Paula Pfingst.

Notable outcomes

• Successfully defended Application for Special Leave to appeal to the High Court – matter involved a dissection of the Hague Convention and International Child Abduction and its interplay with family violence legislative amendments

• Successfully appealed First Instance decision challenging the Trial Judge’s power to make Orders mandating specific therapeutic treatment – Oberlin v Infeld 2021 FamCAFC 66 

• Obtained Orders for clients to relocate with their children: 

  • Internationally, to London on a final basis;

  • Interstate, to Queensland on a final basis;

  • Interstate to South Australia on an interim basis and to remain on a final basis.

• Acted in a complex financial Final Hearing regarding the disposal of assets in China and dispute on ownership of other assets held internationally. Successful in bringing these assets into the property pool for the purpose of a settlement after cross-examination of the other party. Included obtaining expert evidence on Chinse Family Law and navigating the complex issue of ensuring admissibility of this evidence in Australia.

• Appeared in an Arbitration where confidentiality was a high priority and matter involved complex issues of equity. Successfully negotiated positive outcome ensuring client’s contributions, and other party’s equitable interests in property, were appropriately accounted for. 

• Negotiated property settlement involving net asset pool in excess of $130 million.

• Negotiated and drafted various Financial Agreements, particularly “prenups”, acting for parties seeking to protect significant family wealth and acting for the other parties to such agreement including negotiating fair outcomes which guarantee financial security (taking into account potential changes in circumstances such as future children).

• Acted for third party business associates in Final Hearing where the Wife seeking to deal with third party interests. Successfully negotiated an outcome which ensured the third party interests were not affected by the spouse party settlement and their legal fees were met by the spouse parties.

Qualifications, Committees & Memberships

• Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of Fine Arts (Creative and Professional Writing)

• Admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of Victoria and High Court of Australia

• A member of:

  • The Law Institute of Victoria

  • The Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia

  • Victorian Women Lawyers

  • LAWASIA, the Law Association for Asia and the Pacific

  • The Australian Chapter of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts