The Team

Consensus Family Lawyers: a new way to resolve family law disputes

Farrar Gesini & Dunn are setting up a new legal practice called Consensus Family Lawyers to send a clear message to the Canberra community and beyond that there is a firm of family lawyers who are dedicated to resolving their clients’ problems without going to Court.

We have bought a team of people together at Consensus Family Lawyers who will use collaboration, mediation, facilitation or arbitration as the primary way to reach an outcome.

The establishment of Consensus is in response to our perception that there are at least two legitimate ways to resolve disputes which arise as a result of a couple separating and that conventional lawyers only address one of those ways.

The first is the traditional way which Farrar Gesini & Dunn will continue to practice. This involves identifying what problems need to be resolved, what are the relevant facts and identifying what the law would say is a fair solution to the problem. This is known as a “rights based” analysis. The practice then advises its clients on the most cost effective method of achieving that solution.

The second way which will be practised by Consensus Family Lawyers involves a commitment by its lawyers that they will exhaust non-court based processes to find solutions to their clients’ problems. Consensus will identify what is important to each party for example their contributions and what each party wants to achieve by way of their financial security, and their relationship with their children whilst finding a way to maintain effective communication and appropriate relationship with their former partner - in essence endeavouring to reach an outcome which reflects these ‘interests’ without resorting to Court. This is known as an ‘interest based’ analysis.

The Canberra family law landscape has now changed. Consensus will provide a solution for those who are separating and want to avoid Court at all costs.

http://www.consensusfamilylawyers.com.au