A baker’s dozen: Adelaide’s top family law and divorce lawyers who are helping families move on
For one of Adelaide’s top family lawyers, her own separation with two young children inspired her career path. Meet her and a dozen other experts in the field.
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It’s hard to imagine an area of law more important – or where there is more at stake – than family law, especially when it involves children.
It is also an intensely personal and emotional space where, like finding a good doctor, psychologist or financial planner, it’s crucial for a client to feel comfortable and supported; a professional who will suit one person, won’t necessarily suit another.
From a lawyer’s perspective, family law can be a challenging space but those that love the work tell of its great reward, referring to the “privilege of helping people during one of the most difficult periods of their life”.
SCROLL DOWN FOR SA’S TOP 13 DIVORCE LAWYERS
As Adelaide family law specialist Dimitra Tolis says: “There is nothing like the satisfaction I feel when a client who has come to me broken, afraid and in financial distress leaves my office when their matter is finished, safe, empowered, certain and financially secure”.
While Christopher Swan, who has witnessed the family law space evolve over four decades, says: “I have never met a client who knowingly entered into a relationship for it to fail and I get great satisfaction from helping clean up the mess of broken relationships”.
Barrister and arbitrator Mark Anderson sums it up like this: “Practitioners in the family law jurisdiction carry out vitally important work; it is exhausting, it can be and is often very sad – it can, on occasion, be uplifting and momentous”.
MORE: FULL LIST OF SA’S TOP CRIMINAL LAWYERS
Today The Advertiser profiles 13 standout lawyers working in the family law and divorce space, identified through conversations with clients, industry insiders and professional training institutions and affiliations – some have even been suggested by “rival” lawyers, held in such high regard and esteem. We ask, what it is they love most about their career of choice.
Many are proud advocates for collaborative practice, seeking to help their clients resolve their disputes away from the clogged courtroom where the process can be slow – often taking months or years – costly, time-consuming and stressful.
Some have fallen into family law, others have a long-held passion for it, driven by personal experience or interest in social justice.
Some have been helping families for decades, others are forging impressive paths in the family law space as relatively young lawyers, elevated to partners in firms and even bravely forming their own businesses.
Dimitra Tolis
The partner at Mile End-based Tolis & Co Lawyers was one of the first lawyers in South Australia to attain formal accreditation as a family law specialist but only after almost giving up a career in law for teaching.
As a young lawyer Dimitra Tolis worked across family law, criminal law, worker’s compensation and civil litigation, including with the Crown Solicitor’s Office, before specialising in family law in 1998 and joining Tolis & Co, where her business partner is husband Aris Tolis – an expert in civil litigation and estates – in 2000.
“What drew me to family law? You know what they say, it’s a funny story,” the mother-of-four laughs.
“Family law was a subject I never studied at university … in the first two or three years of my career I worked in civil litigation and criminal law.
“(At one point, working for the government in civil litigation), I was considering giving up law altogether and studying teaching.”
A “chance conversation” at a Glenelg cafe changed that with the offer of a new job, as a family lawyer.
“Luckily – for me and my clients – over the last 25 years I have had some brilliant mentors … (who) have guided me professionally and technically and provided support through the lens of their own understanding of the challenges family lawyers face,” she said.
“So … I think it’s not so much about what drew me to (family law) but what has drawn me to keep doing what can be very emotionally-taxing and sometimes frustrating work – particularly in complex parenting and children’s matters and where family violence features.”
Today she “pays it forward” at her alma mater, Flinders University, assisting with the family law curriculum and the post graduate degree. Two of her children have also chosen to pursue law.
Erica Panagakos
The impressive young family lawyer was made a partner aged 31, jointly launching her own firm – Clark Panagakos Family Law – less than three years later.
A refreshingly down-to-earth collaborative practitioner and mediator, Erica Panagakos graduated from The University of Adelaide with honours in 2010, working first in general practice.
“I have been a lawyer for almost 12 years,” Ms Panagakos said. “I have worked hard during my time in the law and am fortunate that I was raised by supportive parents and grandparents.
“My mother in particular continues to encourage and inspire me with her incredible work ethic and positive attitude.”
She says the chance to work closely with people drew her to family law.
“(Also) the creativity that comes with finding suitable and cost-effective solutions for my clients … I consider it a real privilege to advocate for clients during what is usually a terrible time in their life,” she said.
