Our People

Leanne Abela
Principal Director

Having practiced family law for over three decades at Pearsons, Leanne knows what it takes to stand strong in a compassionate way. She’s passionate about the process of separating parties with dignity. When people ask her what she does for a living she smiles and says, “I make people happy!”

Leanne is a Director and Principal Lawyer of Pearsons Family Law and practices exclusively in the area of family law. Her focus always is to create a property division which provides for each of the parties’ rights and entitlements and at the same time achieves the results which, wherever possible, meets the parties’ needs. In doing so, Leanne’s aim is to be as efficient and cost effective as possible.

Interests

In Leanne’s spare time she enjoys spending time with her family, eating out, reading and going to the movies.

Qualifications & Memberships

• Bachelor of Law at Melbourne University (1986)
• Bachelor of Arts at Melbourne University (1984)
• Graduate Diploma in Family Law Mediation
• ‘Most outstanding student’ award in completion of Graduate Diploma in Family Law of Mediation in the Faculty of Law and Management (2000)
• Member of the Law Institute of Victoria

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Joseph Schepis
Principal Director

Joe strongly believes in going beyond his clients legal work to fully connect with them on a deeper level. This enables him to share the various options; empowering clients with the freedom to make informed decisions about what is best for them.

Helping clients navigate through the legal, emotional and financial ‘maze’ following separation, and seeing them emerge from the ‘dark tunnel’ gives Joe an immense sense of pride.

Joe graduated with a Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor of Law from Monash University. Having practised exclusively in Family Law since 1987, Joe was accredited as a Family Law Specialist by the Law Institute of Victoria in November 1992. Joe has since obtained a Graduate Diploma in Family Law Mediation from La Trobe University in 2001, and a Masters of Law with the College of Law.

Interests

Joe enjoys playing golf, travelling, camping as well as reading biographies and crime fiction.

Qualifications & Memberships

• Bachelor of Economics (1984)
• Bachelor of Law (1986)
• Graduate Diploma in Family Law Mediation (2001)
• Accredited Specialist in Family Law (by the LIV since 1992)
• Member of the Law Institute of Victoria
• Member of the Law Council of Australia (Family Law Section)

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Helen Chetcuti
Managing Solicitor

Helen had a prior career in Community Services offering advocacy and counselling support to women and children experiencing family violence. This means Helen gives us the added advantage of providing our clients with links to other agencies and support services they can access to assist them through separation.

Helen practices in all areas of Family Law including children, divorce, contravention applications, relocation and recovery matters, enforcement proceedings, Crimes Family Violence and complex property matters. Her approach to practice is to ensure that clients have all information available to promote a cost-effective quality resolution of their matter. “I enjoy Pearson’s down to earth approach. The partners are approachable for problem solving and assistance or simply brainstorming, so resolving a matter can come quickly”.

Interests

Helen enjoys spending time with her children, reading and socializing with friends. Helen also speaks Greek fluently.

Qualifications & Memberships

• Bachelor of Arts (Hons)
• Bachelor of Law
• Admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of Victoria
• Admitted to practice in the High Court of Australia
• Member of the Law Institute of Victoria
• Member of Victorian Women’s Lawyers
• Member of the Law Council of Australia

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Bani Mishra
Managing Solicitor

Bani inspires her team to deliver a friendly personalised service with a practical approach to resolving family law disputes. This is a strong fit with the firm’s non-pretentious, responsive and professional culture.

Bani is equipped with many years of Family Law experience in all aspects of family law including countless appearances before Family and Federal Circuit Court judges. She prides herself on her passion, patience and thorough approach to resolving family law disputes on behalf of her clients.

Interests

Her interests are in travel, international politics, community development and charity fundraising. She speaks Oriya and Conversational Hindi.

Qualifications & Memberships

• Bachelor of Law
• Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice
• Admitted to practice in the High Court of Australia
• Admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of Victoria
• Member of the Law Institute of Victoria
• Member of Victorian Women’s Lawyers
• Member of the Western Suburbs Legal Service
• Member of the Women’s Legal Service

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Jacqui Spry
Senior Associate Solicitor

Jacqui has spent her career specialising in Family Law and is passionate about bringing her expertise to her clients individual circumstances.

Her experience of more than 20 years, spans Federal, Magistrates Court and Family Court appearances;

• Litigating and negotiating children’s matters
• Litigating and negotiating property disputes
• Applications for Commonwealth Information Location Orders
• Applications for Recovery Orders
• Contravention proceedings
• Enforcement proceedings
• Divorce (both Applications and Defended)

Bringing strong and clear advice to her clients.

