Dara comes to the bar with extensive experience in family law and related jurisdictions. 

Prior to coming to the bar, Dara was a Senior Associate at Lander & Rogers in Melbourne and previously worked in Canberra at a prominent national family law firm.

As a solicitor Dara had carriage of complex family law matters, both at first instance as well as at the appellate level.  Dara’s experience includes parenting matters; family violence; international relocation and Hague convention; Financial Agreements; property settlement matters, including involving third party interests, business structures and trusts.    

Dara has also worked as a solicitor in Wills & Estates and brings this knowledge to her family law matters. 

As a solicitor Dara regularly appeared on behalf of her clients in interlocutory and interim matters in the Federal Circuit Court and the Family Court of Australia.  Dara honed her advocacy skills while working in Canberra from 2011 until 2014, as a fused jurisdiction of barristers and solicitors, she was afforded much more appearance work than solicitors in other jurisdictions.

In addition to her work as a solicitor, Dara has also worked for Oxfam in the Solomon Islands, for a not-for-profit local organisation in Nicaragua, and for the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda in Tanzania.  

Dara is available to appear in all areas of family law and related jurisdictions both in Victoria, including circuits, as well as interstate.  Dara is also available to provide advice and draft documents for family law matters. 

Dara accepts briefs in all aspects of family law matters and related jurisdictions.  She has particular interest in financial matters involving Property Development aspects as well as complex superannuation issues.     

Dara is an LIV Accredited Family Law Specialist.  

Dara is also an accredited AIFLAM mediator and accepts matters which qualify for AIFLAM mediation rates. 

Dara read with Andrew Barbayannis.  Her Senior Mentor is Marylyn Smallwood SC.