The young lawyer has joined forces with collaborative law pioneer Bev Clark to imagine a new Adelaide firm offering.
“We share the same values and I am proud of our commitment to ensuring that our clients’ needs always come first,” she said.
While her business partner describes the younger lawyer as being “client-centric, intelligent and pragmatic … (not) afraid of hard work”.
Selina Nikoloudakis
This partner at Andersons Solicitors which has its head office in Franklin St in the city – as well as sites at Morphett Vale, Murray Bridge, Port Adelaide, Nuriootpa and Woodville – is described as a “highly-credentialed and experienced family lawyer”.
Selina Nikoloudakis is also one of just half a dozen formally-accredited family law specialists in the state, practising solely in family law and is also a recognised collaboratively-trained practitioner.
She says after almost a decade and a half she remains passionate about an area of law that is “constant and constantly evolving”.
“I have always been a people’s person and committed to helping others navigate challenging situations … I was fortunate to commence my legal career in the area of family law (and) 14 years later, I continue to practice in (this space),” she said.
“Family law is almost always emotionally-charged and a separation can have a devastating and long-lasting impact on clients and their children.
“It is most rewarding to ultimately see matters resolve, allowing clients to begin a new chapter after what is a most challenging and emotionally taxing time … I feel that through my work as a family lawyer, I am able to genuinely help people when they need it most.”
Awards include: Finalist – Mentor of the Year – Lawyers Weekly Women in Law Awards 2021; Finalist – Mentor of the Year – Lawyers Weekly Australian Law Awards 2022; Leading Parenting, Custody & Children’s Matters Lawyer in South Australia – Doyles Guide – 2022 & 2023.
Brooke Kennedy
The lawyer at O’Loughlins Lawyers in the city is described as an empathetic and experienced family lawyer who “assists clients to resolve matters through mediation, and, when necessary, guides them through the litigation process”.
Family law, property settlement, parenting matters and grandparents issues are listed among Brooke Kennedy’s “areas of practice”.
“I have been a lawyer for over 15 years,” Ms Kennedy says. “What attracted me to family law, and what keeps me going, is the opportunity to help people during one of the most difficult periods of their life to achieve good outcomes about that which matters to them most.
“Although the work can be difficult at times, I am grateful for the opportunity to assist people to navigate the processes that best suit their needs and achieve, so they can transition to the next step in their lives with a positive outlook.”
Described on her firm’s website as having wide-ranging experience, representing “clients in complex parenting matters and property settlements”, extending also to “parenting matters, relocation and recovery matters involving children, reaching agreements by consent and formalising them by way of binding financial agreements or consent minutes and property settlements involving companies or trust structures”.
A fellow lawyer, at a competing firm, describes her as “smart, approachable and pragmatic … a pleasure to deal with’.
“(She) recognises the benefit to families of finding an out-of-court settlement rather than argue every point,” the lawyer said.
Client testimonial: “She was empathetic, while remaining professional, and assisted me to hold it together in my most fragile moments … empowered me to keep going, kept me well informed throughout the process … I felt she did everything she could to make me feel supported, comfortable and valued.”
Ryan Thomas
Partner and head of Andersons Solicitors’ family law department, Ryan Thomas is also co-chair of the Law Society of South Australia’s Family Law Committee.
Like colleague Selina Nikoloudakis, he is one of the few accredited family law specialists in the state, listing “complex family law property settlements, such as those involving businesses, trusts and self-managed super funds” as his area of interest.
“(My preference is) to use an alternative dispute resolution to settle disputes out of court by negotiation and/or mediation, however (I) will fight hard for a client’s rights in court when required,” he said.
“I was drawn to family law for a number of reasons; namely, because I wanted to work with people one-on-one, to help them through their legal problems … I find it fulfilling to be able to help people through what is often one of the most difficult times in their lives.”
He admits work life – and dealing with the fall out from separation on a daily basis – has its challenges.
“Two of the things that keep me going are watching my clients rebuild their lives after a separation and start to move forwards, as well as those special moments when you achieve really important outcomes for a client.”
Awards include: Recognised as a Leading Family & Divorce Lawyer Adelaide in Doyles Guide 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 & 2022; Recognised as Leading Family Lawyer South Australia (High-Value & Complex Property Matters) in Doyles Guide 2019, 2020, 2021 & 2022; Recognised as Leading Parenting, Custody and Children’s Matters Lawyer Adelaide in Doyles Guide 2019.
