Craig Taylor is a co-director at Paterson & Dowding and his practice is focused on complex property matters.
He is an Accredited Family Law Specialist with over 25 years’ experience and is recognised as one of WA’s Leading Family & Divorce Lawyers by Doyles in the areas of complex spousal maintenance and property settlements.
He has extensive experience in complex matters that involve family trusts, family businesses, farming enterprises and all the dynastic and financial control issues that go along with these structures; spousal maintenance; non-disclosure; and the need to issue proceedings to regain or obtain financial certainty.
His initial focus will always be on mediation or arbitration to avoid the cost of going to court. However, if this is not an option, the Family Court is there for a reason.
Prior to joining Paterson and Dowding Family Lawyers in 2006, Craig managed his own law firm and was also a founding partner in a personal injury, family law and insurance firm for over 10 years. He now concentrates on family law property and financial disputes.
Craig has practised as a family lawyer in Perth since the early 1990s and accepts instructions in all property related matters ranging from small estates to large, complex financial disputes involving such things as:
- Family Trusts
- Unit Trusts
- Trading Companies
- Businesses
- Partnerships
- Splitting of both self managed and institutional superannuation funds
In the family law context, terminating financial relationships and dividing property can give rise to complex taxation, valuation and accounting issues. Craig will work with your accountant and other advisers, or help you appoint other experts to ensure the accurate identification and valuation of assets in order to reach a fair property settlement in a tax effective manner. Parties in family law disputes have to make important financial decisions at probably one of the most emotional times of their lives. Craig will give you calm, objective advice to help you make the right choices. Craig is an experienced negotiator. He understands the need to identify tactics and strategies to bring about early settlement. Although we will focus on negotiation and mediation at all times, Craig recognises the importance of litigation and when to use it. Sometimes you need to litigate in order to negotiate.
In his spare time Craig is a keen surfer and sailor of radio control yachts. He likes to travel to a surf break somewhere in the world at least once a year.
Contact Craig on 9226 3300 for an initial chat about your unique circumstances.
QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor of Jurisprudence, University of Western Australia, 1985
Bachelor of Laws, University of Western Australia, 1986
Admitted in the High Court of Australia, 1990
Accredited Family Law Specialist, 2009
Mediation Style Conference Convenor, 2012
ADMITTED TO PRACTICE
3 February 1987
MEMBERSHIPS
Law Society of Western Australia
Family Law Practitioners’ Association of Western Australia
Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia
EXPERTISE
Financial Division
Spousal Maintenance
Divorce