Maggie is an interdisciplinary family lawyer with an international background and experience across a diverse range of financial and parenting matters. She is passionate about empowering her clients through exploring legal options to suit their needs and is focused on delivering best-in-class outcomes for her clients with empathy, integrity and sound judgement. She enjoys advocacy in and out of court, consistently achieving positive outcomes her clients.
In her hybrid role as a Senior Associate and National Innovation Manager, Maggie is attuned to different and more effective ways of delivering legal services, especially in the unique area of family law. She has been practising exclusively in family law since 2017. She is recognised by Australasian Lawyer as a Rising Star 2024.
Growing up with Chinese-Cambodian heritage, Maggie is fluent in Mandarin and Cantonese. She has an extensive international family law practice, representing clients living in Australia and overseas as they navigate the Australian family law system. Maggie brings a cultural and linguistic understanding to her clients' circumstances which translates to her commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion within the workplace. Maggie enjoys mentoring young lawyers in an AI-integrated legal practice.
Experience
Maggie advises a broad range of clients in Australia and overseas and has deep experience with:
- disputes involving international elements, including for clients with assets held in Australia and abroad, successfully arguing the appropriate country for litigation to occur, and international relocation and abduction of children.
- intricate financial cases, catering to a diverse clientele, ranging from individuals with modest assets to high-net-worth clients with trusts and corporate interests, and complex valuations.
- complex parenting cases involving family violence, alienation and recovery of children.
- drafting financial agreements and child support agreements, including prenuptial style agreements as a form of asset planning.
- litigation in the Family Court of Western Australia (which is different to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia).
Career highlights
Maggie's career highlights include:
- successfully obtaining a Commonwealth Information Order to locate four young children for a vulnerable client and subsequently obtaining court orders for the reintroduction of the children to her client.
- advising and acting for clients living overseas including the UK, US, Canada, China, Hong Kong, India, Dubai and Singapore, who are seeking to relocate to Australia with young children and achieve financial independence following a separation.
- effectively securing Court orders for Indigenous clients to retain the care of their young grandchild so that the child may live with their kin rather than in foster homes.
FAQs
How long does it take to get a divorce?
In Australia, you need to be separated for 12 months before you can apply for a divorce. However, this does not prevent you from getting the ball rolling to finalise your property division and any issues relating to the children. In my experience, clients often try to finalise their property settlement and parenting issues, with a divorce order being obtained after these matters are finalised.
How will you deal with my ex who is completely unreasonable?
I am well-versed in dealing with difficult personalities and self-represented litigants. I remain professional in my interactions with them and avoid engaging in personal or emotional attacks. I rely on objective facts, clear boundaries and communicate only through formal channels (emails and letters) so that I remain a firm advocate for my clients. I work towards practical solutions and, where appropriate, involve mental health professionals and mediators.
View more commonly-asked questions about the legal aspects of family and relationship law in Australia here.