Shaya Lewis-Dermody
The award-winning founder of The Family Law Project (The FLP), which started in Adelaide and has now expanded nationally, began her career in a small general law firm in Port Pirie more than two decades ago, quickly moving to specialise in family law.
“The FLP was initially started due to my frustrations at the time on outdated business models of law firms and the difficulty that some clients had accessing legal services,” Shaya Lewis-Dermody said.
“We only offer our clients fixed fees and deliver services to keep them out of court, where possible. Being able to practice in this client-focused way in itself keeps me passionate about this area of law.”
The experienced lawyer is also a celebrated author; Separate Ways focuses on providing support around post-separation grief and loss while Secrets of a Divorce Lawyer provides practical tips on navigating “the complex family law system and to reduce their legal fees”.
“I continue to represent children as an ‘independent children’s lawyer’ and this work also keeps me engaged and driven to do my best for vulnerable children,” she said.
Awards include: Women in Law Awards winner, Thought Leader of the Year, in recognition of a commitment to educate in the family law space and break down the legalese in what can be an overwhelming family law system.
Tessa Hume
This former solicitor-turned barrister is readying to move to Hanson Chambers – a move she’ll make next week.
“I decided to specialise in family law 12 years ago because I realised that the breakdown of a family is one of the most significant and difficult situations that people face,” Ms Hume says.
“Having experienced a separation myself in my late 20s with two young children, I realised that my own experience could bring empathy to my client’s situations.
“Providing strategic, pragmatic and resolution-based advice is the most important role of a family lawyer … I also have a fair whack of fight in me, when a fight is needed.”
She says being “passionate about what I do” has sustained her through the sometimes challenging aspects of her work.
“That and excellent colleagues and mentors in the broader legal profession,” she said.
From next week her role will be “Tessa Hume Barrister – Hanson Chambers”.
“I continue to work in the Divorce and Family Law Jurisdiction but (now) my work is predominantly court based,” she said. “I am instructed to go to court by solicitors rather than clients directly.”
Mark Anderson
The barrister and arbitrator at Elizabeth Evatt Chambers has been “seriously practising in the (family law) jurisdiction since about 2013”, saying it “took over my life”.
“I started my practising life in commercial litigation in the summer of 2002, I worked in big firms (in Adelaide and Melbourne) where the billable hour was supreme,” Mark Anderson recalls.
“Then, I fell into family law … the family law jurisdiction is incredibly challenging.
“We are engaged to give blunt legal advice in times of incredible emotional and practical difficulty (but) blunt advice … on an almost daily basis, I am reminded about the importance that lawyers bring to clients and to society in general.”
Mr Anderson says despite its challenges, “family law is also rewarding”.
“It gives a practitioner the opportunity to change the lives of children and parents for the better,” he said.
“Family law judges, barristers and solicitors are constantly criticised in the media – some criticism (is) warranted, some criticism (is) not so warranted … from a general perspective, we are in good hands.
“A barrister may be disappointed if he or she fails to achieve the outcome sought by a litigant or an outcome which is not proper for the child and family concerned, however, society is doomed if we do not try … the whole family law system, and particularly the courts, service a complex and particularly high-risk client group”.
Rose Cocchiaro
Director and founder of all-female firm, Resolve Divorce, Rose Cocchiaro is a proud collaborative practitioner, accredited family law specialists – and certified divorce coach, an internationally-recognised qualification unique in SA to her firm.
“Our South Australian family law firm is dedicated to transforming the negative consequences
into positive outcomes … we understand the life-altering power of separation,” she said.
“(We know) that once couples separate, the way they decide to navigate their divorce journey can make all the difference to not just their families, but the community.”
The firm offers two streams of negotiation support – dubbed “Resolve Co-operate” and “Resolve Litigate”. “(Each offer) supported negotiations in or out of court for the individual and also for the couple,” Ms Cocchiaro said.
“Our aim is to improve the way people in our community experience divorce; we encourage more honesty, healthy dialogue, and fair play … we hold lawyers more accountable to the role they play in managing conflict.
“Simply put, we provide our clients with the advice they need to navigate the complex legal system while supporting them to see the bigger picture; one that their clear and objective selves will recognise when they come out of their divorce fog.”
Awards include: Finalist in 2019 Innovator of the year – Firm at the Women in law awards; 2018 Telstra Business Awards Emerging, Leading Family Law firm in the Doyle’s guide 2017, 2018 and 2019.
