Tania Wolff

I look forward to supporting our legal community in 2021. My experience encompasses commercial law, in-house counsel roles and criminal law. I am an accredited specialist in criminal law and a sessional legal member of the Mental Health Tribunal. I manage a health justice partnership within a mental health and addiction services clinic in St Kilda. I am committed to compassionate legal practice which is central to the work I do every day. I hope to advocate for members and contribute to increasing access to justice and advancing therapeutic jurisprudence and justice reinvestment. 

Email twolff@liv.asn.au 

Council m​ember since January 2016

Brendan Lacota

I am head of Community Programs at Justice Connect, board member of St Kilda Legal Service and co-founder of LifeDocs, a legal technology service unlocking the law for people who are otherwise unable to afford legal services. New technologies, spurred on by the pandemic, present opportunities for the delivery of legal services, access to justice and the courts. As president-elect I will help our members and the LIV capitalise on these opportunities and navigate the challenges to build a stronger, healthier and more diverse profession.

Email  brendan.lacota@justiceconnect.org.au

Council m​ember since January 2017

Molina Asthana

My previous Australian experience was as principal solicitor with the Victorian Government Solicitor's Office and with Minter Ellison and Clayton Utz. I also have significant experience of practice in India. I am the vice-president of the Asian Australian Lawyers Association and sit on other boards. In addition to addressing your concerns for a smooth post-pandemic recovery, I will continue to advocate for greater cultural diversity in the profession, access to justice for CALD communities and address sexism in the profession. 

Email molina.sasthana@gmail.com

Council m​ember since January 2017

Tom Ballantyne

I started at Maurice Blackburn in 2006 and am now head of the Victorian medical law practice. In addition to my expertise in common law litigation, I have leadership and practice management experience and have had significant experience with legal policy and advocacy. The next decade will be one of immense change and opportunity for the legal profession, particularly in terms of access to justice, technology and changing demographics, and the LIV must be ready to advocate for members.

Email tballantyne@mauriceblackburn.com.au

Council m​ember since January 2019

Rebecca Alexander

I am a country lawyer based in south west Victoria. In my role on the LIV Council I will work to ensure that the LIV remains focused on the interests of the majority of members (not just the outspoken few). There are many regional and suburban lawyers who are busy in their practices but who faithfully pay their membership fees and deserve to be properly represented. I aim to bring their perspectives to the boardroom table.

Email ralexander@slmlaw.com.au

Council member since January 2020

Caitlin Baker

As a lawyer in Slater and Gordon’s class actions practice with more than nine years experience in the class actions and personal injury sectors, I am driven to shape the profession to maximise opportunities for solicitors across the legal profession to advocate for those who need accessible representation most. I look forward to working with Council to promote policies that increase diversity and access to justice, enhance mental health support for practitioners and improve engagement and value for LIV members.

Elly Blizzard

Admitted as an Australian lawyer in 2017, I am an insurance law practitioner with a focus on medical law. I am passionate about legal innovation, generating ideas and leveraging technology to improve process and the client experience. I also believe in continuous learning through professional and personal development courses, webinars and podcasts. I am excited to work with the LIV Council to enhance accessibility to and quality of e-learning opportunities for LIV members and drive the implementation of legal technology solutions to support members with practice management issues.

Email eblizzard@landers.com.au

Council member since January 2021

Caroline Counsel

As a past president and returning LIV Council member, I have a breadth of corporate memory. We are in a period of enormous change, resulting in challenges for members, board and management. I am an LIV accredited specialist in family law, mediator, family dispute resolution practitioner and collaborative lawyer, and have been in practice for 35 years. I am a member and have been Council liaison of the Family Law Section Executive. I am an LIV Specialisation Board member, executive member of the LCA board, VLAB and LIV Family Violence Portfolio chair.

Rachel Cox

I understand the everyday challenges of running a small practice, from trust accounting to juggling administration and client work. I hope to use my time on Council to connect with other lawyers facing these challenges and to help support them. Now, more than ever, effective advocacy is important to ensure lawyers have their needs heard and considered by state government. The LIV has worked hard throughout 2020 to voice the profession’s needs and, in 2021, I hope to contribute to that advocacy to ensure the profession’s collective voice is heard.

Email rachel@halcyonlegal.com.au

Council member since January 2019

Lauren Crome

I have experience in both commercial and community law. I am passionate about social justice and believe in the importance of using my legal expertise to make a positive difference in the community. During my second year on the LIV Council I will continue my commitment to enhancing access to justice for all Victorians, ensuring the voice of early career lawyers is heard and valued, and ensuring that members of the legal profession receive the support they need as they navigate the impacts of COVID-19 now and into the future.

