HEY FAMILY LAW - Key Persons
Anna Graduated with a Bachelor's degree in management in 2005 and a Juris Doctorate, with honors and certified specialisation in Commercial Law from Bond university in 2014. Anna was admitted as a solicitor in 2015 and has worked in both boutique and national firms in Brisbane and on the Gold Coast, primarily focused in Family Law,
In addition to Anna's experience in Family Law, she has practiced in Property Law, Commercial Law, Litigation and Wills and Estates. Anna's experience in an array of practice areas enables her to seamlessly navigate and settle Family Law disputes for her client's, specifically those involving complex trust and business structures, litigious disputes in other Courts and issues requiring litigation guardians or with capacity issues.
Anna started at the firm in June 2023 as a Senior Associate and undertakes the majority of the firm's matters where the Department of Child Protection Litigation is involved, including stepparent adoption matters, and child protection matters.
Anna has a keen interest in being involved in and settling matters which have been entangled in complex, often unnecessary and protracted litigation. Anna also has a keen interest in Financial Agreements, and specifically, litigation arising from attempts to have a Financial Agreement set aside or declared valid.
Originally from the Gold Coast, Anna has grown up and lived in a number of different countries, including New Zealand, America and Saudi Arabia, which has allowed Anna to foster a deep understanding of different cultures and the importance of culture and heritage in parenting disputes.
Anna is currently completing her Masters of Business Administration (MBA) at Otago University (NZ) and anticipates studying her Masters in Family Law, once she has graduated from her MBA.
Emma completed her degree at Bond University and was admitted as a lawyer to the Supreme Court of Queensland and High Court of Australia in early 2008. Since that time Emma has worked on the Gold Coast in several Family Law firms representing in both financial and parenting matters.
Emma took a break from Family Law to focus on her family, having had five children with her husband Andrew and has now returned to practise. Being based in Byron Bay means Emma is able to assist clients in the Northern Rivers area.
Throughout her career Emma has helped many client's navigate separation and divorce in a respectful manner. She is particularly interested in helping parties reach child focussed outcomes whilst minimising the impact to the children lives.
When Emma is not working she enjoys spending time with her family on their farm in the Byron Bay hinterland.
Jerome commenced working in the legal profession in 2006 upon completing his dual degrees in Law and Psychology.
Having attended the Southport School and Griffith University and working in local Family Law firms since graduation, Jerome has always called the Gold Coast home.
Being admitted as a lawyer in 2007 and working exclusively in Family Law since that time, achieving the Queensland Law Society Accreditation as a Specialist in Family Law in 2013 and having been a Partner in his previous firm for 5 years, Jerome is well versed in all things Family Law.
Jerome has been listed on the Doyles Guide in each year since 2020 as a Recommended Lawyer in the category Leading Family & Divorce Lawyers Gold Coast.
Having worked in boutique family law firms since admission, Jerome has a wealth of experience in representing clients through the various family law based areas, including property settlement and spousal maintenance, contested divorce, domestic violence, parenting and child support matters.
Jerome's niche is complex property settlement matters involving complicated business and trust structures although he takes a keen interest in parenting matters and advocating for the child's best interests being met in working towards an outcome in parenting matters where each child has a strong and meaningful relationship with both their parents.
Jerome is also a qualified mediator and brings that unique skill set to the table when negotiating client matters in the interests of early amicable resolution.
Outside work, you will find Jerome at a Collingwood AFL game (please forgive him!) and when the Pies aren't playing, with his Wife and two children.
Joel and Jerome worked together previously in another boutique family law firm before the stars aligned again in 2021. Joel is a fellow TSS old boy and Griffith University graduate, having completed dual degrees in both Law and Commerce. Joel joined the firm as an Associate and was promoted to the role of Senior Associate in August 2022.
Initially practising in commercial law and litigation after his admission helps Joel bring a well-rounded and commercially minded focus to his property settlement matters, especially when parties are required to commence proceedings. Joel is currently undertaking studies to become an Accredited Mediator and Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner, which Joel utilises to settle matters efficiently and on favourable terms.
Joel has a particular interest in complex parenting matters where there are risks to children and one party seeks sole parental Orders to ensure the children are kept safe from further harm.
Joel prides himself on providing well considered, pragmatic advice and works alongside client's other trusted advisors to achieve the best possible result for his clients.
Jordan commenced his legal career in family law firm in 2016 at a firm where he worked alongside several senior and well respected lawyers before joining Hey Family Law in early 2020 as an Associate.
