Headquarters:
Melbourne
Year founded:
2013
Number of employees:
25
Phone:
03 8672 5222
Email:
admin@blackwoodfamilylawyers.com.au
Website:
blackwoodfamilylawyers.com.au
LinkedIn:
linkedin.com/company/blackwood-family-lawyers
“We love to win. We’re tenacious, and we believe in getting results”
Brett Vincent,
Vincent Young Lawyers
Wendy Jenkins
Founding Principal – Accredited Family Law Specialist
Marita Bajinskis
Founding Principal – Accredited Family Law Specialist
Caroline Khoury
Principal – Accredited Family Law Specialist
Leadership
Wendy Jenkins applies her detailed understanding and knowledge of the law in a practical way to achieve negotiated settlements and provide high-level representation for clients in court proceedings.
Wendy has particular expertise in the accounting and legal aspects of complex financial matters. She is committed to providing her clients with practical and innovative solutions for implementing settlements involving business structures and trusts.
Wendy also acts in complex children’s matters, including acting for grandparents and same sex couples. With a focus on empowering clients and keeping them informed, she has a reputation for professionalism and empathy.
Founding Principal – Accredited Family Law Specialist
Wendy Jenkins
Marita Bajinskis has a particular interest in and expertise in complex financial settlements. She has substantial experience acting in matters involving complicated business structures, many with multiple trusts, companies and self-managed superannuation funds.
Marita particularly enjoys the detective work involved in reviewing complex financial documents and in helping her clients unravel themselves or their spouses from companies, trusts and self-managed superannuation funds. She has a thorough understanding of business valuation and tax issues in family law.
Marita takes a practical and realistic approach to even the most intractable disputes. Her clients value her professionalism, understanding and caring approach.
Founding Principal – Accredited Family Law Specialist
Marita Bajinskis
Caroline Khoury’s clients benefit from her comprehensive knowledge of the law, pragmatism and outcome-oriented approach, coupled with her empathetic and understanding nature.
Her primary objective is to assist her clients in achieving a resolution in the most efficient and cost-effective manner while meeting their personal and commercial objectives. Caroline does this in a straightforward and easy-to-understand manner. Where litigation is necessary, she has extensive court experience, both as an advocate and as an instructing solicitor.
Caroline is experienced in negotiating complex property settlements that involve companies, trust structures and self-managed superannuation funds. She also assists clients with all aspects of parenting, including parental responsibility, living arrangements for children and relocation.
Principal – Accredited Family Law Specialist
Caroline Khoury
Leadership
“A true leader can see potential in different employees, regardless of their position. Listening and recognizing the value of each individual not only inspires them but also makes them grow professionally”
Saray Uribe,
CharSan Insurance & Consulting
Leadership
Cassandra Selvaggio
Principal – Accredited Family Law Specialist
Cassandra Selvaggio is a pragmatic and resourceful lawyer who combines her comprehensive knowledge of the law with a realistic approach.
She understands that being a family lawyer is about more than providing legal advice. She ensures that her clients feel supported and informed throughout the process. Cassandra’s clients value her professionalism and her friendly and compassionate nature.
In addition to her client-focused approach, Cassandra is passionate about maintaining expertise in the family law industry. She was recommended and appointed to the Law Institute of Victoria Family Law Specialisation Advisory Committee. The committee sets examinations for, and assesses, lawyers seeking to gain recognition as Accredited Specialists in Family Law.
Principal – Accredited Family Law Specialist
Cassandra Selvaggio
Stuart Logue
Interim CEO
Stuart Logue is the CFO and the Interim CEO of Flood Re, responsible for the planning, implementation and management of all aspects of Flood Re’s finance, accounting, capital management and reinsurance functions. He is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland and has previously worked in senior finance roles within Ageas, Direct Line Group and Royal Bank of Scotland across insurance and financial services.
Interim CEO
Stuart Logue
Blackwood Family Lawyers is a specialist family law firm located in the Melbourne CBD. The team, consisting of fifteen family lawyers, including nine accredited family law specialists, provides high-quality advice and representation in all aspects of family law, including separation and divorce, property settlements, parenting arrangements and child support.
With extensive experience, Blackwood can resolve most family law matters by agreement. When agreement is not possible, strong and expert representation is provided in court. The firm has significant experience handling complex family law cases.