Email lauren_crome@live.com.au

Council member since January 2020

Majella Foster-Jones

I enjoy working for VLA in regional Victoria, with a practice focused on children’s and criminal law. I highly value my accredited specialisation. There are many existing and new challenges for the LIV to address, and opportunity to embrace the current appetite throughout the justice system for innovation, which has become imperative in our profession’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuring continued access to justice. I look forward to focusing on these opportunities during my term to make a difference with respect to law reform, support for members and access to justice.

Email rmajellaf@vla.vic.gov.au

Council member since February 2020

Rebecca Johnston-Ryan

I have worked in various roles in government since 2010 including senior solicitor to the State Coroner at the Coroners Court of Victoria and supervising lawyer for the Family Violence and Drug Court at Victoria Police’s Melbourne Prosecutions Unit. I intend to advocate for increased mental health support for lawyers, increased visibility and support of differently-abled members of the profession in Victoria, increased support for early-career lawyers in government roles to grow their careers, and the promotion of therapeutic and specialist jurisdictions in Victoria.

Email rebecca.l.johnston-Ryan@police.vic.gov.au

Council member since January 2021

Rodd Levy

I am an M&A partner at Herbert Smith Freehills, with expertise in public company takeover work. I have been a partner at the firm for more than 30 years and have experienced first-hand the pressures on Victorian solicitors as the profession and demand for legal services has developed over time. I am managing partner of our Melbourne office. I believe that the larger firms should be more involved in the LIV. I aim to ensure the LIV helps all Victorian solicitors develop long-term sustainable careers and provides value for the membership fees paid.

Email rodd.levy@hsf.com

Council member since January 2021

Tom May

I practise mainly in taxation law, have been involved in voluntary organisations within and outside the legal profession and have an interest in the agricultural sector. It is essential that the LIV provides members with value for money by keeping down membership fees as much as possible and charging appropriately for services on a user pays basis. The LIV should help members become comfortable with changing technologies and work patterns, continue to place emphasis on the sections and take steps towards creating a stronger national lawyers’ organisation.

Email tom.may@madgwicks.com.au

Council member from 2001 to 2015 and since January 2017

John McPherson

I work at a plaintiff personal injuries law practice with its main offices in Bendigo and Melbourne’s CBD. An accredited specialist in personal injury law, I previously sat on the Specialisation Committee. I am a volunteer in and supporter of the CLC sector. I am also a member of the Victorian Committee of the Australian Lawyers Alliance of long standing. In 2021 I aim to assist the profession to adjust to the “new normal” of a post-pandemic world and deal with the ongoing consequences of 2020’s profound disruptions.

Email johnm@ardmc.com.au

Council member since January 2017

John Toohey

Since admission in 1983 I’ve worked in Melbourne, Darwin and Perth for small and medium sized city law firms. I’ve experienced legal practice as an employee, partner, practice manager, consultant, mentor and employer. I provide legal service to individuals, families, businesses, trustee companies, schools and charities, and am a member of the Institute of Company Directors and Society of Trust & Estates Practitioners. I am advocating for enhanced mental health support for practitioners, providing quality CPD at affordable prices and, as a wills and estates specialist, extending the LIV accreditation program.

Email jtoohey@pearcewebster.com.au

Council member since January 2019

Stuart Webb

As a past president of the LIV, I have a deep knowledge of the challenge the LIV has to ensure it remains relevant, engaged and responsive to our membership. I shall ensure that the LIV is consultative, energised, financially sustained and appropriately governed, engages with the membership to provide the services you seek in your professional body, speaks boldly on behalf of the legal profession on issues that matter, and continues to promote access to justice and diversity in the profession. I look forward to working with you and on your behalf.

Email secretariat@liv.asn.au

Council member since January 2007

Kathy Wilson

I am an LIV accredited specialist in wills and estates. With long experience in CBD and suburban law firms, and active membership of LIV section committees, I appreciate the challenges facing members. I also have considerable experience as a company director, including as chair of board committees in finance, audit and risk, governance and nominations and remuneration, and aim to bring that experience to the work of the LIV Council. I am committed to building a strong LIV with good governance which strives to support and advocate for the profession and the rule of law.

Email kwilson@kwlegal.com.au

Council member since January 2021