GILLARD LAWYERS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Senior Associate / Ashlea
Taylor is a Newcastle born solicitor specialising predominately in family law, although she also assists clients with their estate planning needs. Ashlea was drawn to the law straight from school and has worked in the legal industry for more than 15 years - the majority of which has been almost exclusively in family law.
Ashlea has worked with recognised Accredited Specialists in family law for the duration of her experience and has gained invaluable knowledge, mentoring and insight as a result. Ashlea was admitted as a solicitor in 2018 and has represented many family law clients in the greater Newcastle area and beyond, who are going through a separation with property and children's matters.
A family law separation is a very stressful time for all parties. Throughout her vast experience, Ashlea has been exposed to matters of varying complexity and is well equipped with the skills to help with the burden of your family law matter to ensure that a resolution is achieved in the most clear and efficient way - reducing the stress, time and cost for you.
When going through a major event such as a separation, it is a timely reminder to ensure you have your estate planning documents in place and Ashlea can also assist you with preparing or updating your estate planning documents to ensure that they reflect your intentions regarding your estate, health and welfare into the future.
Ashlea is admitted as a solicitor to the High Court of Australia and the Supreme Court of New South Wales. Ashlea is a member of the NSW Law Society, Newcastle Law Society, Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia, the Hunter Valley Family Law Practitioners Association and the Greater Newcastle Family Law Pathways Network.
Cameron joined Gillard Family Lawyers in August 2019, bringing with him a vast array of knowledge and experience working as a legal assistant for the past 8 years. Cameron had a year hiatus away from family law whilst working in a commercial environment in Sydney however was eager to return to Newcastle and the field of family law.
Cameron has worked in areas of law including family, criminal, family provision, civil and commercial however has a particular interest in family law as he likes being able to help individuals and families going through difficult times. To further his skills, Cameron recently completed a Certificate IV in Business Administration (Legal) and is a Justice of the Peace in New South Wales.
He is organised, polite and has an efficient work ethic. Cameron prides himself on being able to work well under pressure and autonomously handle the requests of solicitors or clients.
Job Titles:
- Legal Secretary
- Practice Manager
Chloe is Gillard Family Lawyers Practice Manager and works closely with the Director of the firm.
Chloe has been a legal secretary since 2010 and has worked all over the country assisting in conveyancing, wills and estates, commercial litigation and criminal law. At Gillard Family Lawyers, she is now fully immersed into family law, after having joined the firm in May 2017.
Chloe enjoys being able to develop solid working and trusting relationships with the firm's clients, so that she can provide updates to both the client's and the lawyers on where individual client matters are currently sitting.
Chloe loves the variety of the work and the teamwork she experiences at Gillard Family Lawyers, with particular emphasis on working with and supporting Legal Aid clients, who often have complex needs.
Chloe enjoys the challenge of the work in a busy family law practice.
Georgi is our friendly and approachable receptionist who will welcome you to Gillard Family Lawyers both on the telephone and in person at our office. Georgi is ready to assist you with appointment bookings, payments and any general enquiries which you may have.
Georgi has over 10 years' experience in administration and customer service. Aside from being the first point of contact at Gillard Family Lawyers, Georgi is a great support to the Gillard Family Lawyers' team performing other tasks behind the scenes including creating files, typing dictation, appointment reminders, archiving and other administrative activities involved in the general day to day running of the firm.
Georgi enjoys interacting with and getting to know clients and visitors and her warmth and calm demeanor will put you at ease at what is often a stressful time in your life.
Karly is a legal assistant and supports our experienced family law solicitors.
She has worked as a family law assistant for 20 years and understands the needs of our clients and how to best support them during their family law property, parenting and divorce matters.
Luke joined Gillard Family Lawyers in May 2018 after working for nearly 10 years within the community legal sector, as a family law and duty solicitor at the Family and Federal Circuit Court in Newcastle.
Luke completed his Bachelor of Laws/Arts degree at Newcastle University, majoring with Honours in English and Classics. Luke is a well-respected practitioner, held in high regard from all levels of the legal profession. He is currently Chair of the Newcastle Family Law Pathways Network, which is the networking and training body of family law in Newcastle.
As a duty solicitor, Luke thrived on winning outcomes for clients with his persuasive arguments, having been only briefed on the matter just prior to court proceedings. As private practitioner Luke is now regularly briefed at short notice as an agent by firms outside of Newcastle to appear on their behalf in court. Luke has a knack for quickly identifying issues that are going to be favourably viewed in court to get the best outcome for clients, even in difficult circumstances.
