Melany Toombs

Modern Lawyer

Melany has experience in high conflict parenting cases, particularly those involving questions of risk, parental alienation and recovery orders. She represents clients strongly in complex property matters, including unusual matters involving superannuation and cryptocurrency. Melany has also employed keen negotiation skills to secure outcomes for her clients in mediations and dispute resolution conferences that are more favourable to them than likely Court outcomes, without the need for protracted litigation. Melany focuses on getting clients to where they want to be efficiently and effectively, without extended correspondence.

Melany has been named as a 2025 Rising Star in the Doyles Guide for Family Law. Having formerly worked as a Legal Associate in the Family Court of Australia, she harnesses her keen legal research skills and meticulous attention to detail to ensure that clients receive high quality and long-lasting solutions to complex problems. She also brings a compassionate and considered approach when assisting clients, informed by her experience in community and pastoral care roles.

Real Person

Melany is passionate about fostering women’s participation in cycling and recently completed the 235km Peaks Challenge in 9.5 hours. She is a participant at Renew Anglican Church and organises youth adventure camps for ACT high school students.

Melany enjoyed researching Moroccan witchcraft and colonial law for her Honours Thesis, and was awarded the Global Undergraduate Award for Law for her research on Islamic architecture in Spain.

Coming from an interdisciplinary background, Melany loves thinking and writing about the law using creative approaches. She recently co-authored a chapter for the Cambridge Companion to Gender and Law with citizenship law expert and Co-Director of the 50/50 by 2030 Foundation, Professor Kim Rubenstein, as well as a chapter for the Edward Elgar Handbook of Migration and Human Rights.