Eve Dougherty

Eve is a Senior Associate who is based in our Melbourne office, with vast and considerable experience in family & relationship law.

Eve has a keen interest in and enjoys complex areas of family law.

Eve is known for her calm approach and understands her clients are often navigating a highly emotional and challenging period in their lives. Eve provides her clients with measured, considered and strategic advice.

Eve takes a creative approach to resolving disputes in a swift and commercial way. She is a keen negotiator and strong supporter and dispute resolution options. However, where Court is necessary, Eve is an experienced litigator who will represent and support clients throughout the court process.

Eve meets clients where they are and walks with them through their legal journey as their advisor and representative, while they establish themselves in their new life stage.

Eve is an experienced international speaker, having presented at the World Congress on Family Law in Cambridge in 2025 and Children's Rights in 2025 and the International Access to Justice Forum in New York in 2025.

Experience

Eve's areas of expertise include:

• property settlements including high net worth property settlements and international property interests
• financial agreements, child support agreements and spousal maintenance matters
• children's matters including complex parenting disputes and family violence issues, and relocation matters
• international parenting matters including applications under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of Internation Child Abduction
• third party interests in family law proceedings
• de facto relationship threshold disputes
• LGBTIQA+ matters.

Career highlights

Eve's career highlights include:

• successfully obtaining a recovery order for three young children to be returned to her client's care after being retained by the other parent in an at-risk situation
• successfully defending an application for a property settlement on the basis that the alleged relationship did not meet the required threshold of a de facto relationship under the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth)
• completing an adult adoption for an adult child and their long-term foster mother to recognise their family relationship
• disputes involving corporate structures, trust structures, and business interests
• reuniting children with their other parent so that they could enjoy regular time after a period of no contact.

FAQs

How long will my family and relationship law matters take?

While there is no set answer, the more organised that you are and the more you are equipped with considered and strategic advice, then the more likely you are to resolve your matters in swift and commercial way.

Will this get easier?

Yes, but it can take time. Tell your representative what your ultimate goals are so that they can advise you and consider your goals when working with you to achieve your new 'normal.' Your representative will understand the difficulties that you are experiencing and work with you to shape your goals to finalise your matter and arrive at a positive new beginning for you.

View more commonly-asked questions about the legal aspects of family and relationship law in Australia here.