Feeney Family Law

14/11/2025

Kay's thoughts this Friday:

The role of the transition space is important.

In the work of Dr Adam Fraser – The Third Space – we are reminded that a transition space always exists, and I think we are encouraged by the text to see it as an opportunity to reset, refresh, redirect or just take a breath.

In case preparation, there is a period during which the audience is the other party and then there is the transition to the court being the audience. Different audiences can take a different approach to the same facts.

I suggest it is a good idea to remember that the letter you are writing may have different audiences and different interpretations.

A colleague drafted an incisive and perhaps painfully clear analysis of the other party’s case. The response was to dismiss it as having been written to please my colleague’s client. There was apparently no contemplation that it was a brutal rebuttal of their case.

A recognised transition space is the space where negotiations by correspondence end and mediation is planned. That last best offer becomes the offer you have already made and needs to be battered.

The transition between case assessment and formulation and the position to maximise a claim is often hard as the case plan is left bereft when an offer that might settle the matter is needed.
I once arrived at mediation with lots of law in mind only to be told by the mediator, “Yes but that won’t settle it today”.

This mindset transition is enormous and complex.

I long suggested to clients that they could not protect a financial relationship and a personal relationship simultaneously.

Perhaps now that might be seen as a desire to maintain coercive financial control in an intimate relationship.

Training in the Collaborative Practice space supports practitioners to accept the mindset transition as an opportunity, exciting and creative. Options need to be considered.
I would suggest you can’t maximise a financial outcome and a prospect of settlement simultaneously.

The transition between the advice on prospects and getting it done today is critical and can’t be achieved on the day in the room. Mediators are not magicians.

The transition space where this tension exists is the space the Central Practice Direction calls for from us all.

22/09/2025

In late October, our Kay Feeney will be travelling to Tasmania to partake in the Walk For Change hosted by Women's Legal Service.

The Walk for Change will honour the footsteps and journey made by women who bravely seek help to escape domestic and family violence.

Over four days, Kay and many others will walk the Bay of Fires to raise awareness and funds for women and children who are threatened by family and sexual violence.

Kay is raising funds to support Women's Legal Service, with a goal of $3,000.

Please see the QR code in this post to donate, or click the link below!

https://womens-legal-service-queensland.grassrootz.com/wlsqld-bayoffires-2025/mary-feeney

02/07/2025

We are thrilled to announce Ruby Kelly’s promotion to Associate at Feeney Family Law.

Ruby began her legal career as a Legal Assistant at our firm.

It has been a privilege to watch her grow as a professional, progressing from Legal Assistant to Paralegal, to Law Graduate, to Solicitor upon her admission in 2023 and now, Associate with the firm.

Ruby brings a compassionate approach to her matters. She works dynamically alongside our principal Kay to promote her client’s best interests as they navigate the family law system.

We have no doubt that Ruby will excel in her new role and will continue to make a positive impact on her client’s lives.

Congratulations, Ruby!

22/05/2025

This week, Kay has been attending the IAFL European Chapter Meeting in Istanbul.

Here she is with some fellow Australians!

We look forward to hearing about Kay's time away and her key takeaways.

04/04/2025

Last Monday and Tuesday, Kay participated in the Advanced Mediation Practicum Workshop. The two-day workshop was facilitated by Professor Laurence Boulle.

Kay and her fellow peers were only the second group of mediators to undertake this training.

It was a stimulating, informative and challenging few days with many take aways. Kay looks forward to putting her learning into practice in the near future.

28/03/2025

The team at Feeney Family Law are excited to support the Epic Walk for Domestic Violence again this year. We are looking forward to an early start this Sunday at New Farm Park.

This event raises funds towards Women's Legal Service Queensland to assist them in answering additional calls to their Statewide Helpline, providing more free legal appointments and reaching more women when they need it most.

As a firm working in the family law space, we recognise the importance of raising awareness, which is why we have chosen to walk in support of domestic violence prevention. We invite anyone who would like to support this cause to donate via the link below. We really appreciate it!

We look forward to seeing both new and familiar faces Sunday morning at this important event.

Epic Walk for DV: Make a donation today to support Epic Walk for DV

05/03/2025

Say you may know FFL has placed staff in the form of the excellent David Marcolin in Hobart. While the Brisbane team is just checking the cyclone tracker one more time, David finds himself able to work as usual. We are in good hands. I hope this frivolous comment does not offend anyone and that we all re enter life unscathed.

10/12/2024

Splint Chic💃

05/09/2024

Upskilling the ICL. A respectful remuneration too?

Family violence perpetrators are routinely granted time with their children during custody proceedings, but a world-renowned expert hopes to change the culture of "mother blaming" he says has permeated the agencies dealing with family violence.

22/08/2024

David Marcolin will work remotely while he explores a new environment.

In support of his plans FFL has adopted a platypus.

Oh yes we did lots of lawyer stuff too this week but I thought the platypus was more interesting.

20/06/2024

A new article from Ruby Kelly, Solicitor at Feeney Family Law.

"Raising community awareness about the nature and impact of family violence"

What have we done as lawyers, individuals and as a community to increase our awareness and understanding about the nature and impacts of domestic and family violence including coercive control between December 2021 and now?

14/05/2024

Our newest google review! We love hearing feedback from our clients.