Monique is a partner in Lander & Rogers' family & relationship law team, based in Sydney. She holds an accredited specialisation in family law and a Master of Laws specialising in family law and laws impacting families and children. Monique is recognised by the profession for her technical expertise, particularly in matters involving complex parenting and property issues.
Having worked solely in family law since 2007, Monique uses her significant experience to provide pragmatic, practical advice to clients to ensure an outcome that minimises, as far as possible, the stress of her clients in what is already a very difficult time in their lives. She is focused on finding strategic solutions for her clients and provides clear advice to assist her clients to resolve their concerns, whether by negotiation, mediation, or, where necessary, robust litigation.
Monique finds it particularly rewarding working with clients to protect assets from relationship breakdowns in the future. Monique specialises in drafting prenuptial binding financial agreements and providing asset protection advice for family offices, ultra-high and high-net worth clients, particularly where there are concerns regarding intergenerational wealth transfer. This includes drafting "mirror" prenuptial agreements where parties have a foreign agreement in place, and circumstances where there are assets in multiple overseas jurisdictions.
Monique has extensive experience in matters involving complex parenting issues and has a particular interest in matters that involve neurodivergent (including Autism/ASD and ADHD) parties and/or their children.
In recent years, Monique has also acted in a number of cases involving professional and farming families based in regional and rural Australia and understands the issues that often arise for families in these areas. Monique has an extensive network of referrers from the legal, financial and allied health sectors, with whom she regularly collaborates for the mutual benefit of her clients.
In addition to her practice, Monique lectured in family law at the University of Notre Dame from 2014 to 2022, leading her to develop a keen interest in working with and developing the talents of younger lawyers, which remains a continued focus of her role in Lander & Rogers' Family and Relationship Law team. Monique also routinely presents at seminars on family law.
Monique has been recognised by Doyle's Guide as a "Rising Star" in family law.
Experience
Monique's expertise includes:
- drafting and advising on binding financial agreements/prenuptial agreements and asset protection
- property settlements for married and de facto (cohabiting) couples, including property matters where parties have complex financial or corporate structures
- acting for third parties (including trusts, companies and extended family members)
- acting in disputes involving farms and rural property issues
- complex parenting (custody) matters, including matters involving neurodivergent (ASD/Autism and ADHD) parents and children. This includes matters with significant risk issues, including family violence/domestic violence, mental health and/or addiction
- matters where one or both parties reside overseas
- spousal maintenance (alimony)
- child support, including child support agreements.
Career highlights
Monique's experience includes:
- successfully defending a client from contempt of court charges
- securing an indemnity costs order for a client of over $500,000 where our client successfully established the parties had not been in a de facto relationship
- advising an ultra-high net worth family office in respect to asset protection in the context of a restructure and working with various family members on individual binding financial agreements and property settlements
- successfully appealing orders for the urgent removal of children from the custody of a parent and placement with grandparents.
Client feedback
"A quick note to say thank you for all advice and guidance throughout the process of my separation. You are obviously capable and experienced technically speaking but your pragmatic attitude was probably equally valuable."
"Thank you very much. I haven't stopped panicking yet that I have done enough for my children and I moving forward, but the last 2.5 years has taken its toll on me financially, but more recently, the emotional toll has been terrible. I just wanted it over. And I kept thinking of your reminder, that to keep fighting them meant so much more money, that I just don't have."
"Thank you for your work on this and for listening to the many painful what seem minor details & struggles I am facing."
FAQs
I want to protect my assets from a future relationship breakdown. How can I do that?
Under Australian law, the only means of protecting your assets from a potential legal claim by an ex-partner is by entering into a binding financial agreement (BFA), also known as a "prenup". A BFA determines from the outset how your respective assets will be divided, in the unfortunate event of a relationship breakdown, instead of a court determining the division of assets. Each party to a BFA needs to get independent legal advice. It is important to start this process as early as possible, so each party can properly consider their position and their lawyer's advice regarding the agreement.
Do I have to go to court to resolve parenting and property matters with my former partner/spouse?
No! The majority of family law matters will resolve outside of the court system, either by direct negotiations, or via mediation. We can then document your agreement to make it legally binding.
I haven't separated yet, but I am thinking about it. Do I need to be separated before I get legal advice?
You don't need to be separated before you get advice. Many people find it useful to understand what their options might be, if they do decide to make the decision to separate. We are happy to speak to clients about their situation before they have made a final decision about separation.
View more commonly-asked questions about the legal aspects of family and relationship law in Australia here.