Michelle has extensive experience in the law having worked as a solicitor for over 16 years in both private practice and government. Michelle’s practice areas include Family Law, Criminal Law and general Commercial, Property and Civil litigation.
Family Law and Intervention Orders
Michelle understands the unique interplay between Intervention Orders, Family Law proceedings and Criminal Law. Michelle represents both Applicants and Respondents in all Intervention Order hearings and related family violence offences.
Michelle accepts briefs to appear and advise in all areas of Family Law. She appears regularly in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia in both Parenting and Property related proceedings. Her significant experience in Criminal Law is of particular use in Parenting proceedings that involve the assessment of risk.
Mediation
Michelle is a Nationally Accredited Mediator accepting briefs as both mediator and Counsel. She is on the Magistrates' Court List of External Mediators and conducts mediations for civil disputes.
Commercial and Civil Litigation
Michelle has experience in general Commercial and Property Law, having worked on large, high- risk commercial transactions in the sale of business and property.
She has appeared in complex litigation proceedings for international clients, and she has a particular interest in the investigative analysis of complex factual disputes involving multiple parties and jurisdictional issues. Michelle has acted for clients in commercial dispute resolution, conducting trials and hearings with the use of interpreters, and calling overseas lawyers as expert witnesses on the application of foreign law in cross-jurisdictional matters.
Criminal Law
Michelle accepts briefs to appear and advise for both Defence and Prosecution in all Criminal Law and quasi- Criminal Law matters. Michelle regularly appears in the Supreme, County and Magistrates' Courts.
Michelle began her career as a criminal defence solicitor at Clarebrough Pica. Michelle was also a Judge’s Associate in the Criminal Division of the County Court. Previously, she practiced as a Federal Prosecutor at the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (CDPP) where she was in the Criminal Assets Branch specialising in Proceeds of Crime.
Prior to coming to the Bar, Michelle was a Managing Principal Solicitor in the Trial Division at the Office of Public Prosecutions (OPP) where she led a team of solicitors whilst conducting complex and high- profile indictable prosecutions across all Victorian jurisdictions including homicide, serious driving offences, family violence, property offences, fraud, and white-collar crime. Michelle was in the Specialist Sexual Offences Unit at the OPP for seven years.
In addition to the law, she has a Masters of Business Administration (MBA).
Michelle is a member of the Foley's List Committee.
Michelle read with Barnaby Johnston and her senior mentor is Mark Rochford KC.
