Our Lawyers
Paul Staindl
The managing director of Clancy & Triado, Paul has a depth of knowledge and experience in family law that is highly regarded within the legal profession and beyond.
Paul completed his articles at Clancy & Triado in 1982, when the firm was still known as Patricia Clancy & Associates. He became a partner in the firm later the same year. Early on, Paul worked in commercial law and personal injuries as well as family law and estate planning.
In addition to his ‘hands on’ involvement in practice, Paul plays an active role in the legal profession and the community. He was elected onto the Executive of the Law Institute of Victoria’s Family Law Section in 1984, and held the position until 2006. He chaired the Section for two years.
Paul is currently a member of the Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia. He is a board member of Relationships Australia Inc and has previously served on the boards of OzChild Australia Inc and the Inner East Foster Care Agency.
Paul won the Victorian Solicitor’s prize in 1987. In 1989 he successfully sat the first examination for accreditation in family law. In 1990, he was invited to join the Specialisation Board, which is responsible for overseeing the implementation of specialisation throughout the legal profession in Victoria. Paul served as Chairman of this Board from 1995 to June 2000. The Specialisation Scheme now oversees more than 600 specialities in 11 disciplines.
He has published many papers on family law to the legal profession and the general community. He regularly contributes to educational programs for the profession and the community.
Recently, Paul’s area of work has shifted to encompass large and complex property and trust cases. His years of managing the firm give him particular insight and understanding of the issues that affect owner operated businesses. He has also developed an expertise in estate planning, including will drafting, testamentary trusts and estate litigation.
Kimberly Hunter
A director of Clancy & Triado, Kimberly brings enthusiasm, approachability and empathy to the practice of family law. She has wide-ranging experience in family law across a variety of settings and contexts and amongst a diverse client base.
After completing her Bachelor of Laws at Auckland University, Kimberly was admitted to practice in 1989 and decided early on to specialise in family law.
During a six-month attachment to the Human Rights Commission, Kimberly researched and prepared a submission on Marital Status Discrimination.
After living and working in London for five years, Kimberly moved to Australia in 1996 and joined Clancy & Triado. She became an Accredited Specialist in family law in 1999.
Kimberly’s commitment to family law is reflected in her involvement in many professional and community activities and institutions. She is an active member of the Law Institute of Victoria and is currently elected onto the Executive of the Law Institute of Victoria's Family Law Section. She has served on numerous committees, including the Children and Youth Issues Committee. She is a member of the Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia.
Kimberly is also a member of the lawyers’ panel at Relationships Australia and is a strong supporter of primary dispute resolution, particularly mediation.
Jason Lopes
Jason joined Clancy and Triado in August 2008 as a Senior Associate and in 2010 became a Director, having built a reputation as an accomplished and experienced Family Lawyer since graduating from the Australian National University with a Bachelor of Laws in 1999. He also has a Bachelor of Economics from Monash University.
With particular expertise and interest in financial matters, Jason has completed complex negotiated and litigated property matters in his years in practice. He has a thorough understanding of how companies and trusts are treated in property settlements and is particularly aware of the need to work closely with clients' accountants, financial advisers and other consultants in formulating settlements.
Jason’s fine reputation reflects his commitment to achieving the best practicable outcomes – relative to individual circumstances – for his clients. A firm believer in the benefits of mediation, Jason is also happy to litigate when it best supports his clients’ interests.
A member of the Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia, the Law Institute of Victoria and (a former member ) of the Victorian Family Law Section Property and Maintenance Committee, Jason has presented papers to colleagues both within and outside of the Family Law profession on superannuation, valuations and aspects of third parties’ involvement in matrimonial matters.
Denise van Dijk
Denise is a Senior Associate of the firm. She grew up in Brisbane and went to the Australian National University where she studied Law / Asian Studies (Mandarin Chinese) with recognition from the University of New South Wales and University of Technology, Sydney. Denise speaks fluent conversational Mandarin Chinese and spent a year completing a Diploma in Mandarin at Hua Dong Shi Fan Da Xue, East China Normal University in Shanghai in 1998. Denise also completed a Diploma in Legal Practise from the University of Technology, Sydney and a mediation course with Relationships Australia, New South Wales.
Denise commenced her legal career in Sydney and later moved to Melbourne to join Clancy & Triado. Denise spent two years in 2008-2010 at a boutique family law firm in Melbourne, before returning to Clancy & Triado in 2010 as Senior Associate.
Denise is a regular contributor to the legal and other professional communities. Denise gives seminars, papers and television interviews to other family lawyers, Chartered Practising Accountants, psychologists and expert valuers, regarding the technicalities of family law.
Denise is a member of the Law Institute of Victoria, The Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia, and is a member of the Courts Practice Committee. Denise is also a member of the Relationships Australia panel as a strong advocate of primary dispute resolution including mediation.
Denise has two sons and enjoys time with her family, swimming, cooking, travelling, and photography.
Lisa Bradley
Lisa Bradley is a Senior Associate and is highly experienced in all aspects of family law practice. Lisa is a graduate of Monash University and holds a Bachelor of Laws degree with Honours and a Bachelor of Arts degree. She joined Clancy & Triado in 2005 from a prominent city-based practice and has practised exclusively in family law throughout her legal career. Lisa adopts practical and empathetic approach and is committed to achieving the best possible, and most cost-effective outcome for her clients.
Lisa's skills in legal writing and analysis are highly regarded and she has authored numerous articles about topics including: property settlements, pre-nuptial agreements, children's rights and responsibilities, and legal ethics.
Lisa combines her legal career with parenting responsibilities and is the mother of the two young children. She has a keen interest in community organisations and social justice issues and serves on a number of local committee and community groups.
Melanie Wilson
Melanie graduated from the University of Melbourne in 2005 with a Bachelor of Laws degree and a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Criminology. Before joining Clancy & Triado in 2006 to complete her articles of clerkship, Melanie worked as a paralegal at a busy suburban family law firm from 2003 to 2005.
Since joining the team in 2006, Melanie has gained experience in all matters relating to family law and has been involved in various complex financial matters, in addition to contested matters regarding the living arrangements of young children. In mid 2010, Melanie was appointed an Associate and in 2011 became an Accredited Family Law Specialist.
Melanie has been involved in extensive family law research, including working as a research assistant for an Honours thesis on the emotional effects of Shared Parenting on children. She has also completed her own research concerning the role of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in a Family Court context.
Her total immersion in a diet of family law has led to Melanie quickly developing into a very experienced lawyer.
Melanie is committed to assisting her clients achieve a timely and sensible resolution of disputes that arise from separation.
Rachel Peattie
Rachel graduated from the University of Tasmania with a Bachelor of Commerce and Law. She completed her certificate of legal practice in Tasmania and was then admitted as a legal practitioner.
After completing her studies, Rachel worked as Deputy Associate to Federal Magistrate Walters in the Federal Magistrates Court, Melbourne. While there, Rachel spent a large part of her time in Court where she was a keen observer of family law proceedings. As a result of this experience, Rachel has become familiar and comfortable in the Court environment. Rachel has been exposed to a wide variety of complex property and children’s cases whilst working at the Court. Rachel gained invaluable insight into the determination of family law issues from a judicial prospective.
Rachel joined Clancy & Triado as an employee solicitor and is enthusiastic about joining the Clancy & Triado team in meeting all our client’s family law needs. In 2011 Rachel became an Accredited Family Law Specialist.
Elisa Carayannis
Elisa graduated from Monash University in 2008 with a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Arts. Elisa completed her Spanish major as part of her Bachelor of Arts at the Universidad Autonóma in Madrid, Spain.
Whilst completing her Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice at the College of Law, Elisa worked at a boutique family law firm where she was exposed to a variety of family law issues. After being admitted in 2009, Elisa joined the team at Clancy & Triado as an employee solicitor. She has gained experience in dealing with a wide range of property and children’s issues including care arrangements of children and international and interstate relocation cases. She has also worked a range of property matters, including Financial Agreements, spousal maintenance, child maintenance, divorce applications, intervention orders and of course property settlements.
Elisa is a member of the Family Law Section of the Law Institute of Victoria, the Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia and sits on the Children and Youth Issues Committee of the Law Institute of Victoria.
She speaks Spanish fluently and loves cycling, swimming and doing triathlons.
Meaghan Jones
Meaghan Jones graduated from the University of Tasmania with a Bachelor of Arts and Law with a focus on family law. She completed her Certificate of Legal Practice in Tasmania.
Since completing her studies Meaghan practised in Tasmania, working in parenting and financial issues in family law. Meaghan also appeared in the Welfare Division of the Magistrates Court from time to time.
Meaghan joined our team in 2010, and has adapted to the change of scene well. Meaghan is aware of the emotional complexities of Family Law proceedings and strives to ensure that she provides the best possible service to her clients in a timely manner.
Meaghan’s ambition is to become a specialist in Family Law. To achieve that goal she is currently undertaking a Masters Degree in Advanced family law at The College of Law. Meaghan’s continued professional development helps her to develop sound legal advice in property and parenting matters.
Natasha Cecic
Natasha graduated from Melbourne University in 2009 with a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Laws with Honours.
Working exclusively in family law, Natasha completed her Legal Traineeship at a busy law firm in the North Western suburbs before being admitted to Legal Practice in early 2010. Practicing in a high volume, fast paced suburban firm allowed Natasha to become quickly involved with a wide spectrum of family law matters including complicated parenting matters, relocation cases, contested divorce, property matters and same sex property and parenting cases.
Natasha joined the Clancy & Triado team in early 2011.
Natasha is committed to family law practice and is active in the family law community as a member of the Law Institute Victoria, the Junior Family Lawyers Working Group and Victorian Women Lawyers (VWL). Natasha volunteers her time at Women’s Legal Service Victoria’s (WLSV) telephone advice line where she is pleased to be able to provide vital first point of contact family law advice for women from all over Victoria.
Natasha loves to travel and has undertaken volunteer work in India and Costa Rica. She is a massive fan Agatha Christie’s crime novels.
For lawyers with vast experience in Family Law, property settlement, divorce, pre nuptial agreements, child custody and all associated issues, you are welcome to contact Clancy & Triado.