Speakman Lawyers, Manly, QLD

I initially obtained my Bachelor of Laws degree in 1985 and at first practised as a barrister and later as a solicitor in partnership and private practice. I have now been a practising lawyer in family law for nearly 30 years and am admitted as a lawyer of the Supreme Court of Queensland and the High Court of Australia. In 1997 I obtained Queensland Law Society accreditation as an Accredited Family Law Specialist and continue to do so. Over this time I have undertaken a wide variety of family law matters, ranging from the relatively straight forward to the very complex, and in doing so have experienced the honour and pleasure of representing thousands of clients. I have also undertaken formal mediation training and am regularly appointed as a family law mediator by other lawyers and parties in dispute and conflict resolution. When required I have appeared as court advocate in many courts in Queensland and interstate including the Family Court of Australia in original and appellate jurisdictions, Supreme Court, District Court, Federal Court, Federal Circuit Court of Australia, and Magistrates Courts. In addition I have been appointed a Notary Public and provide a full range of notarial services. My active current memberships include the Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia, the Family Law Practitioner’s Association of Queensland and the Queensland Law Society, and The Society of Notaries of Queensland, Inc.