VANESSA FARMER B.Comm (ADEL) LL.B. (HONS)
MANAGING PARTNER
Vanessa Farmer is the Managing Partner of Withnalls. Admitted to practice in 1999, she became a Principal of Withnalls in 2001.
She has a strong sense of social justice and specialises in family law with extensive experience in property division and children's issues.
Vanessa regularly appears as a counsel in the Supreme, Family and Local Courts.
She is a skilled, hard working advocate who takes pride in her work and who enjoys the challenge of complex litigation and successful outcomes on behalf of her clients.
Vanessa practices primarily in the area of Family Law and De Facto Litigation, Wills and Estates.
JOSEPH CAVANAGH B.A & LL.B.
Joe Cavanagh joined Withnalls Lawyers in January 2022 having previously practised exclusively in the area of Family Law in South Australia since 2019. Joe was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of South Australia and the High Court of Australia in 2020. Joe ensures a pragmatic approach is taken to each individual’s needs and seeks to resolve matters as cost-effectively and efficiently as possible.
Joe practices in the following areas of law
Family Law - including parenting and property matters, divorce, child support, spousal maintenance, and parentage testing matters;
Domestic Violence - matters on behalf of protected persons or defendants; and
Civil Litigation matters.
Joe is a committed advocate and enjoys appearing regularly in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia and Local Court of the Northern Territory. Advocacy is a key area of Joe’s interest in the law.
Education
Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts (Double Major in English and History) graduating 2019; and
Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice from the College of Law graduating 2020.
Joe also hopes to complete the College of Law Masters of Law majoring in Family Law
Lewis Chatten Senior Law Clerk (Secondee)
Lewis’s legal career started in England in 2017, when he started working as a clerk to District and Circuit Judges in Coventry. During his studies Lewis began volunteering with a child abduction charity, which assisted parents left behind as a result of international parental child abduction. Through his volunteering, Lewis identified his passion for family law. After completing this law degree and post-graduate certificate in Legal Practice Lewis moved to private practice and began training as a solicitor at a local high street firm. During his training, Lewis worked in family law, criminal law, and residential conveyancing before being admitted as a Solicitor in England and Wales in 2021. After qualifying, Lewis specialised in family law, with a particular focus on private children disputes between parents, child protection matters, and domestic abuse. Lewis also provided advice in international children's matters involving Hague and Non-Hague Convention countries. With a strong educational background in legal studies and a keen interest in supporting families through challenging times, Lewis is committed to providing invaluable assistance to clients.
Lewis moved to Australia in 2023 and joined Australian Family Lawyers in November 2023. Lewis provides support to the Darwin family law teams and is passionate about assisting clients to achieve a positive outcome by ensuring that clients feel fully supported throughout their matter. Lewis brings a wealth of experience and a compassionate approach to his role. Lewis’ role as a legal assistant extends beyond administrative tasks; Lewis serves as a trusted liaison between clients and legal professionals, ensuring clear communication and understanding throughout the legal process. Lewis is deeply committed to fostering an empathetic environment for clients, guiding them through each step of their legal journey with patience and understanding. Through his diverse global experience and unwavering commitment to the legal profession, Lewis continues to make a positive impact for clients at Australian Family Lawyers.
Outside of his professional endeavours and in his spare time, Lewis likes to travel to all corners of the globe and is a self-proclaimed escape room connoisseur.