Our People

Our lawyers work in partnership with financial experts, mediators, counsellors and therapists to provide our clients with the widest range of expert services arising from relationship breakdown.

• Julie Dobinson (Director)
• Phillip Davey (Director)
• Lois Clifford (Director)
• Di Simpson (Director)
• Alison Osmand
• Gillian Yeend
• Rebecca Curran
• Juliet Behrens
• Jennifer Crawley
• Sally McGuinness

 

Julie Dobinson (Director)

Accredited Specialist—Family Law

Julie Dobinson has practised exclusively in family law since 1992 and holds Specialist Accreditation in Family Law.

Julie’s extensive experience spans all facets of family law and alternate dispute resolution and she is recognised as a leader in the field. She has a track record of excellent outcomes for clients and co-founded Collaborative Practice in the ACT. Julie holds a Master in Laws majoring in Dispute Resolution.

Julie has completed the Australian Institute of Family Law Arbitrators and Mediators Arbitration course and the Mediation Theory and Skills workshop at Bond University.

Julie is an executive member of the Family Pathways Network and a member of the Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia and a member of the Australian institute of Family lawyers and mediators as an Accredited Mediator and Arbitrator.

 

Phillip Davey (Director)

Accredited Specialist—Family Law

Phillip Davey has been in practice since 1981 and has extensive experience as a corporate and commercial lawyer, specialising in family law since 2000.

Prior to becoming an Accredited Specialist family lawyer, Phillip practiced in NSW as an Accredited Specialist in property law, which stimulated an interest in complex property matters, intricate financial structures and superannuation. He is also a co-founder of Collaborative Practice in the ACT.

He is Chair of the Collaborative Law Committee and a member of the Practice Management Committee of the ACT Law Society. He is also a member of the Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia and President of the National Centre of Collaborative Practice.

Phillip has recently completed the Mediation Theory and Skills workshop at Bond University. He is currently completing a Master of Laws, majoring in Dispute Resolution.

 

Lois Clifford (Director)

Accredited Specialist—Family Law

Lois Clifford is a director of the firm and has over 25 years experience practising as a lawyer with the last 20 years focusing on family law. She has been an Accredited Family Law Specialist with the NSW Law Society since 1994.

Lois has expertise in all areas of family, de facto and same sex couple disputes, specifically in complex property matters involving corporate structures, trusts, tax and superannuation issues, as well as sensitive and complex parenting, and intra and inter-national child disputes.

Lois tenaciously represents her clients in court but is also highly experienced and successful at consensual resolution of disputes consistent with just and equitable outcomes, including co-operative and collaborative law practice.

Currently Lois serves on the Family Law and Professional Complaints Committees of the ACT Law Society. She is also a member of the Family Law Section of the Law Council, and the Women Lawyers Association of the ACT, as well as a panel lawyer with the Women’s Legal Centre. Lois has also presented papers at specialist family law conferences.

 

Di Simpson (Director)

Di Simpson is a director of the firm and is an Accredited Family Law Specialist with the NSW Law Society. Di has practised exclusively in family law since 1992 after graduating from the University of Melbourne. Di has since worked with a national law firm and in boutique family law practices in Melbourne and Canberra before forming Dobinson Davey Clifford Simpson with her fellow directors in August 2007.

Di practises in all areas of family law and de facto relationships law, including property and financial matters, children’s disputes and child support matters. One of Di’s particular strengths is her ability to form strong and empathetic relationships with her clients.

She has particular interest and expertise in complex children’s matters, adoption matters and assisting same sex clients seeking equal recognition as parents and for the financial support of their children.  Di’s commitment to and support of her clients has included seeking legislative reform in certain areas impacting upon her clients and the wider community.

Di’s communication skills are exceptional and she is a persuasive advocate for her clients in the Family and Federal Magistrates Courts.

Di has undertaken training as an Independent Children’s Lawyer, in Collaborative Practice and specialist negotiation skills training with Professor John Wade.

Di is a member of the Family Law Section of the Law Council, a member of the Women Lawyers Association of the ACT and is a long standing volunteer at and supporter of the ACT Womens Legal Centre.

 

Alison Osmand

Lawyer

Alison Osmand is a senior lawyer with the firm and an Accredited Family Law Specialist with the NSW Law Society. Alison obtained degrees in Arts and Laws from the Australian National University in Canberra. She was admitted to practice in October 1991 and has practised exclusively in the area of family law since that time.

Alison commenced her career in law at the Legal Aid Office (ACT). She went into private practice in 1998.

Throughout her career Alison has been involved in a number of committees including the ACT Continuing Legal Education Committee. She has also been involved as a board member for a number of community organisations.

Alison has a reputation for being both a strong litigator and negotiator. She is trained in collaborative practice.

Alison has extensive experience in complex family law disputes as well as in the representation of children in the Family Court. She has a special interest in relocation cases, in which she was awarded Childrens Lawyer of the Year.

 

Gillian Yeend

Lawyer

Gillian Yeend is a senior lawyer with the firm and has practiced exclusively in the area of family law since 2001.

