The journey into law…

After spending several years as a research scientist at a national laboratory, Stella realised her true passion lay in communication and humanities, as opposed to cold simulations and lab experiment. This fuelled her decision to set foot on the legal path, aspiring to become more connected with the society and help people navigate the ebbs and flows of life.

Stella started her legal journey volunteering with Community Legal Centres, assisting clients with tenancy and welfare rights issues. She later gained valuable experience as a paralegal at a boutique law firm in Sydney CBD, working across Criminal and Family Law. Upon discovering her true calling in family law, she joined a boutique family law firm in Parramatta, where she practised exclusively in family law and honed her skills in this area.

Experience in family law

Stella brings experience across various aspects of family law, including both property and parenting disputes. She is well-versed in pre-action negotiations, where she has successfully assisted clients in reaching settlements in complex financial disputes involving large asset pools, allegations of wastage, and family violence. In Court, she has acted in high-conflict parenting cases involving significant issues such as family violence, drug and alcohol abuse, mental health concerns, and interstate relocations. Stella has also represented clients in property cases involving forum disputes, contested de facto relationships, debates on global versus asset-by-asset approaches, and considerations of significant initial contributions, as well as gifts or loans from family members.

Other areas of expertise

In addition to family law, Stella has experience advising on and appearing in adoption matters—both domestic and intercountry—before the Supreme Court of New South Wales, as well as drafting estate planning documentation.

The passion for family law

Stella is particularly drawn to family law for its unique combination of legal challenges and personal connections, which resonates deeply with her passion for the law. For Stella, it is incredibly rewarding to support families as they navigate difficult times and to know that her work has played a meaningful role in helping them move forward.

Our care for clients

Stella brings empathy, knowledge, and experience to every case she handles. She understands that family law matters are deeply personal and often challenging, which is why she prioritises listening attentively, understanding each client’s unique circumstances, and providing tailored guidance.

With experience across a wide range of cases, Stella appreciates the critical importance of timely decision-making, especially when it comes to commencing proceedings. At the same time, she is skilled in negotiating settlements when appropriate, always striving to achieve the best possible outcomes for her clients.

Why Unified?

Stella understands the impact of a supportive and collaborative environment for clients navigating challenging situations – values that align perfectly with Unified’s mission!

Passion outside of the law

Stella enjoys ballet, classical music, and soaking up the sun. Recently, she has embarked on an adventure in pottery and can often be found enthusiastically doing wheel throwing in a local clay studio.

Other languages

Stella also speaks Mandarin and so is able to assist Mandarin speaking clients with their matters.