Sara Rudd

Family Dispute Resolution Pracitioner

Sara has many years experience as a Family Lawyer. She is a Mediator and Accredited Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner. Sara graduated in Law from Monash University in 1975. In recent years Sara’s focus has been working in family law mediation. She became an accredited family dispute resolution practitioner in 2009. Sara is available for private mediation, including child focused and child inclusive mediation, at Resolve Conflict. To enquire about a Mediation with Sara you can telephone our office on (03) 9620 0088.

Jacqueline Philip

Senior Associate

Jacque has 20 years experience working in a Family Law environment. After graduating from the University of New England (NSW) and being admitted to legal practice, she has since undertaken extensive training in Collaborative Law and Mediation. Jacque also continues to maintain a litigation practice to help those clients who have no choice but to go to court. Jacque started her legal life in Family Law as a Legal Secretary and Law Clerk and therefore understands the importance of maintaining a strong rapport with clients with delicate and confidential matters. Jacque is a member of the Law Institute of Victoria, the Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia, Victorian Women Lawyers Association and the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (IACP)

Ellie Delafield

Principal

Ellie is trained as a Collaborative Family Lawyer. She graduated from the University of Melbourne in 1980 with a Bachelor of Arts and a Post Graduate Diploma in Criminology and in 2002 graduated from La Trobe University with a Bachelor of Law. Ellie has raised 4 daughters, including one with special needs and all of whom are now independent adults. She has worked in a number of Domestic Violence Services supporting women and children that experienced domestic violence both directly and through the court system for those going through Family Law and Intervention Order process. An active member of Collaborative Professionals Victoria and the International Association of Collaborative Professionals, Victorian Women Lawyers and the Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia. Ellie is also a member of the Board Management at the Alkira Centre, which is a community operated disability organisation that provides services and support to over 150 people with intellectual disabilities in Australia. Ellie’s goal is to help separating and divorcing couples through the difficult transition of resolving their Family Law disputes in a respectful and confidential manner outside Court, wherever possible.

Catherine Gale

Principal

Catherine has more than 35 years experience helping Family Law clients reach mutually acceptable solutions. She is an accredited Mediator and Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner. Catherine has been a leader in the development of Collaborative Family Law in Australia. She is actively involved in training lawyers in the collaborative family law process and also lectures in Collaborative Law at Monash University. Experience over many years informs us of just how difficult divorce and separation can be from emotional, financial and legal perspectives and Catherine’s commitment to her clients is to guide them through the process in the most amicable way possible, while still achieving a legally binding outcome for them. Catherine takes time to understand her clients’ concerns to help them reach a positive outcome without having to pay the emotional and financial price of a protracted Court battle.