Family Law

Families, relationships and separations can be complex and emotionally charged.  Our team of highly experienced family lawyers are committed to addressing your needs with empathy, determination, and passion.

Families, relationships and separations can be complex and emotionally charged. 

Elit Lawyers by McGirr & Snell is a boutique firm with a dynamic approach to family law practice, providing empathetic, pragmatic and strategic advice to clients in all areas of family and relationship law.  This includes binding financial agreements, divorce, property and financial settlements (married, de-facto relationships, same-sex and LBGTQIA+ relationships), maintenance, child arrangements and child support.

Led by Aggie Vlahos, our family law team is focussed on achieving the best possible outcome for clients taking into consideration their specific needs and objectives.  We strive to assist clients to negotiate out-of-court settlements; however, we are well placed to provide clients with expert representation in court should it be necessary to commence or respond to court proceedings.
 
At Elit Lawyers by McGirr & Snell, clients are at the heart of everything we do.  

Our approach to providing legal services embraces the spirit of entrepreneurship and modern collaboration, enabling our clients to be part of the journey, rather than removed from it.

Expertise

Marriage (Decree of Nullity & Validity Proceedings)

De Facto, Same Sex Relationships (Advice, property & financial rights, financial proceedings, parenting, parenting proceedings)

Divorce & Separation (Procedural advice, divorce applications, court representation, property and financial rights)

Property & Financial Settlements (General advice, dispute resolution and negotiated settlements, litigated disputes)

Superannuation Settlements (Superannuation agreements, payment splitting orders, payment flags, binding death benefit nominations, self-managed super funds)

Children & Parenting (Parenting arrangements, parenting proceedings, consent orders, contravention proceedings, variation proceedings, parenting plans, location and recovery proceedings, grandparents applications, family violence and child abuse, child support, child support agreements)

Family Violence and Intervention Orders

Binding Financial Agreements (Pre-relationship, during relationship, following separation, enforcement proceedings)

Injunctions & Urgent Applications

Dispute Resolution (Round table conferencing, private mediation)

Litigation

Expertise

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Marriage (Decree of Nullity & Validity Proceedings)

De Facto, Same Sex Relationships (Advice, property & financial rights, financial proceedings, parenting, parenting proceedings)

Divorce & Separation (Procedural advice, divorce applications, court representation, property and financial rights)

Property & Financial Settlements (General advice, dispute resolution and negotiated settlements, litigated disputes)

Superannuation Settlements (Superannuation agreements, payment splitting orders, payment flags, binding death benefit nominations, self-managed super funds)

Children & Parenting (Parenting arrangements, parenting proceedings, consent orders, contravention proceedings, variation proceedings, parenting plans, location and recovery proceedings, grandparents applications, family violence and child abuse, child support, child support agreements)

Family Violence and Intervention Orders

Binding Financial Agreements (Pre-relationship, during relationship, following separation, enforcement proceedings)

Injunctions & Urgent Applications

Dispute Resolution (Round table conferencing, private mediation)

Litigation

Since the firm launched, Elit Lawyers by McGirr & Snell have won multiple awards, including:

Danielle Snell. Managing Partner of the Year.

Managing Partner of the Year - Winner

Law Firm Leader of the Year <100 employees - Winner

Elit Lawyers. Litigation Team of the Year

Litigation Team of the Year - Finalist

NewLaw Firm of the Year - Finalist

Boutique Firm of the Year - Winner

NewLaw Firm of the Year - Finalist

Major Matters

Major Matters

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Get in touch

With us personally, it is just one more way we’re different.

Danielle Snell

CO-FOUNDER AND MANAGING PARTNER

.

Robert McGirr

CO-FOUNDER AND PARTNER

.

Latest News

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"

"The best of the best plaintiff lawyers against insurance companies. We had a very tough and complex case and Danielle and her team settled with the insurance company for an optimal outcome."

Insurance Policy Holder

Home owner

The best of the best plaintiff lawyers team against insurance companies.

We had a very tough and complex case against insurance company that we lost our home and contents.  After disappointing and frustrating process from another law firm and firing them we found Danielle Snell and her team.

They are very dedicated, knowledgeable, passionate and possess great communication skills.  We couldn’t ask for more and settled with a optimal outcome.

"

"It’s great to be able to confidently refer clients to someone who can help and support them, and to feel that they are receiving the best service."

Senior Adviser

Financial Planner

We are so glad to have you in our referral channel.

It’s great to be able to confidently refer clients to someone who can help and support them, and to feel that they are receiving the best service.

"

"This was a “David v Goliath” fight as our dispute was with a large global corporation. The attention, compassion and guidance that Danielle and the team showed us was absolutely incredible."

CEO & Founder

National mental-health support organisation

We recently instructed Danielle from Elit Lawyers by McGirr & Snell to help with a legal dispute. As a small purpose led business, this was a “David v Goliath” fight as our dispute was with a large global corporation. This dispute was during a very emotional time as we were in the middle of a global pandemic, Melbourne’s sixth lockdown, homeschooling and no childcare – all while trying to keep our small business alive.

The attention, compassion and guidance that Danielle and the team showed us was absolutely incredible. I have 10 years legal experience myself and even with that, I was reluctant to litigate, especially during such a difficult time. However Danielle always gave us confidence in knowing that she was in our corner and always working for our best interests, so my reluctance was quickly appeased.

Today I am pleased to share that David defeated Goliath and we could not be more thrilled with the result we received thanks to Danielle and the team from Elit Lawyers. Danielle not only saved our company, but ensured that we could continue doing the good work we were previously and helping improve the lives and mental health of mothers across Australia.

I could not recommend Danielle and the team from Elit Lawyers more highly. I am *hoping* that I will never need their services again, but feel very reassured knowing they are there and always in my corner.

Thank you Danielle and team.

"

"Elit negotiated a settlement which saw all proceedings against my company dismissed, with no order as to costs."

Owner and Managing Director

Major Transport Company

I was recently introduced to Elit Lawyers by McGirr & Snell by my former lawyers after they were required to cease acting for me due to a conflict of interest. The stakes were high as my company was exposed to multiple court proceedings. Elit Lawyers by McGirr & Snell impressed me so much. They went that extra mile and were able to negotiate a settlement which saw all proceedings against my company dismissed, with no order as to costs. I can’t thank Elit enough.

"

"Danielle is a well-known and respected lawyer who knows how to handle difficult and intensive litigation."

Queens Counsel, Devers List

Victorian Bar

Danielle Snell is a very intelligent and impressive lawyer whom I have worked with in my role as senior counsel on various litigation matters.  She is a well-known and respected lawyer who knows how to handle difficult and intensive litigation.  Danielle combines a deep knowledge of the law across many practice areas with a practical approach to litigation, and is authentic and charismatic in her dealings with others.

"

"Danielle and Robert demonstrate outstanding expertise and approach all matters methodically with a clear and practical focus..."

Chief Operations Officer

Peak industry body for fire protection

As Chief Operating Officer it is extremely important to work with lawyers who are easily accessible, honest and trustworthy.  We have briefed Elit Lawyers by McGirr and Snell across various legal disciplines and now use them as our “go to” solicitors.  Danielle and Robert demonstrate outstanding expertise and approach all matters methodically with a clear and practical focus on achieving the best possible result.

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