Interests

Family and travel are Jacqui’s two great passions. Along with exercise and her three dogs Jacqui is a strong advocate for finding balance in life.

Qualifications & Memberships

• Bachelor of Arts
• Bachelor of Law
• Member of the Law institute of Victoria
• Member of the Law Council of Australia

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Suzan Gurpinar
Senior Associate Solicitor

Suzan’s personal approach to working with her clients is to provide advice in plain English and deliver outcomes in a cost-effective and efficient manner. This fits with Pearsons long-term approach to let clients ‘Know where they stand’ upfront. This extends to breaking down the process of negotiations and court proceedings in order for clients to understand and be fully involved in the process.

Suzan graduated with a Bachelor of Laws in 2008. She subsequently completed her Practical Legal Training at the Leo Cussen Institute and was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of Victoria and the High Court of Australia in 2009. Suzan practices exclusively in Family Law, including in all property matters, spousal maintenance, children’s matters, relocation and recovery orders, divorce and intervention orders.

Interests

Outside of work, Suzan enjoys spending time with family and friends, going to the gym and reading.

Qualifications & Memberships

• Bachelor of Laws
• Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice
• Admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of Victoria
• Admitted to practice in the High Court of Australia
• Member of the Law Institute of Victoria

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Anne Ariyaratnam
Senior Associate Solicitor

‘Diligently, yet quickly’ is Anne’s mantra. Very empathetic, she likes clients to feel they have direct access to the best Pearsons can offer across the entire team to get a swifter and better outcome.

Anne graduated with a Bachelor of Laws in 2008 from Murdoch University. She was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of Western Australia in 2010. Anne joins the Pearsons team after having practised exclusively in family law since the completion of her tertiary studies. Anne has appeared regularly in both the Magistrates’ and Family Law Courts in Victoria. She practises in all areas of family law including property matters, parenting matters (including relocation and recovery order matters), divorce and intervention order matters.

Interests

Outside of work, Anne enjoys spending time with her family and friends, enjoying Melbourne’s restaurant culture and keeping up to date on the latest Hollywood blockbusters.

Qualifications & Memberships

• Bachelor of Laws
• Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice
• Admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of Western Australia
• Member of the Law Institute of Victoria

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Sara Taylor
Senior Associate Solicitor

Sara approaches each matter with a high degree of empathy and understanding of the many challenges her clients may be facing. She listens carefully to fully ascertain the different concerns and priorities that each client brings with them.

Sara graduated from LaTrobe University in 2010 with a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Accounting and Bachelor of Laws. She was admitted to practice in Victoria in 2010 after completing a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the Leo Cussen Institute in the same year.

Sara practices exclusively in the area of Family Law, including parenting matters such as recovery orders, relocation applications and residence applications, property matters, spousal maintenance matters and divorce applications.

Interests

Outside of work Sara enjoys dabbling in photography, travelling and spending time with her family.

Qualifications & Memberships

• Bachelor of Laws
• Bachelor of Commerce (majoring in Accounting)
• Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice
• Law Institute of Victoria
• North West Lawyers’ Association

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Felicity Francis
Senior Associate Solicitor

Felicity’s passion for Family Law started at university and has grown as her career has developed. Her active involvement in community and social justice issues brings strength and resolve to her clients.

Holding a Master of Laws Felicity is well versed in all aspects of Family Law. Her experience across a wide variety of clients includes a variety of complicated and multifaceted Family and Relationship Law matters such as children, property, divorce, child support, intervention orders, financial agreements, relocation and same sex relationships.

In addition to her work and studies, Felicity has been a volunteer at The Women’s Legal Service Victoria.

Interests

Outside of work Felicity enjoys reading, and exercise – particularly running and spending time with family.

Qualifications & Memberships

• Bachelor of Laws / Bachelor of Arts (Sociology)
• Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice
• Master of Laws (Family Law)

Professional Memberships

• Law Institute of Victoria
• Victorian Women Lawyers
• Family Law Section of Law Council of Australia
• Law Institute of Victoria Community Issues Committee

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Natalie Potenza
Associate Solicitor

Natalie has a calm and committed approach to getting the job done. Her focus is on developing a clear understanding of the client’s individual needs to guide them to their legal solutions. Always pushing forwards, she believes working closely with partners and senior lawyers with diverse approaches delivers better outcomes for clients.