Understanding the stress associated with relationship breakdowns, the team at Blackwood Family Lawyers helps clients move forward by offering clear advice on legal rights and entitlements and assisting in identifying their goals and priorities. The firm strives to empower clients to make informed decisions about their future and uses its experience to achieve the best possible outcomes. Clear and direct communication is a priority, avoiding legal jargon in favour of practical guidance and realistic advice, even when it is difficult to hear. Blackwood Family Lawyers is commercial, upfront and transparent about legal costs and genuinely cares about its clients.
Simon Green
Non-Executive Director and Chair of Remuneration Committee
Perry Thomas
Non-Executive Director and Chair of Risk and Capital Committee
Shirel Stedman
Non-Executive Director
Simon Williams
Chief Strategy & Distribution Officer, Arch Insurance International
and Active Underwriter, Syndicate 1955
Simon Green is a non-executive director. He is also a non-executive director of Arthur J. Gallagher, chair of the Risk Committee and chair of Pen Underwriting. Green has over 25 years of financial services experience, including 15 years at the financial regulator. He is also a senior independent director.
Non-Executive Director and Chair of Remuneration Committee
Simon Green
Perry Thomas is a non-executive director and chair of Risk and Capital Committee. He’s an actuary with over 30 years of experience in financial services in roles including CEO, CRO and group chief actuary. He’s held directorships in the UK, Bermuda, Ireland, India, South Africa, Malta and Luxembourg, and has been on the Council of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries. Thomas is dyslexic, which he believes can bring a different perspective.
Non-Executive Director and Chair of Risk and Capital Committee
Perry Thomas
Shirel Stedman is a non-executive director. She is also a fellow chartered member of the Institution of Civil Engineers (FICE) and the Chartered Institute of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM). Stedman brings over 30 years of experience as a civil engineer who has spent most of her career working on flood resilience, climate change and water issues across the public and private sectors.
Non-Executive Director
Shirel Stedman
Kimi leads the Estate Planning and Wealth Protection team and is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners. She understands the complex and delicate nature of family estate planning, the technical requirements around probate and estate administration, and the importance of preserving wealth for future generations. Her advice is accurate, commercial, strategic and tailored to each situation.
Partner
Kimi Shah
Kimi leads the Estate Planning and Wealth Protection team and is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners. She understands the complex and delicate nature of family estate planning, the technical requirements around probate and estate administration, and the importance of preserving wealth for future generations. Her advice is accurate, commercial, strategic and tailored to each situation.
Partner
Kimi Shah
Kimi leads the Estate Planning and Wealth Protection team and is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners. She understands the complex and delicate nature of family estate planning, the technical requirements around probate and estate administration, and the importance of preserving wealth for future generations. Her advice is accurate, commercial, strategic and tailored to each situation.
Partner
Kimi Shah
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Broker's Pick – Personal Accident and Illness Insurance
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Small business
“We believe in handling our clients’ matters as if they were our own, and with this approach, we seek solutions wherever possible”
Brett Vincent,
Vincent Young Lawyers
“Having four insurance designations, and the wealth of knowledge that comes with it, enables me to better counsel customers regarding the importance of having the appropriate insurance coverage”
Saray Uribe,
CharSan Insurance & Consulting
employee benefits
regional retail P&C
specialty P&C
underwriting
direct-to-consumer programs
Underscoring the value proposition the firm offers, Vincent says, “Our clients get direct access to our partners. We are always available, and we pride ourselves on being highly responsive. We are lean and efficient. Our work is of the quality of larger law firms, without the price tag.”
To operate optimally for clients, the firm engaged the founder of a major construction management company to be chairman. Under their guidance, Vincent Young has expanded its practice areas to include property, projects, commercial and insolvency law. Today, Vincent Young is advised by a chairman and two advisors, none of whom are lawyers, resulting in invaluable industry insight and client-side perspective.
“The balance between technical legal skills and proactive solutions lies at the heart of our business and our success in legal matters,” says Vincent. “We believe in handling our clients’ matters as if they were our own, and with this approach, we seek solutions wherever possible.”
more than $1 million in funds
over $2.3 million in combined monetary and in-kind donations through an annual World Food Derby initiative
2,320 volunteer hours to numerous deserving organizations, making a significant community impact
Alliant’s progress is set to continue, as underlined by Zimmer, who has confidence in the firm’s people to deliver continued excellence.
“We believe in our business plan, and it has proven successful. We don’t feel the need to change that. Our core business plan will continue to drive the company forward, complemented by new opportunities that may arise in the future.”
Turnaround time – claims
Turnaround time – new business
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02 9261 5900