Bev Clark
The director and founder at Clark Panagakos Family Law, is well recognised for pioneering a collaborative approach to family law in this state, driven to ensure families can move on positively from a relationship breakdown.
“The social scientists tell us that it is not divorce that impacts children negatively but conflict,” the collaborative practitioner and nationally-accredited mediator said.
“I have been a family lawyer for 35 years (and) was drawn to this area of practice because it is work that gives me great satisfaction and a feeling that I am part of people’s solutions, not part of their problems.
“Family clients come to us at the worst time of their lives; they need empathetic professionals who understand the importance of helping them to transition from one household into two, in the least invasive, least destructive, and least costly way possible.
“Many clients arrive without fully appreciating the impact their dispute may have on their children and I feel our job is also to assist them to appreciate the ripple effect of conflict in families. “The door these confused and scared clients choose to walk through makes a massive difference to the outcome they get.”
Bev Clark says she considers it a privilege to “assist families in their transition”.
“Even though the work is demanding, both of time and emotion, it is truly rewarding on a personal level … I am blessed to have a team of professionals within my firm who make coming to work a joy,” she said
Christopher Swan
The principal at Swan Family Lawyers, located in Roper St in the city with four decades of experience, points to his mum and dad for his career choice.
“Both my parents and my teachers at St Ignatius instilled in me a strong sense of social justice,” Christopher Swan said.
“Upon my admission to practice 40 years ago I began work at Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement (in its) Port Augusta Office, having conduct of both criminal and family law matters. “In 1997, upon returning to Adelaide, I established Swan Family Lawyers and made the decision to become a specialist family lawyer.”
In 2007 he gained accreditation as a specialist in family law by the Law Society of South Australia – becoming one of just a handful with the formal qualification in this state – and two years later was awarded a Master of Mediation and Conflict Resolution from UniSA.
“I am one of the few lawyers in Adelaide who is also an accredited family dispute resolution practitioner … I am passionate about less adversarial dispute resolution because I know peacemaking can help participants move forward to resolve their family law disputes without the harm caused by litigation,” he said.
“I do not find the work of assisting clients who are going through one of the most traumatic periods of their life wearing but rather much enjoy assisting client’s move forward and develop options to resolve the issues that have brought them into conflict with their former partners.”
Wendy Barry
A partner at Tindall Gask Bentley Lawyers – a firm now spanning four states – the experienced lawyer’s “entire legal career has centred on the challenges that people face when entering or separating from relationships”.
The accredited family law specialist says she retains her drive to help people through their most traumatic times.
“As to what drew me to family law, it’s simple; the opportunity to help people through some of the toughest times they will experience in their lives and being a part of seeing them move onto independent and positive lives,” Wendy Barry told The Advertiser.
“It is incredibly rewarding to journey with them on their road to recovery after the devastating impact of separation on them, their family and finances.”
Profiled on her firm’s website, she is lauded for her “ability to listen to her clients with sensitivity, and get straight to the heart of the most diverse and daunting matters.
“An ideal outcome is one where the parties are assisted to negotiate an appropriate resolution to their dispute, and the ongoing parental relationship between the parties is preserved, because regardless of separation the parties will need to have continuing communications with one another, it reads.
Her firm boasts the largest family law practice in South Australia with 11 lawyers in its family law team, “focused on guiding its clients with compassion through the challenges that flow from relationship breakdowns, onto a path of clarity, wellbeing and a fresh start”.
Jessica Sinclair
The special counsel at Adelaide’s Pace Lawyers describes herself on LinkedIn as “the person that you see at family law events soaking up the atmosphere, learnings and opportunities to network”.
“I get quite passionate and argumentative particularly about children’s matters … I do not love dragging things out unnecessarily – life is for living.”
The Charles Darwin University graduate completed her Independent Children’s Lawyer education training with National Legal Aid.
Jessica Sinclair says “the opportunity to help people in a positive way during a difficult time” drew her to family law.
“In my eight years of practice, the work continues to be intellectually stimulating with new laws, societal norms and the complexities of relationships,” she said.
“I enjoy all aspects of family law including parenting, property, and surrogacy matters.
“I find personal fulfilment when finding common ground to negotiate and advocate for fair outcomes particularly with cases that involve vulnerable populations and risk to children.”
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