Luke has extensive experience with recovery applications. His role within the community legal sector, saw Luke gain experience across parenting matters and recovery applications in domestic violence situations. He was also chosen to be the solicitor for victims of violence in the government funded Co-ordinated Family Dispute Resolution Program for 2 years. This came about because of his area of professional interest which is the effect that parenting matters can have in the psychological development of children.
Job Titles:
- Principal
- Solicitor
- Accredited Specialist
- Family Law Specialist
Michelle is an Accredited Specialist in Family Law and a Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner (FDRP). In 2023 and 2024 Michelle is recommended in the prestigious Doyles Guide for Leading Family & Divorce Lawyers in Newcastle, Hunter Valley and Central Coast.
Michelle has worked almost exclusively in the area of Family Law since being admitted as a solicitor in 2010. Michelle completed a Master of Applied Law (Family Law) in 2013.
Michelle is a tenacious and strong advocate for her clients. She regularly negotiates outstanding outcomes for clients in complex parenting matters and large property settlements that involve corporate structures and trusts. She has a strong focus on resolving matters for clients at the earliest possible time to minimise their costs and emotional distress. It is easier for a client to settle their matter when they have been provided with good legal advice of the possible outcomes of their matter. The advice is key to the client making an informed decision to settle.
Michelle understands that at the end of a day a client wants to know what to expect of the family law process. If their matter is in court, they want to know the range of possible outcomes at a directions hearing, interim hearing, or final hearing. Judges and Registrar's have some discretion in terms of the outcome of a court event. Lawyers are not able to predict every outcome, but a good lawyer will know and accurately predict the range of outcomes or orders to be made. This helps a client manage their emotions and expectations at a court event.
Michelle is also Independent Children's Lawyers and is appointed to act on behalf of children in complex parenting matters.
Michelle Gillard has been admitted to the High Court of Australia, the Supreme Court of New South Wales and the Supreme Court of Victoria. She is on the New South Wales Legal Aid Solicitors panel. She is also a member of the Family Law Council of Australia, the Law Society of NSW, the Law Society of Newcastle and the Hunter Valley Family Law Practitioners Association.
Olivia commenced her legal career in 2018 and has worked exclusively in family law for six years. Since graduating from the University of Newcastle with a Bachelor of Laws/Diploma in Legal Practice and Bachelor of Communications in 2021, Olivia has assisted her clients to achieve favourable outcomes in diverse parenting and property disputes.
Olivia understands that her clients are often experiencing one of the most difficult times in their lives and where possible, aims to ensure that clients attain a resolution to their family law matter in a cost effective and timely manner. Olivia regularly negotiates on behalf of her clients during mediations and is a strong advocate who often appears in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia. Olivia has experience in a wide range of matters, including; complex parenting matters involving risk and relocation, property settlements and divorce proceedings.
Olivia is a compassionate and empathetic lawyer who provides realistic and meticulous legal advice to ensure that her clients understand the family law processes and the range of outcomes that they are likely to achieve.
Olivia is admitted as a solicitor to the High Court of Australia and the Supreme Court of New South Wales. Olivia is a member of the NSW Law Society, Newcastle Law Society and the Hunter Valley Family Law Practitioners Association.
Job Titles:
- Family Law Solicitor
- Member of the Family Law Legal Aid Panel
Sophie completed a double degree in Politics and Law in 2018, and commenced working in the area of Family Law in 2019. Upon her admission as a solicitor in 2020, Sophie began practising predominantly in the area of family law, as well as associated areas of Wills and Estates, Conveyancing, and Crime. Finding her niche in Family Law, Sophie now almost exclusively practises in this area, assisting in the resolution of parenting disputes, property settlements, child support disputes and Applications for Divorce.
Sophie is a vibrant and approachable practitioner and enjoys assisting her clients through what is usually one of the most difficult and stressful periods of their lives. It is her aim to navigate clients as much as possible to a timely and amicable resolution to their dispute. Sophie adopts a supportive, personable, and pragmatic approach to family law practise. She regularly assists clients in resolving their disputes through negotiation, and mediation where possible, though if necessary, also advocating on her client's behalf before the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia.
Sophie is a member of the Family Law Legal Aid Panel, as well as a member of the Newcastle Law Society.