaboration is a flexible process that is adaptable to your goals, interests and time frames and a great alternative dispute resolution model to the traditional adversarial approach.”
Cristina Huesch
Alliance Family Law
0499 003 302
cristina@familylawincanberra.com.au
www.familylawincanberra.com.au
Free 20 Minute Discussion: Yes
“Collaborative Law is ideal if you have young children and years of co-parenting ahead of you.”
Debra Parker
Parker Coles Curtis 
02 5114 2660
dparker@parkercolescurtis.com.au
https://parkercolescurtis.com.au/get-to-know-us/
Free 20 Minute Discussion: Yes
“It’s such a refreshing change. Collaboration is a process that turns traditional lawyer negotiation upside down. Instead of being destructive, the process is constructive and encourages trust between the parties and the lawyers and faith in the belief that you can settle issues amicably whilst respecting the other party’s needs as well as your own.”
Iveta Bales
Canberra Mediation Centre
0419 992 365
iveta@canberramediationcentre.com
https://www.canberramediationcentre.com/
Free 20 Minute Discussion: Yes
“As a team we can work towards a resolution instead of pulling in opposite directions.”
Jessica Kennedy
Farrar Gesini Dunn
02 6115 9000
j.kennedy@fgd.com.au
www.fgd.com.au/about-us/our-people/jessica-kennedy
Free 20 Minute Discussion: Yes
“Collaboration allows the lawyers to do what they do best – to use their legal skills to devise the best outcome for everyone involved. “
Kasey Fox
Settle By Sunday
02 6115 9000
k.fox@fgd.com.au
www.settlebysunday.com.au
Free 20 Minute Discussion: Yes
“Collaborative Law helps parents focus on what each of you want to achieve for yourself, your ex and most importantly your children.”
Ken Hubert
Capon & Hubert
02 6286 1977
ken@chsol.com.au
www.chsol.com.au
Free 20 Minute Discussion: Yes
“Collaboration has significant advantages when the parties are committed to resolving the matter out of Court.”
Olivia Gesini
Farrar Gesini Dunn
02 6115 9000
o.gesini@fgd.com.au
www.fgd.com.au
Free 20 Minute Discussion: Yes
“I recommend Collaborative Law to my clients, colleagues, friends and family – Why? Because it’s the best way I’ve found after more than 30 years in practice for couples to separate with dignity: by making their own decisions about what’s important to them and equipping them to deal respectfully with each other in the future. This is done with the help of trained legal problem-solvers who are creative and focused on getting couples to a win/win resolution bearing in mind the need to protect the couple and their children in the process. The outcomes achieved are tailor-made for the couple and are achieved in full knowledge of their entitlements under the Family Law Act.”
Perpetua Kish
Balance Family Law
02 6189 1748
perpetua@balancefamilylaw.com
https://balancefamilylaw.com.au
Free 20 Minute Discussion: Yes
“Collaboration allows for creative and ‘outside the box’ solutions to challenges facing couples and families after separation. Unlike Court, settlements can be reached taking into account the individual needs of the parties with solutions that contemplate finances and parenting now and in the future.”
Robert Routh
Farrar Gesini Dunn
02 6115 9000
r.routh@fgd.com.au
www.fgd.com.au/family-law/collaborative-law
Free 20 Minute Discussion: Yes
“The Collaborative Contract helps focus the mind of the parties and their solicitors on reaching an agreement rather than trying to win.”
Sally McGuinness
Robinson McGuinness Family Law
02 6225 7040
sm@rmfamilylaw.com.au
www.rmfamilylaw.com.au/sally-mcguinness/
Free 20 Minute Discussion: Yes
“In collaboration parties can focus on what is important to them and guide the outcomes accordingly”
Tanya Nadin
02 6299 3999
tnadin@bdn.com.au
www.bdn.com.au
“Collaboration is a process that allows parties to work together with their lawyers to achieve an outcome designed to meet their individual needs. You are not confined to what the Family Law Act says should occur but rather what works for you as individuals.”
Find a Non-Lawyer Collaborative Professional
Our members are listed below:
Amy McGinn
Amy McGinn (psychologist)
Breath Counselling and Mediation Services
0410 481 802
amy@breathmediation.com
https://www.breathmediation.com/about
Free 20 Minute Discussion: Yes
“Collaborative Law creates a space to work together as a team versus against and with blame. Creating a shift to deescalate the animosity in separation is paramount to me. Yesterday has passed, however today we can make a difference and each day ahead.”