About us
Our story
Village Family Lawyers was established by Mornington Peninsula local Lauren Wilson. She is passionate about family law and decided to offer the Mornington Peninsula and Bayside region a fresh and professional approach to family law services. Lauren appreciates that separation is about more than just the legal issues, and uses her experience, skills and networks to offer her clients holistic, practical family law solutions and support. She is a firm believer that Court is the last resort and will exhaust all options for keeping families out of Court. If Court is unavoidable, Lauren prides herself in settling matters early, saving time and money. Our lawyers pride themselves on simplifying the family law process and providing high quality professional services to both male and female clients.
Founding Principal
Lauren Wilson
LLB (Hons) BBusCom BTeach
Director and Family Lawyer
Nationally Accredited Mediator
Lauren understands that separation and the divorce process is one of the most stressful periods in a person’s life and that each person experiences relationship breakdown differently. She advises her clients from a position of empathy and encourages them to problem solve and make positive steps towards a bright future.
Lauren holds a passion for parenting matters. As a former school teacher, and mother to two daughters, she has experience dealing with different family dynamics and working with parents to create the best solution for their new family structure. She promotes a holistic approach to resolving family law issues and liaises with other professionals such as psychologists, accountants, mediators and financial planners so that her clients can obtain the best possible outcome.
Lauren is experienced in non-litigious processes for resolving family law issues and can effectively negotiate, advise and prepare consent orders and financial agreements in a timely manner.
Although Lauren promotes out of Court settlement outcomes, Lauren appreciates that Court can be unavoidable. She has a variety of litigation experience and has appeared in the Magistrates’ Court, The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia and instructed Counsel at both interim and final Court hearings.
In her spare time, Lauren enjoys exploring the beaches on the Mornington Peninsula, camping and watching her daughters play sport.
Accreditations
Shirin Motamedi
LLB (Hons) BA
Family Lawyer
Since the commencement of her legal career, Shirin has predominantly practised in family law and has experience in both parenting and property matters.
Shirin is dedicated to advocating for her clients and endeavours to achieve the best possible outcome whilst navigating clients through the legal process as efficiently and cost effectively as possible. Shirin understands that the Court process and environment can be incredibly daunting, and strives to resolve family law disputes by way of non-litigious forms of dispute resolution.
In every family law matter, Shirin’s main objective is to provide her clients with personalised and timely advice to ensure they feel empowered to select the most suitable pathway forward.
Shirin has practical experience in criminal law which complements her understanding of the interrelated issues involved in family law matters, particularly Family Violence Intervention Orders.
In her spare time, Shirin enjoys spending time in nature with her young nephew and exploring new brunch spots with her friends and family.
Maria Stipic
BA LLB
Family Lawyer
Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner (FDRP)
LEADR Nationally Accredited Mediator
Maria has worked predominantly in family law since her admission to legal practise in 2006. She is passionate about assisting families to move forward following separation, by resolving their disputes as amicably as possible.
Maria acknowledges that clients seeking family law assistance are often going through one of the most stressful and emotionally charged periods of their life. Maria ensures that clients are properly supported during this time by encouraging referrals to appropriate support services. Maria demonstrates compassion and professionalism in her role as advisor and prides herself on achieving practical and enduring outcomes for clients.
Maria is a firm believer in the benefits of legally assisted mediation as a means to resolving disputes. She has experience on both sides of the mediation table; having worked as a lawyer representing clients and a Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner for a leading community-based organisation and Victoria Legal Aid.
When matters cannot be resolved by negotiation and mediation, Maria draws on her extensive experience in court to litigate for the best outcome possible. Maria has appeared in court on countless occasions, including having worked as a duty lawyer at the Dandenong registry of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia.
Maria has two children, a husband, and a cat. When she is not managing her children’s extra-curricular activities, she enjoys her vegetable garden, reading and completing jigsaw puzzles that take her a lot longer than anticipated. Maria is a believer in the power of moving your body and recently trained for and completed her second half marathon!
Ruby Leonard
LLB
Family Lawyer
Ruby joined Village Family Lawyers in 2022 as a paralegal, before moving into the role of Graduate Lawyer.
Prior to her admission as a lawyer, Ruby had practical experience in general practice, where she developed a strong interest in all areas of family law, including parenting and property matters. Ruby has a personable, calm and empathetic approach and focuses on keeping clients well informed and supported throughout their often-stressful family law issues.
In her role as Graduate Lawyer, she works closely with Lauren and Shirin to help our clients navigate the legal system and achieve the best possible solution, in a timely and cost-effective manner.
In her spare time, Ruby enjoys exploring the beautiful coastlines across the Peninsula and volunteering at the Peninsula Community Legal Centre.
Lisa Ballard
Paralegal
Initially working in general practice, Lisa has spent the past 4 years working exclusively in family law. With over 20 years of experience in the legal profession, Lisa has the knowledge to assist the lawyers to progress matters to finalisation.
Lisa enjoys assisting clients with their administrative queries and ensures their legal matter progresses as seamlessly as possible.
Away from the office, Lisa is a busy mum of two children. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, and has a profound love for the great outdoors.
Amanda Drazek
Paralegal
Joining Village Family Lawyers in 2022, Amanda brings over 15 years of legal experience to the team. Amanda utilises her skills as a paralegal to assist the firm’s lawyers, and ensures matters are resolved in a timely and cost-effective manner.
With a wealth of experience in the legal industry, Amanda understands the variety of issues confronted by clients in parenting and property matters.
Growing up on the Peninsula, Amanda lives with her three children and enjoys visiting the hot springs in her spare time.
Contact us today and let us help you move forward with your life.
Telephone 1300 413 997
Office Locations
Mornington Peninsula
& Bayside Office
Unit 1 / 24A Ranelagh Drive, Mount Eliza, Victoria, 3930
Eastern Suburbs Office
Level 1, 908 Doncaster Road, Doncaster East, Victoria, 3109
Postal Address
PO Box 21, Mount Eliza, Victoria, 3930
For any inquiries or to schedule a consultation, please reach out to our office on 1300 413 997 or send us a message via our Contact Page.
We are here to provide compassionate and knowledgeable support tailored to your unique situation.
START ONLINE.
Complete your details here, and one of our team will arrange a suitable time for your initial consultation. This can be held online or in person.