Family Law and De Facto Relationships
Our Family Law Division is headed by Greg Dickson who was among the first lawyers in New South Wales to be accredited by the Law Society as a Specialist in this area.
We have an enviable success rate in achieving favourable outcomes for our client before hearing. Our approach is to consider alternatives to litigation at each stage of the case but to prosecute matters aggressively to hearing if it becomes obvious that negotiation and compromise will not achieve a suitable outcome for our clients. We regularly appear in the Family Court, the Federal Magistrate's Court, the Supreme, District and Local Courts exercising Family Court and Property (Relationships) Act Jurisdiction. We have considerable experience in helping to trace and unravel assets which might be concealed in complex corporate and trust holdings both in Australia and overseas. We have also considerable expertise in obtaining urgent orders concerning the location and return of children including urgent applications to prevent the unauthorised removal of children from Australia.
We understand the special pressures, both financial and emotional, brought to bear upon people involved in the break-down of a relationship and its aftermath. We also understand that every case in this area is different and requires an approach specifically tailored to the needs of the individual client. We take care to ensure that the resolution of your matter is focused upon the facts relevant to a determination of the issues in dispute and is not unnecessarily bogged down with irrelevant issues which do not advance your interests. We also understand that often these issues, whilst irrelevant to the Family Court, may have value to you and accordingly, we can advise you upon alternate means of achieving your objectives including directing you to the necessary counselling, medical, commercial or financial advice you or your partner may require to move forward.
Warren McKeon Dickson has extensive experience in the preparation of agreements for parties contemplating marriage or living together as a de facto couple or otherwise in a domestic relationship. We are also able to prepare an agreement for such couples on the termination of their relationship to obtain the finality and enforceability of a court order whilst avoiding the stress and expense of litigation.
The links below set out some questions which frequently arise when people are considering separation or have recently separated and also some practical suggestions to people who are involved in Family Law or De Facto Relationship litigation. Please contact us if we can be of any assistance to you, a friend or family member.
Links to:
Frequently asked questions
Suggestions to Litigants
Key People
Dean Groundwater
has 17 years experience including 7 years in the Business Services, Taxation and Insolvency Divisions of a major accounting firm. Dean’s practice includes drafting all types of commercial agreements, dispute resolution and commercial litigation ...read more
Denis Bowles
Denis Bowles has specialised in commercial law for the last 20 years. Denis has wide and valuable experience in commercial transactions and large scale sales and acquisitions, advising on contractual disputes and conducting commercial litigation ...read more
Craig Pryor
Craig Pryor has extensive experience advising on commercial contracts, conducting commercial litigation and civil litigation generally. Craig regularly advises clients on commercial matters relating to the Corporations Act and drafting commercial ...read more
Melissa Grant
Melissa’s practice covers property and commercial law, including conducting commercial litigation and bankruptcy and insolvency proceedings ...read more
Kara Yacoubian
has experience in general commercial law. Kara’s practice includes commercial litigation, debt recovery, bankruptcy, insolvency law matters and drafting commercial contracts such as confidentiality agreements and shareholders agreements ...read more