Since December 2021, Jordan has been a Senior Associate of the firm and mentors Olivia, our associate and Rhiannon, our junior lawyer.
Jordan attended A.B. Patterson College and Griffith University and since completing his double degrees in law and commerce majoring in accounting, has practised exclusively in Family Law, after being admitted as a lawyer in the Supreme Court of Queensland in mid-2016.
A key focus of Jordan's practise is providing constant client communication on their matters to ensure they are updated frequently. Jordan has a particular interest in complex parenting matters including international relocation and the recovery of children taken by one parent interstate without the consent of the other parent or permission from the Court.
Maddie started with the firm in 2021 after coming highly recommended to us by a colleague. Maddie initially started as our first full time receptionist when we relocated to our current premises and has since then worked her way up the corporate ladder as a Paralegal, then Senior Paralegal to her current role as Practice Manager, following her promotion in March 2024.
Maddie is in charge of all things firm management related and provides much needed assistance to the Partners and the rest of the team in managing the day-to-day happenings at Hey Family Law.
As part of her new role, Maddie is in charge of all things social at the firm, so becomes the gatekeeper of the Christmas party location and other staff functions. We have had to make it clear to the other staff members that Maddie will not be open to bribes.
Monique completed dual degrees in 2023 at the Queensland University of Technology in Law, with Honours, and Fine Arts (Creative and Professional Writing), before being admitted as a Lawyer in December of 2023.
Prior to her admission, Monique gained experience in both Wills and Estates and Family Law at another local Gold Coast firm. This is where Monique discovered her interest in Family Law and hasn't looked back since.
Monique recognises that communication can be difficult at the best of times, let alone in the midst of stressful legal proceedings and with a passion for writing, she takes pride in helping clients effectively communicate their position to both the other party involved, and the Court.
Olivia completed her law degree with Southern Cross University and commenced working at Hey Family Law in 2020 as a law graduate.
Following the completion of the Practical Legal Training requirements, Olivia was admitted as a Legal Practitioner in June 2021 and in February 2023 Olivia was promoted to an Associate in recognition for all her hard work, dedication to the firm and service to our clients.
Olivia has always called the Gold Coast home, living and attending school locally. Olivia was able to remotely complete her degree whilst simultaneously working for various local small businesses.
Bringing to the table firsthand experience of how small businesses operate, Olivia is astute in guiding clients through the disclosure and valuation processes where business interests are concerned.
Olivia's niche in family law are dealing with discrete issues in parenting cases, including disputes relating to parents exercising their parental responsibility. She also takes great pride in being able to advise clients on their property settlement entitlements and advocating for such an outcome at mediation.
Outside work you will find Olivia sipping almond lattes with friends or down at the beach enjoying the Coast's endless summer.
Rhiannon completed dual degrees in 2021 at Griffith University in Law, with Honours, and Criminology before being admitted as a Solicitor in September 2022. During her studies, Rhiannon received the Griffith Award for Academic Excellence in 2020 and 2021.
Having worked solely in Family Law since her admission, Rhiannon gained experience at a local family law specialist firm before joining Hey Family Law in April 2023 to work alongside Jordan, a Senior Associate at the Firm.
Rhiannon's niche in Family Law is preserving co-parenting and child-parent relationships where appropriate and focusing on minimising the impact that separation can have on children. Rhiannon takes pride in her ability to assist parents in reaching outcomes in the best interests of children and in providing clients with support during what is often a difficult time in their lives.
Outside work you will find Rhiannon at local cafes having brunch with friends.
Having worked in family law since before obtaining her law degree with Honours in 2014, Toni-lee is an integral member of the Hey Family Law team.
Toni-lee brings with her a wealth of knowledge and experience having worked in a boutique, family law only practice her entire legal career.
Joining the firm as a Senior Associate in September 2020 and being promoted to Special Counsel in July 2022, Toni-lee handles all types of family law matters, with a particular niche in complex property settlements involving multiple parties as well as parenting matters where there is a risk to the children.
The rest of the team call upon Toni-lee as the resident expert on all things international law, especially where foreign investment and foreign trusts intersect with Australian family law.
Toni-lee assists clients in stressful and complicated matters with compassion, understanding and prides herself on her exemplary work product, attention to detail and client-focused, outcome driven manner. She continues to surprise the rest of the team with her ability to settle seemingly the most un-settleable matters with her unwavering drive to achieve a prompt resolution and to reach the best outcome for the individual client.
Originally hailing from the Apple Isle, Toni-lee has called the Gold Coast home since moving here to study locally at Bond University.