Welcome, we’re glad you’re here.
We have many of ACT’s best family & wills lawyers and support our clients in resolving matters out of court whenever possible.
In the family law space, we advocate out of Court solutions and Collaborative law to help parties have a fast, amicable settlement wherever possible. Somebody’s ‘rights’ under the law are not the only thing that matters. But we also understand that tough skilled Court work is needed in some cases.
We are based in the Canberra CBD at Level 1, 10 Rudd Street, Canberra. Give us a call on 02 6115 9000.
Adam Bak
Partner
Adam joined the firm in 2006 and became a Partner in 2013. Having built his reputation as one of our best litigators, he has been recognised for several years as one of Canberra’s preeminent family lawyers. He is regularly referred new clients by people he has acted both for and against previously. Adam’s approach is assertive and proactive. He is outcome focused and not afraid to tackle apparently insurmountable challenges.
Ramya Balachandren
Partner
Ramya joined us after working in several Canberra based and national family law firms. Ramya has been practicing family law exclusively since her admission and is passionate about the intricacies and challenges involved in this area of law. Ramya’s empathetic and compassionate nature, coupled with her knowledge of the law, assists clients in getting through what is often one of the most difficult times of their lives.
Jim Dunn
CEO
Despite his youthful good looks Jim has in excess of 40 years of experience. Once upon a time Jim was one of Australia’s fiercest litigators; but having now attained a state of zen he is passionate about the benefits of collaboration for clients. When he isn’t reading books on why lawyers should eat bananas he manages to keep the rest of us feeling good about ourselves and he has steered the firm through 25 successful years (and counting).
Juliette Ford
Partner
Juliette joined Farrar Gesini Dunn in 2001 and became a Partner in 2003. She specialises in all areas of family law drawing upon her experience litigating, as a Registrar of the Court and in leading the practice of collaborative law. For Juliette what matters most is that her clients achieve outcomes that work for them and their family, allowing them to move forward with life. She provides her clients with clarity and certainty when the family law system can appear complex and litigious.
Kasey Fox
Partner
Kasey began her family law career with us back in 2004 and was made a Partner in 2013. Originally from Alice Springs, Kasey has made Canberra her home more than 17 years. She is pragmatic, thorough, passionate about her work and very protective of her clients. When necessary, Kasey is a fierce litigator, but she also is an advocate for Collaborative Law and tries to reach negotiated outcomes whenever possible.
Jessica Kennedy
Partner
Jessica is a highly accomplished legal professional dedicated to serving families and individuals navigating complex family law matters. With a formidable background in the field, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and unwavering commitment to achieving favourable outcomes for her clients. Specializing in family law, Jessica stands out as an exceptional lawyer, providing personalized and effective representation that clients can rely on.
Kirsty McLeod
Partner
Kirsty began her career in New Zealand but (fortunately for us) moved to Australia in 2010. She is our go-to person for surrogacy and parentage work (which is really complicated, so you’ll need an expert) and has spoken at conferences and even participated in a parliamentary roundtable inquiry on the subject. She has run lots of contested and tricky parenting cases. Kirsty also has a degree in economics, so she’s all over hard financial cases.
Robert Routh
Partner
Robert is a former Registrar of the Family Court of Australia and is also a registered Dispute Resolution Practitioner in Family Law. Robert’s experience of almost 35 years in Family Law and more than 20 years as a mediator has enabled him to assist many clients in resolving their legal issues at an early stage. His emphasis is in early settlement of legal disputes. Robert’s pragmatic approach to matters allows clients to focus on the “bigger picture”, and how a settlement can be best structured, to meet the client’s and their family’s needs.
Olivia Gesini
Senior Educator, Mentor and Strategist
Olivia has returned to FGD in her new Solicitor Training and Development role after 10 years exploring other areas of professional interest including designing and teaching Masters level Specialist Family Law courses at the ANU, working as Deputy Registrar of the High Court, co-writing a textbook on Family Law, and focussing on collaborative family law at a small boutique Canberra law firm.
In her current role, Olivia’s focus is on solicitor training and mentoring and providing high level strategy in complex cases. After more than 35 years in practice, Olivia has a lot to offer the solicitors in the firm, and through them the clients of the firm.
Jiaying Goh
Partner – Family Law Solicitor
Jiaying is an experienced lawyer holding a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Commerce from the Australian National University. She is a native Mandarin and English speaker, having grown up in both Taiwan and Australia.Jiaying appears in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra on a regular basis. Based currently in the Hills District of Sydney and working from our office near Martin Place metro station, she also travels regularly to Canberra and Melbourne to serve her client base there.
Anastasios Keramianakis
Partner – Family Law Solicitor
Over his years of practice, Tassi has built a reputation for being able to navigate difficult and high conflict family law matters. He holds a degree in accounting which gives him an edge in complex property and financial cases. He also regularly appears in Family Violence matters in the ACT Magistrates Court and handles family law matters that involve concurrent criminal proceedings.
Angela Li
Partner – Family Lawyer
Angela has been a family lawyer since 2014. She offers direct and honest, yet caring and compassionate legal advice. She is thorough and considered in her approach and assists clients in an efficient, pragmatic and solutions-focussed manner. Angela is experienced in all areas of family law but really shines when dealing with complicated financial matters and complex parenting matters.
Daniel Magnussen
Partner – Family Law Solicitor
Daniel is nationally recognised as a leading family lawyer having won the Lawyers Weekly 30 under 30: Family Law Award. Daniel specialises in litigation and is a fierce and confident advocate in the Family Court. He also understands when to advocate for alternate dispute resolution and is trained in Collaborative Law. Daniel is highly skilled in: complex negotiated property settlements, pre-nups/binding financial agreements, high conflict parenting disputes and relocation matters.
Renee Mastrolembo
Partner – Family Law Solicitor
Renee is a Partner at the firm, practicing exclusively in family law with a strong focus on complex property matters, parenting disputes, and family violence. She brings a strategic, outcome-focused approach to her work, underpinned by pragmatism and a commitment to delivering clear, practical advice. Renee is a skilled negotiator who thinks creatively to resolve matters efficiently and avoid unnecessary litigation.
Mary Saade
Family Lawyer
Mary is strategic and outcome focused in her approach. Mary is passionate about family law and working creatively to develop a strategy best suited to her clients in order to derive outcomes in their best interests and that are cost effective. Mary is a people person, takes pride in building rapport with people and getting to know them and their situation.
Isobel Spencer
Family Lawyer
Despite enrolling in a law degree, Isobel was initially adamant that she wouldn’t ever be a lawyer. However, a passion for people and a desire to have a genuine impact on their lives drew her into the family law jurisdiction, where she has practised since her admission. Isobel has a particular interest in parenting matters and strives to find a resolution for clients as efficiently as possible.
Melany Toombs
Family Lawyer
Melany formerly worked as a Legal Associate in the Family Court of Australia and is well-equipped with an understanding of complex parenting cases, particularly those involving questions of risk and what is in the child’s best interests. She has experience delving into unusual property matters involving superannuation and cryptocurrency. Melany 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.
Tom Fitzgerald
Family Lawyer
From the beginning of his professional career, Tom was drawn to the family law space by the opportunity to work closely with real people and navigate complex problems with them. There is no “one size fits all” in family law, and Tom appreciates the balance between guiding clients and understanding that they are the expert in their own lives.