Gillian obtained degrees in Arts and Laws from the University of Newcastle and has worked in specialist family law firms and the family law section of a commercial firm. Prior to joining the firm, Gillian was the Director of a boutique family law practice.

Gillian’s experience in litigated and negotiated matters includes complex financial issues and she utilises her previous experience to achieve financially advantageous outcomes for her clients. Gillian also regularly acts for clients with difficult parenting disputes, child support and spousal maintenance issues and she uses her problem solving skills to achieve sustainable outcomes for her clients.

Gillian regularly appears in the Family Court and Federal Magistrates Court and is a strong advocate for her clients. Her experience and understanding of the processes involved in litigation allow her to assist clients in reaching a positive outcome while minimising cost and delays. Gillian also has specialist training as an Independent Children’s Lawyer and in Collaborative Law and she can explore non-litigation alternatives with clients in resolving their family law disputes.

Gillian volunteers her time at the ACT Women's Legal Centre and the ACT Law Society Legal Advice Bureau and is a member of the ACT Family Law Committee.

 

Rebecca Curran

Lawyer

Rebecca attended the Australian National University in Canberra where she obtained degrees in law and arts and a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice.

Rebecca was first admitted to practice law in 1993 and practiced as a solicitor in a variety areas of law including family law, employment law and civil practice as an employed solicitor and then partner in Canberra. Rebecca resided in Queensland from 2008 until 2012 with her family where she worked as a senior lawyer in a boutique family law practice and was then a Registrar of the Family Court of Australia and Federal Magistrates Court until she returned to Canberra in 2012.

Rebecca practises in all areas of family law and de facto relationships law, including property and financial matters and childrens matters. She also practices in wills and estates.

As a consequence of practicing in such a broad array of jurisdictions she has a broad knowledge of the law, the court system, and the litigation process. Rebecca’s extensive knowledge and experience is an advantage to her client’s as she presents as an informed and strong advocate in the court room and this correlates to advantageous outcomes for her clients however is also committed to alternative dispute resolution options including mediation, conferencing and collaboration.

Rebecca now practices in family law, care proceedings and wills and estates.

Rebecca holds a practicing certificate with the ACT Law Society and is a member of the Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia and is a member of the ACT Women’s Lawyers. Rebecca has undertaken training as an Independent Children’s Lawyer, in Collaborative Practice and mediation training while at the Family Court of Australia. Rebecca is a member of the Family Law Section of the Law Council, a member of the Women Lawyers Association of the ACT and is a soon to return to being a volunteer at and supporter of the ACT Womens Legal Centre and ACT Law Society legal Advice Bureau.

 

Juliet Behrens

Consultant Lawyer

Dr Juliet Behrens is an Associate Professor at the Australian National University’s College of Law. Juliet has been teaching, commenting on and researching family law since she arrived at the ANU from Tasmania in 1991.

Juliet is recognised as one of Australia’s leading family law academics. Her most recent book Australian Family Law: The Contemporary Context (co-authored with Professor Belinda Fehlberg) is used in many universities throughout Australia. Juliet is a long-standing member of the editorial board of the Australian Journal of Family Law, has been Chair of the ACT’s Domestic Violence Prevention Council and was on the Violence Sub-Committee of the Family Law Council. She is an invaluable resource to both the firm and clients.

 

Jennifer Crawley

Lawyer

Jennifer Crawley has practiced exclusively in the area of family law since 2008.

Jennifer studied at the University of Wollongong where she obtained the double degree of Laws and Arts (majoring in History).

Following her admission to practice in July 2008, Jennifer worked with a private law firm in Wollongong. Since relocating to Canberra in 2009 Jennifer has become a valuable member of our team.

Jennifer regularly appears in the Federal Magistrates Court, Family Court, the Children’s Court and the Magistrates Court of the ACT. She has experience in litigating and negotiating complex financial matters and intricate parenting disputes. Jennifer is also well versed in matters in relation to Child Support. She is an experienced Court advocate in both parenting and property settlement matters, as well as domestic violence matters.

Jennifer is able to assist her client’s in determining the process best matched to their situation, be that mediation, negotiation or litigation.

Jennifer is a member of the Legal Profession Act and Ethics Committee of the ACT Law Society. She is also an active committee member of the Young Lawyers Society and the ACT Women Lawyers Association.

Jennifer volunteers her time at the ACT Women’s Legal Centre.

Jennifer is one of our representatives to our regional colleagues for any agency work or direct referrals.

 

Sally McGuinness

Lawyer

Sally McGuinness completed her legal training in New South Wales and then worked as an Associate for a Justice of the New South Wales Supreme Court. Through her employment as an Associate, Sally developed a comprehensive understanding of court processes and procedures which she uses to assist clients manage their family law matters.

Since being admitted to practice, Sally has worked for a national law firm in a specialist litigation area before moving into the area of Family Law. Sally has worked exclusively in litigation and provides clients with practical advice on achievable outcomes for their matter. Sally has effective negotiation skills which she regularly uses to assist clients reach an early resolution of their property and parenting matters.

Sally volunteers at the ACT Women’s Legal Centre and the ACT Law Society Legal Advice Bureau.