Angelo Bistolaridis | Principal
Angelo was admitted into practice as a solicitor in 2014 and has worked predominantly in the area of Family Law and Wills & Estates litigation since that time having been involved in a wide range of matters including matters involving jurisdictional issues with foreign courts, child support, complex financial proceedings, acting for third-parties, corporations, trusts and interested parties – including matters that have involved banking institutions and the Australian Taxation Office. In addition, Angelo has acted in parenting matters involving high-conflict disputes between parents and others seeking orders with respect to children as well as parenting disputes involving high-risk abuse, neglect or harm allegations.
Between the period 2020 and 2023, Angelo had the privilege of being appointed a Registrar and then Judicial Registrar of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia. In his role, Angelo undertook procedural and enforcement hearing work in court lists and was responsible for financial and parenting lists in both the Parramatta and Sydney Registries of that court and in Division 1 and 2. In addition, Angelo undertook Family Dispute Resolution Conferences for Parenting disputes and Conciliation Conferences for Financial disputes where he mediated agreements between parties.
Angelo is a lecturer at the Western Sydney University where he has lectured in the Family Law and Advanced Family Law subjects.
Angelo is a registered AIFLAM Arbitrator and is able to undertake Arbitrations for parties under the Family Law Act. As a former Registrar Angelo is also able to facilitate dispute resolution in family law matters but is not an FDR practitioner – he has a real passion in helping people resolve disputes, out of court in a quick, inexpensive and efficient way.
Jessica Berry (née McKinley) | Special Counsel
Jess was admitted into practice as a solicitor in 2016 and has specialised in family law and wills and estates (including estate litigation) in that time.
Jess’ experience extends to complex parenting and property matters. Jess has extensive experience in high net worth complex property matters involving trusts, corporate structures and third-party intervenors. Jess has dealt with all manner of loan disputes, constructive trusts, tax issues as well as combatting family corporate, trust and shareholder structures designed to limit entitlements under the Family Law Act 1975.
As a mother Jess understands the difficulties surrounding parental disputes and has spent years both defending and prosecuting claims of coercive control, family violence, child abuse, parental alienation and psychiatric or mental illness concerns in highly contested child related proceedings.
Jess takes a practical and sensible approach to all matters and assists clients with resolving disputes outside of court wherever possible and as quickly as possible. She regularly advises and drafts Binding Financial Agreements (commonly known as pre-nuptial or post-nuptial agreements), Applications for Consent Orders and parenting plans. Jess is collaboratively trained and is able to work in collaborative law cases.
In addition to her family law practice, Jess assists clients with their estate planning needs from drafting Wills, Wills incorporating testamentary trusts, Wills incorporating special disability trusts, binding death benefit nominations, powers of attorney and appointments of enduring guardian. Jess tailors her approach to assist clients with their individual needs including wealth protection, blended families and vulnerable beneficiaries. She is also able to assist clients with their duties as executors in administering estates and as well as contesting wills or family provision claims.
In 2024 Jess became an accredited AIFLAM mediator and she takes on all property and post-filing parenting matters.
Christina Lam | FDRP
Christina Lam is a Law Society Accredited Specialist following her admission as a lawyer in 2009 and now offers mediations exclusively through Myra Aris & Co.
As a Solicitor/Advocate, Christina often conducts hearings on both an Interim and Final basis in the Federal Circuit Court and Family Court in Parramatta, Sydney, and Wollongong.
Since her admission, Christina has worked primarily in Family Law, both in private firms and Legal Aid NSW. Her experience has included successfully representing clients in the Family Court of Australia, the Federal Circuit Court of Australia, Local Courts, and the Supreme Court of New South Wales.
Christina has significant experience in a wide range of family law issues including parenting matters, property matters, child support, divorce, financial settlements, and de-facto relationships. Her experience also involves complex parenting and child support matters surrounding family violence, relocation, paternity, child support assessments and arrears, and child support agreements.
Christina sits on the Legal Aid Commission of NSW's Panel of Independent Children's Lawyers and is regularly appointed to represent the best interests of children in parenting disputes.
In addition to being a Solicitor/Advocate, Christina is also an accredited Registered Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner (A.G.Department) who can assist parties with resolving family law disputes in relation to parenting, property, or child support.
Stephanie Azzi | FDRP
Stephanie holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Wollongong, a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice, and a Bachelor of Commerce with a major in Human Resource Management. She has specialised in family law since 2017. In November 2019, Stephanie completed her Master of Applied Law (Family Law), followed by her Master of Applied Law majoring in Family Dispute Resolution Practice in 2021.
Stephanie is a Nationally Accredited Mediator (NMAS) and a Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner (FDRP). She has also completed specialist training to become a qualified Collaborative Lawyer, and she holds certifications as a Parenting Coordinator and Conflict Coach. Additionally, Stephanie has been trained as an Independent Children’s Lawyer.
In 2021, Stephanie was named a finalist for the Rising Star of the Year Award by the Women Lawyers Association of NSW. She is an active member of the Greater West Family Law Practitioners Association, where she contributes to the organisation’s initiatives.
Known for her exceptional negotiation skills, Stephanie often achieves successful outcomes in family law matters without the need for clients to proceed to court. She takes a compassionate, client-focused approach to help individuals navigate the challenges of separation.
Beyond her expertise in dispute resolution, Stephanie is a strong advocate, having represented clients in a broad range of family law matters, including children’s issues, de facto relationships, same-sex relationships, spousal maintenance, property disputes, child abduction, and contravention applications.