Western Australian firm Talbot Olivier announced this week (21 July) the return of its family law practice, with the appointment of Kym Kerr as the firm's family law principal.

Kerr will re-establish the firm's family law practice - an area synonymous with former partner, the late Don Talbot, broadening the firm's ability to offer an extensive suite of legal services.

Discussing her new role, Kerr said she was approached by Talbot Olivier while working at a mid-sized firm in Perth.

"I saw it as a really great opportunity, a really interesting challenge because it's setting up something new of course, which is different to the opportunities that arise elsewhere."

Kerr said the main challenge ahead is to ensure that the firm's clients are aware that Talbot Olivier now offers family law services, but despite having to rebuild the practice, Kerr said the work is already there.

Kerr has extensive experience in the area of family law, practising in Victoria before relocating to Western Australia in 2002, and has acted for clients both locally and overseas.

She has taken instruction in a range of matters including cohabitation agreements, Family Court proceedings and the newly legislated area of surrogacy.

VIEW ALL

"One of the things that I'm trying to establish here is a surrogacy law practice," Kerr said. "Surrogacy became legal in Western Australia just last year...From a family lawyer's perspective that is a cutting edge and new area of law and I've been very fortunate to have been involved in that area since people started looking for those services."

Talbot Olivier also announced this week the appointment of lawyer Melissa Gordon in the firm's estate planning and administration practice.

Gordon advises clients on trust law and related documentation, including family trust deeds, wills, enduring powers of attorney and binding and non-binding nominations for superannuation funds.