Natalie graduated from La Trobe University with a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Behavioural Science. She has efficiently managed a wide range of Family Law matters in her time at Pearsons.

During her studies, Natalie was a regular volunteer at the Whittlesea Community Legal Service and undertook a placement with the Family Law section at Victoria Legal Aid. She also gained experience working as a legal assistant prior to joining Pearsons.

Interests

Outside of work Natalie enjoys spending time with family, socialising with friends and keeping active.

Qualifications & Memberships

• Bachelor of Laws
• Bachelor of Psychological Science

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Amanda Vella
Solicitor

Amanda is passionate about Family Law and practices predominantly in this area. She strives to ensure that clients are informed about their matter at each step. She is determined to achieve the best possible outcome for her clients and understands that when client commences family law proceedings they may be doing so with a great deal of anxiety and angst.

She completed a Bachelor of Laws / Bachelor of Commerce double degree at Monash University in 2016, and was admitted to practice in January 2017 after completing her Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice through the College of Law.

In addition to her work and studies, Amanda has also had extensive volunteer experience at various community legal centres.

Amanda practices exclusively in family law and intervention order matters, including property and children’s matters, binding financial agreements, and divorce.

Interests

Outside of work Amanda enjoys exercise, watching the Western Bulldogs and playing football for the VU Western Spurs.

Qualifications & Memberships

• Bachelor of Laws / Bachelor of Commerce
• Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice

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Debbie Nader
Solicitor

Debbie graduated with a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Media Studies from Latrobe University. She spent a winter at the University of Hawaii’s School of Law and completed other subjects with Victoria University and Open Universities Australia. She then went on to complete a Graduate Diploma in  Secondary Education with Latrobe University becoming qualified to teach in the methods of Media Studies and Humanities. In anticipation of admission to the Supreme Court of Victoria, Debbie spent three months with The College of Law completing her Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice.

Debbie gained relevant work experience in the field of Family Law through a three month law internship in 2014 and volunteer work as an Information  Referral Kiosk Attendant with the Victorian Family Law Pathways Network in the Melbourne & Dandenong Family courts.

Interests

Outside of Pearsons, Debbie is a Zumba  instructor and spends her spare time keeping fit, reading, watching films and catching up with friends and family.

Qualifications & Memberships

Bachelor of Law

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Julia Lang
Solicitor

Julia is passionate about Family Law and is committed to providing clear and pragmatic legal advice to her clients.

Julia graduated from Monash University with a Juris Doctor and was admitted to practice after completing her Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice through the College of Law.

Once admitted, Julia completed an Associateship at the Federal Circuit Court of Australia where she gained experience in Family Law litigation, Court procedure and decision making. Julia now enjoys applying this experience to benefit her clients. Julia jointed Pearsons in 2018 and practices exclusively in Family Law.

Interests

Outside of Pearsons Julia enjoys surfing with friends, spending time with family and travelling.

Qualifications & Memberships

• Bachelor of Arts (Hons.)
• Juris Doctor
• Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice

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Catherine Farres
Solicitor

Since 2001 Catherine has held various positions in large city law firms as well as small suburban firms where she had considerable involvement in all areas of Family Law, Estate Planning and Intervention Order matters. 

At Pearsons Catherine practices exclusively in all areas of Family Law and Intervention Order matters including recovery orders, property matters, parenting matters and Divorce.

Catherine is approachable, calm, understanding and empathetic to her client’s individual circumstances and diverse needs. She effectively collaborates matters in a cost effective, professional and practical manner whilst navigating through the many challenging issues that arise in their Family Law matters.

Interests

In addition to her work Catherine is a regular volunteer at a Community Legal Centre.

Outside of Pearsons Catherine enjoys keeping active, attending the theatre and spending time with family and friends.

Qualifications & Memberships

• Bachelor of Laws
• Bachelor of Arts (majoring in Political Science)
• Associate Diploma in Business
• Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice
• Admitted to the Supreme Court of Victoria

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Breana Cilia
Solicitor

After completing a Bachelor of Laws degree at Deakin University in her final year of studies Breana spent a year living in London, studying at London Metropolitan University.

Breana has gained experience working as a Paralegal in a range of legal fields, including Community Legal Centres, Migration Law specialists and within generalist law firms. Throughout her studies and work experience she maintained a passion and keen interest in Family Law.  She is determined to reach the best possible outcomes for her clients.

Interests

Outside of Pearsons Breana enjoys exercise, cooking meals with friends and catching up with family.

Qualifications & Memberships

• Bachelor of Laws
• Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice

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