Chris Forster 
State Practice Manager, Melbourne
Family Law
What attracts Chris Forster to Family Law is that it allows him to build relationships with clients and help them at a very personal level deal with issues of enormous importance in their lives.
Chris has represented clients with varying backgrounds and experiences, including tradesmen, accountants, unemployed, carers, same-sex people and stay-at-home mums. They all have different stories and histories to relate but they have all needed assistance to navigate the issues that arise after separation.
Chris has provided advice in relation to all aspects of family law issues such as Financial Agreements (including “Pre-Nuptial Agreements”), children’s living arrangements, child abduction, property settlements, spousal maintenance, child support, and intervention orders.
What Chris likes most about his job is the opportunity to help people to resolve financial issues and children’s issues that arise after a separation. It is extremely rewarding to be involved in the transition for clients dealing with the stress and trauma that is involved in a family breakdown to a point where they are able to make positive steps forward in their lives.
What is most important to Chris in his work is the fact that clients are satisfied with the resolution of their issues and that he has met their interests in the best and most cost-effective way possible for them.
Chris’ style of communication and work is firstly to listen carefully to clients and to gain an understanding of their interests, concerns and priorities. He likes to provide clients with a range of options in terms of the processes that can be followed to resolve their issues. Chris understand that clients will generally wish to avoid Court proceedings if at all possible and has undertaken additional training in Collaborative Practice which is a form of alternative dispute resolution.
“It is great to sometimes receive a note of thanks from a client for providing support throughout a stressful and traumatic experience, for helping them to retain a sense of perspective and for providing practical and sensible advice.”
Expertise
Career History
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Slater & Gordon since 2008 (lawyer)
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2003 – 2008 Auditore Pty Ltd (lawyer)
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2000 – 2003 Maurice Blackburn Cashman (lawyer)
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1997 – 2000 Jamieson Johnston (lawyer)
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1996 – 1997 Baker & Partners (lawyer)
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1993 – 1996 McGrath & Co (Articles and lawyer)
Memberships & Associations
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Law Institute of Victoria member
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Family Law Specialist Discussion Group member
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Collaborative Law Practice Group member
Professional Qualifications & Admissions
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2001 Accredited Family Law Specialist
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2000 Admitted, Supreme Court of Victoria
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1996 Admitted, Supreme Court of Western Australia
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1994 Admitted, Supreme Court of Tasmania
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1993 Graduate Certificate of Legal Practice, University of Tasmania
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1992 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws, University of Tasmania