Law unto herself: How lawyer Rose Cocchiaro is helping Adelaide’s women rise to the top

The founder of an all-female law firm has made her next power move – bringing together “kick-arse, hardworking and career-driven women”.

The founder of an all-female law firm has launched a new networking and learning initiative in Adelaide aimed to bring together “kick-arse, hardworking and career-driven women”.

Rose Cocchiaro – who established award-winning Resolve Divorce nine years ago to offer an alternative to “conservative heavyweights practising traditional family law” – says she was inspired by her own experience.

“I felt resolved to start a business that brought about more equality, fairness and justice to the family law system … I built a solid network of people (which) continues to grow daily and is my ongoing source of inspiration and influence,” she said.

“The motivation behind ‘Rise with Resolve’ was to bring together a community that I knew existed here in Adelaide … (to allow them to) build their own inner circles of support, be vulnerable in a safe space and thrive in their own space.

All-female Adelaide law firm Resolve is trying to empower women across the state, launching a new business networking group. Resolve founder and director Rose Cocchiaro, right, with co-director, Chanel Martin in blue and senior lawyers Vanessa Camerlengo and Sophie Bell, left. Picture: Dean Martin

“Everyone in business has the same challenges, so it’s nice to find that commonality and camaraderie across different industries.

“Adelaide is a perfect place for connecting and networking; you can go anywhere and it is easy to come and know someone and reconnect with someone you haven’t seen for a while.

“The early feedback has been positive (such as), ‘It is so inspiring to meet other women in leadership positions who are juggling being wives, mothers and career boss b*tches!’.”

She said sessions aimed to provide a chance to both “learn from” and “lean on” other women.

“(It’s about) encouraging people to have a deeper connection and relationship by facilitating an environment purposely designed to talk about being in business, professional and personal challenges and a safe space to be vulnerable – with permission to do so.

“(At our first event) I found myself talking to lots of younger women about how I founded my business and built it to what it is today – how to be brave and take risks … manage the mother guilt … and deal with all sorts of judgment and criticism.”

The initiative is supporting the Jodi Lee Foundation, a local bowel cancer awareness and prevention charity. For more information, reach out to Ms Cocchiaro at Resolve Divorce.