Farrar Gesini Dunn (FGD) is a family law and estates law legal practice with offices in Canberra, Sydney, and Melbourne.
The firm emphasises practicing law in a non-traditional way.
FGD was the first in Canberra and one of the first law firms in Australia to practice exclusively in family law.
FGD supports their clients resolving matters out of court wherever possible.
As at May 2018, the firm has three offices, eight directors and 48 staff.
The firm practices in the areas of family law (including pre-nuptial agreements), wills and estates, domestic violence, collaborative law, and superannuation. FGD elects to practice only in areas in which they specialise (and not as general legal practitioners).
History
The firm commenced on 1 July 1995 when Denis Farrar, Olivia Gesini and Jim Dunn formed a partnership together with an associate lawyer, Ann Northcote, and five support staff. They established a premises in the Prudential Building, on the corner of London Circuit & University Avenue, Canberra City. Due to growth, in April 1997 FGD moved to larger premises in the Colonial Mutual Building, 17-21 University Avenue, Canberra.
In December 2007, three of the partners opened an affiliated specialist superannuation and estate law firm called ‘Certus Law’, and in 2016 Certus Law merged with Farrar Gesini & Dunn to become Farrar Gesini Dunn, the firm’s current brand.
In 2008, Consensus Family Lawyers was added as a secondary brand, emphasising alternative means of dispute resolution. Consensus was absorbed back into the FGD brand in 2012.
In 2011, the firm opened its first interstate office in Melbourne, headed by Sarah Keenan.
In November 2014, the Canberra office relocated to the current premises in Rudd Street and became one of the first legal firms in Australia to embrace a paperless activity based workspace.
In 2017 the firm opened premises in Sydney.
Awards
Farrar Gesini Dunn has been acknowledged as specialists in both Family Law and Wills and Estate & Succession Planning by the prestigious Doyles Guide for the following accolades:
In 2017:
- First Tier Firm – Leading Wills, Estates & Succession Planning Law Firms – ACT, 2017 ;
- Second Tier Firm – Leading Wills & Estates Litigation Law Firms – ACT, 2017 ;
- Kathryn Heuer – Leading Lawyer – Leading Wills, Estates & Succession Planning Lawyers – ACT, 2017 and Recommended Lawyer – Leading Wills & Estates Litigation Lawyers – ACT, 2017;
- Timothy Morton – Preeminent Lawyer – Leading Wills, Estates & Succession Planning Lawyers – ACT, 2017 and Leading Lawyer – Leading Wills & Estates Litigation Lawyers – ACT, 2017.
- Denis Farrar has been listed as one of the territory’s Leading Family Lawyers for 2017 and Preeminent in his field.
- Juliette Ford has been listed as one of the territory’s Leading Family Lawyers for 2017, Leading in her field and a Leader in Leading Parenting, Custody & Children’s Matters Lawyers
- Kasey Fox has been listed as one of the territory’s Leading Family Lawyers for 2017 and Recommended in her field.
- Ann Northcote has been listed as one of the territory’s Leading Family Lawyers for 2017, Recommended in her field and a Leader in Leading Parenting, Custody & Children’s Matters Lawyers.
- Robert Routh has been listed as one of the territory’s Leading Family Lawyers for 2017 and Recommended in his field.
For More Information
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