Our Practice

We specialise and practise only in Family Law.

David Burrell started the firm in 1974 and against the current trend of many law firms to rapidly expand, the practice has remained a boutique firm.  The practice is a small, independent, specialised private client only firm.

Our aim in running such a niche practice is to enable our clients to receive the personal care, attention and expertise so necessary during what is often the most difficult period of their life.

It is an exclusive and discreet personal practice providing old fashioned service and attention, coupled with up to the minute creative and individual advice.

The practice’s major focus and substantial experience is in the area of the financial aspects of marital divorce and de facto settlements (property settlement, spousal maintenance and child support).

In all cases we provide input into each other’s matters and, where necessary in large complex matters, work as a team.

Each of us were born in and have lived in Adelaide most of our lives and we are all admitted to practise in South Australia and the High Court of Australia.

We are all members of the Law Society of South Australia and the Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia.

David is a Fellow of the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (IAML).

Sam is an Accredited Specialist in Family Law and is also admitted to practise in Victoria.

Alicia is the former Deputy Chair and a current member of the Law Society of South Australia Family Law Committee.  Alicia is also an Accredited Specialist in Family Law.

Victoria is also admitted to practise in Western Australia.

Megan is also admitted to practise in Queensland. 

We are all passionate about the practice of Family Law.

David was admitted to practise 40 years ago. He has practised only in Adelaide, primarily in the Family Law area and, for most of his career, exclusively so.  He is one of the most senior and experienced Family Law practitioners in Adelaide.

David conducts principally all aspects of divorce and marital financial settlements (property settlement and spousal maintenance).

David has a particular interest and many years' specialised experience and expertise in the more complex and unusual property settlement and financial disputes often involving commercial, business, partnership, trust, company, superannuation and valuation issues, as well as in preparing and advising on living together and pre and post-nuptial contracts.

Sam was admitted to practise 12 years ago.  He has extensive Family Law only experience, having practised in Melbourne until 2006.  His experience and particular interest is in complex child support issues, living together and pre-marital agreements.  He has substantial experience in difficult and complex financial cases. He is an Accredited Specialist in Family Law.

Alicia was admitted to practise 5 years ago. She has more than usual Family Law only experience for her age having clerked for 2 years and then practised for 2 years in the Family Law Department of a well known Adelaide Commercial Law Firm. Her experience and particular interests are in the financial aspects of defacto relationship matters, complex children's matters and property settlement matters, particularly in relation to small businesses and valuation areas.  She is an Accredited Specalist in Family Law.

Victoria Treloar - Senior Associate

Victoria was admitted to practise 14 years ago.  Her practice experience has been mainly in Family Law and exclusively so for at least the last 10 years.  For the last 3 years, she practised in Perth.  She has vast experience in complex and difficult property settlement matters (both marital and defacto) and children's matters. 

Megan was admitted to practise 4 years ago.  She has recently returned to Adelaide having practised in Cairns since her admission.  She has substantial and excellent experience in all aspects of Family Law practice with an emphasis on property settlement matters and difficult children's issues. 

Our Office

We practise from an old (by Adelaide standards), late 19th Century historic building in Walkerville (a near city suburb) just 10 minutes from the CBD and the Family Court.  The building has had past lives as a grocery store, antique shop, boutique and, in the 1980s, as professional medical rooms.  It provides excellent, comfortable and relaxed accommodation for a boutique Family Law Practice and has the advantage of parking at the door.

We provide as a bonus to our clients (and even sometimes our opponents!) cafe quality coffee and there's always some chocolates in the reception area.

We are ably assisted by wonderful people without whom we could never provide the service we do.

Our senior secretary/PA is Sue who has worked for David for many years and whose knowledge of Family Law (and music and film trivia) is legendary. She has a number of passions including crooner Dean Martin, her delightful family and lots of sports including Australian Rules football and soccer. Sue's greatest fear in life is having nothing to do on a Saturday night and not having a novel to read!

Jacqui, always known to us as "The Griff", has rejoined the firm as our other senior secretary/PA after a 20 year absence. With her infectious laugh, irreverent sense of humour and legendary skills as a Family Law secretary, she also finds time to be a football tragic and a devoted mother.

Mary is our receptionist and first point of contact.  She is a bit of a Beatles fan and cooks a mean pasta.

Liz looks after the money side of the practice and in her spare time enjoys belly dancing.

We are happy to have an initial, brief talk to you on the telephone without obligation.  We can establish if your case is a suitable case for our practice and you can get a feel for whether we would suit you and your matter.  If you decide to retain us, we can determine which of our lawyers would be appropriate for the issues involved in your matter and tell you what, if any, material you need to bring to the initial consultation.