Caroline Teo is a Collaborative Lawyer with strong foundations in Trusts, Estate and Succession Planning law. She has a particular interest and experience in complex financial matters, third party representation, financial agreements, trusts and jurisdictional/inter-jurisdictional disputes in the Family Court.

Caroline initially commencing her career in 2004 as a Trusts, Estate and Succession Planning lawyer, she made the transition into the financial aspects of Family Law utilising her Trusts, Estate and Succession Planning foundations. She has since developed her Family Law practice to extend to all aspects of family law with a focus on complex property and financial matters particularly those matters involving trusts, partnerships and corporate structures, issues of legal and commercial complexity, financial agreements, de facto claims, spousal maintenance, third party representation in the Family Court and jurisdictional/inter-jurisdictional disputes.

With her background in Trusts, Estate and Succession Planning, Caroline regularly provides family law asset protection advice to her clients as part of their Estate and Succession Planning, working together with the family accountant and or Estate Planning lawyer and or financial planner.  Caroline is also experienced at providing family law advice to clients entering into a new relationship or marriage, so that they can consider whether a financial agreement (prenuptial agreement) may be appropriate in their circumstances.

Caroline is passionate about achieving the best possible outcomes for her clients.  She strongly believes in resolving disputes promptly and commercially with the use of alternative dispute resolution where practicable.  Where disputes have to be litigated, she has established relationships with many of the leading barristers in Western Australia. In complex matters, and where commercially practicable, Caroline strongly believes in the team approach to resolving her client’s legal issues, and will work collaboratively with other professionals such as her client’s accountants and financial planners, commercial and tax lawyers to work out the best outcome for her clients.

Caroline is also a member of Collaborative Professionals WA and is able to represent her clients in this form of alternative dispute resolution, where appropriate and desired.

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor of Arts Asian Studies, Murdoch University

Bachelor of Laws, Murdoch University

Admitted Supreme Court of Westerns Australia

Admitted to High Court of Australia

ADMITTED TO PRACTICE

5 February 2004

MEMBERSHIPS

Law Society of Western Australia

Family Law Practitioners’ Association of Western Australia, Assistant Secretary and Treasurer

Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia

Women Lawyers of Western Australia

Tax Institute of Australia, Affiliate

Collaborative Professionals WA

Australian Institute of Family Law Arbitrators and Mediators (AIFLAM)

EXPERTISE

Complex financial and property settlements

Third party representation in the Family Court

Inter-jurisdictional disputes