Taussig Cherrie Fildes

Taussig Cherrie Fildes is a leading Australian specialist family law firm based in Melbourne, Victoria, with a wealth of knowledge and experience. We provide expert representation, trusted advice and support in all areas of matrimonial, de facto relationship and family law.

Eight of our senior lawyers, including all five principals, are accredited family law specialists, reflecting their experience, professional development and expertise. Our team of lawyers is not only highly skilled but also personable, approachable and responsive.

We enjoy our reputation as one of Australia’s pre-eminent specialist family law firms, as recognised in Doyles Guide as one of only seven family law firms to be ranked nationally as a “First Tier” Leading Family & Divorce Law Firm in Australia in 2022.

Taussig Cherrie Fildes provides an exceptional level of service to our clients, providing strategic and commercial advice in respect of property and financial matters upon relationship breakdown be it a matter involving a family home, family business, complex corporate interests or a portfolio of assets for a family of substantial wealth.

We recognise the personal nature of family disputes requires sensitivity, complete confidentiality and discretion, including for clients with a public profile. Clients of Taussig Cherrie Fildes can be confident we understand that the handling of parenting disputes and care arrangements for children requires careful and considered professional attention.

Whether preparing a pre-nuptial or relationship agreement or parenting plan, safeguarding our clients’ interests, negotiating a settlement or litigating and advocating for our clients in court when required, Taussig Cherrie Fildes provides strategic advice and robust representation, with a clear focus on achieving the best possible resolution in a cost-effective manner.

Who we are

Bringing together their unparalleled knowledge and experience in family law, Debra Cherrie and the late Michael Taussig QC established Taussig Cherrie & Associates in 2000. Breaking away from the traditional multi-disciplinary legal service model to offer personalised, specialist services in matrimonial and de facto relationship law, they were one of the first firms in Melbourne to operate as a boutique family law firm. Ten years later, the firm merged with the Middletons Family Law Practice Group (now K & L Gates), welcoming Paul Fildes as a principal and becoming Taussig Cherrie Fildes.

In July 2020, Debra and Paul were pleased to name Antony Kahn, Kristy Fuge and Kylie Sanders as principals of Taussig Cherrie Fildes, in recognition of their expertise, achievements and contributions to the firm. These appointments serve to consolidate the vision of the founding principals to establish a specialist practice, providing quality family law services with a reputation for excellence.

In addition to our firm’s recognition as a “First Tier” Leading Family & Divorce Law Firm, many of our lawyers are also individually recognised for their areas of expertise, including as leading family and divorce lawyers in high-value and complex property matters and parenting and children’s cases. Two of our senior lawyers are fellows of the International Academy of Family Lawyers, demonstrating our particular expertise in cross-border and multi-jurisdictional cases.

Highly regarded for their specialist knowledge, Taussig Cherrie Fildes’ lawyers are often invited to chair and facilitate conferences, attend lectures, contribute to publications on family law issues and to present papers to their peers, colleagues and allied professionals, locally and overseas.

Our principals are well-supported by our team of expert lawyers, law clerks, paralegals and administrative staff, who are equally professional, discreet, attentive and committed to supporting our clients.

We take a holistic approach

Our lawyers and staff are client-focused, recognising that a current family law issue or dispute is only one aspect of the busy lives and future planning for our clients. Recognising this, we provide compassionate and comprehensive support for our clients throughout their family law matters.

We invest time to understand what is important to our clients, whether they are parents providing care to children, entrepreneurs, professionals, sportspeople, artists, or conducting business. We devote time to understanding our clients’ needs, the needs of their families, the nature of their work, their business, the industries they work in and their priorities and future goals.

Taussig Cherrie Fildes considers not only our clients’ immediate legal needs but also broader perspectives including safety and wellbeing, family and other relationships, future financial planning, tax-effective settlements and estate planning. To do this, we draw upon our clients’ existing supports and networks together with our professional relationships with other experts including psychologists, accountants, commercial advisors, tax experts, specialist lawyers and counsel.

We communicate well

Our clients can rely on us to be approachable and responsive and to communicate honestly, openly and directly. We strive to provide clear, insightful and strategic advice, to assist our clients to understand their situation, the legal options available during the course of their matter and the impact of possible pathways over the short and long term. We take time to explain legal concepts and complex issues carefully, so that our clients have a clear understanding and can make informed decisions.

Taussig Cherrie Fildes appreciates and understand the financial and emotional impacts of family law disputes on our clients, their children, other family members and on businesses. We provide pragmatic advice with those considerations in mind.

We offer expert advice and assistance

Our specialist team is proficient in all aspect of family law and we provide comprehensive, expert advice, assistance and support in relation to straightforward and complex matters including:

• Relationship breakdown, separation and divorce
• Property settlement, spousal maintenance and child support
• Mediation, family dispute resolution and negotiation
• Litigation, advocacy and arbitration
• Protection of assets and family wealth
• Binding financial agreements, including pre-nuptial, marital and cohabitation agreements
• Parenting and children’s matters
• Family violence intervention orders and other protective measures
• International family law, including cross-border matters, jurisdictional and forum disputes, international child abduction and relocation cases

**Please note we do not offer a free one hour initial consultation.