Geri has worked exclusively in family law for four years, both prior to and after her admission in August 2019. She is well versed in advising clients across a broad spectrum of family law issues and offers experience in complex and sensitive matters.
Geri's innate empathy, positive outlook and compassion enable her to provide a thoughtful and considered approach to clients during the most challenging of circumstances. She provides comprehensive and honest advice to ensure the best outcome or settlement for her clients.
Geri works with psychologists, valuers, accountants and financial planners to achieve the best results for clients.
She is a confident litigator and has experience appearing in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia for both property and parenting matters. However, her focus remains on alternative dispute resolution before recourse to litigation. She is particularly passionate about parenting matters and has significant experience in complex cases involving children. Geri also holds a psychology degree, which has equipped her with complementary skills that greatly assist in sensitive family law matters.
Experience
Geri has worked on a wide range of matters including parenting matters, de facto relationships, spousal maintenance, property matters, child support and family violence matters.
Geri's areas of expertise include:
- parenting matters for the care of children, involving serious allegations of family violence, high conflict parenting arrangements and mental health concerns, urgent applications for recovery orders and airport watchlist applications
- property matters, including asset pools with multiple corporate and trust structures and high net worth clients
- international family law issues, including Hague Convention applications and property cases with overseas assets
- drafting financial agreements for couples who are in or are contemplating a de facto relationship or marriage
- divorce
- child support
- litigation and alternative dispute resolution.
Career highlights
Geri's career highlights include:
- advocating on behalf of clients on Legal Aid in complex parenting cases
- successfully defending a Hague Convention application for the return of children
- advocating and negotiating on behalf of clients at alternative dispute resolutions and successfully reaching settlement without need for further litigation
- acting in complex parenting matters in which parents have experienced family violence and matters involving drug and alcohol abuse
- acting in court proceedings where final property and parenting orders were made, achieving a favourable outcome for the client.