Frank Chila

Modern Lawyer

Frank Chila is a Melbourne family lawyer with 17 years’ experience specialising in complex parenting and property disputes. Admitted to practice in 2009, Frank has only ever practiced in Family Law. He acts for clients across Melbourne, Cheltenham and Bayside, with a particular focus on high-conflict litigation and complex financial matters.

Frank is a “bigger-picture” lawyer – he starts with his clients’ realistic goals and works hard to achieve them, whether that means helping a family sort out an amicable separation with minimal conflict or fighting hard in Court.

Frank has particular expertise in:

Property Matters

• Property settlements involving complex financial structures, businesses, and high-net-worth assets
• Acting for the financially stronger party, including business owners and high net-worth individuals, to protect assets, business interests, and wealth
• Acting for the financially weaker party in matters involving significant financial disparity between the parties

Parenting Matters

• High-conflict parenting cases involving allegations of family violence (physical abuse, coercive control, parental alienation, emotional abuse)
• Relocation matters, where one party seeks to move to a different city or country with the children
• Recovery matters, where a parent has moved or relocated a child without prior agreement
• Urgent applications
• Schooling and medical disputes
• Acting for grandparents seeking time with grandchildren

Court Experience

Frank has extensive experience in high-conflict litigation before the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, regularly appearing in the Melbourne and Dandenong registries. These matters demand composure, strategic planning, and a proactive rather than reactive approach. Frank has a knack for understanding not only his clients and their needs, but also what motivates the other parties involved – critical in this area of law. He is compassionate with clients, but not a pushover, and isn’t afraid to fight hard when it’s needed.

Beyond high-conflict litigation, Frank is equally skilled at helping families who are doing their best to maintain an amicable, ongoing relationship and simply need guidance to sort out the legal side of their separation.

Qualifications & Memberships

• Law Institute of Victoria
• Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia
• Recognised in Doyle’s Guide as a Recommended Family & Divorce Lawyer – Melbourne (2021, 2022, 2025, 2026)

Working with Melbourne’s Migrant Families

Frank grew up in and around Melbourne’s east from Vermont to Glen Waverley, and now lives in Melbourne’s Bayside region. His family heritage is Italian – his Nonno and Nonna emigrated to Melbourne, and the family has called Melbourne home ever since. This background gives Frank a strong understanding of the cultural and family values often present in migrant families, and the nuanced ways both finances and child-rearing responsibilities can be structured within these family dynamics.

Beyond high-conflict litigation, Frank is equally skilled at helping families who are doing their best to maintain an amicable, ongoing relationship and simply need guidance to sort out the legal side of their separation.

Offices

Frank sees clients at our Melbourne CBD office on Bourke Street and our Cheltenham office in Melbourne’s Bayside region – conveniently serving families in Cheltenham, Sandringham, Mentone, Beaumaris, Highett, and the surrounding Bayside suburbs.

• Cheltenham office: 49 Ambrose Avenue, Cheltenham, Victoria 3192
• Suite 3, Level 15/385 Bourke St, Melbourne, Victoria 3000

Frank is one of only a small number of very experienced family lawyers seeing clients locally in Bayside, meaning families in the area don’t need to travel into the city for expert representation in parenting and property disputes.

Outside the Office

Outside of work, Frank has two children, two dogs – a Goldie named Winston and a Bulldog named Dougy. He’s a keen gym-goer and a big sports fan, especially AFL and basketball.

Book a time to meet with Frank: (03) 8376 7000 ; welcome@fgd.com.au

The title ‘Partner’ is used to identify the equity owners of Farrar Gesini Dunn which is the legal practice operated by FGD Pty Ltd. The title ‘Partner’ is not intended to signify that someone is a ‘Principal’. More >