Liz is a partner in Lander & Rogers' Melbourne office and an accredited family law specialist. She is widely recognised by the legal industry as one of Australia's leading family lawyers, and is consistently acknowledged in national publications and at industry awards for her outstanding contributions to family law.
Liz holds a Master of Laws specialising in tax from the University of Melbourne and has a special interest in commercial and tax law issues relating to complex family law property cases. Liz relies on her unique depth of knowledge to pursue commercially favourable outcomes for her family law clients.
In addition to her experience with financial matters, Liz's practice extends to running both complex and straightforward children's matters. She is committed to supporting parents and families as they navigate new care arrangements for their children. Liz's experience also includes international parenting matters, involving child support, relocation, and recovery of children.
Liz is reassuring and empathetic in her approach with clients. She is their trusted advisor, with an intrinsic understanding of the challenges and hardship experienced by people contemplating or experiencing a separation. Having completed an undergraduate degree in psychology before studying law, Liz brings this additional knowledge and experience to her practice. She guides her clients through the family law process with measured, commercially focussed advice.
Liz is recognised in several categories in the 2021 to 2024 editions of the peer-reviewed Doyle's Guide. In 2023 and 2024 she was ranked among the leading family & divorce lawyers in Australia. Prior to that, from 2017 to 2020, she was named in Doyle's Guide as a Family Law Rising Star.
Since 2022, Liz has been recognised in the annual Best Lawyers in Australia publication for family law.
Experience
Liz's areas of expertise include:
- property settlements (including negotiated agreements, mediation and successful judgments in defended litigation)
- financial agreements for couples who are in or contemplating a de facto relationship or marriage, including for succession planning and intergenerational wealth preservation
- parenting arrangements for the care of children (including alternative dispute resolution, private mediation and litigation)
- advising clients on the wrongful removal of children to or from Australia and applications under the relevant Hague Convention
- family violence intervention orders, with a particular focus on coercive control
- making or defending urgent spousal maintenance applications
- negotiating private child support arrangements to cater for the specific educational and developmental needs of children.
Career highlights
Liz's career highlights include:
- assisting a client to resolve a property settlement and enter a personal insolvency agreement under Part X of the Bankruptcy Act 1966, together with ongoing negotiations with creditors
- resolving a complex taxation dispute arising out of contested enforcement proceedings seeking to enforce earlier property orders, on the question of what constitutes a "prepayment" of tax
- an application under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction for the return of children wrongfully removed from Australia to New Zealand
- a complex valuation dispute relating to the appropriateness and quantum of discounts to be applied to the value of a corporate structure to recognise minority interests, lack of marketability, risk, and net present value.
Client feedback
"Liz helped me navigate the unfamiliar world of family law with empathy, incredible knowledge and genuine warmth. Her direct and honest approach garnered my trust from the outset. I was in expert hands. I had the sense that Liz was invested in me. Her formidable intellect, combined with her humanity ensured the best possible experience and outcome for which I will be forever grateful. I simply cannot recommend her more highly."
"Liz was professional, calm, thorough and wise throughout the process. She handled opposing counsel with zen-like calm and flawless logic. It was truly impressive. She was an absolute pleasure to deal with, and her supportive and compassionate counsel was invaluable to me. I sincerely hope I never again require her services, but to anyone in the position of navigating their way through this process, I could not recommend her too highly."
FAQs
Will I have to go to court?
Liz aims to settle cases for her clients by private negotiation or mediation. In some cases, the quickest and most cost-effective way to bring about a resolution by agreement is to start the court process. Liz provides expert advice and strategy for clients who need to commence litigation, with a view to achieving a fair and prompt resolution.
What can I expect from my lawyer?
Liz supports her clients through every step of a separation and dispute resolution. She calls on a trusted network of psychologists, counsellors, tax professionals, financial advisers and valuers, so that her clients always have the best team to support them through the process.
View more commonly-asked questions about the legal aspects of family and relationship law in Australia here.