Karen commenced work as an Articled Clerk on the Gold Coast in 1988, following completion of a Bachelor of Arts Degree at the University of Queensland. Karen has practised on the Gold Coast since that time. She completed her Articles of Clerkship on an external part-time basis and graduated with a Bachelor of Laws with Honours from Queensland University of Technology in 1994. The first 11 years of Karen’s legal experience was in a general legal office where she practised in all areas of the law. Karen has also worked as a tutor at Queensland University of Technology and at Bond University. Karen has practised in family law since approximately 1995 and, since 1999, has practised exclusively in that area. Karen became an Accredited Family Law Specialist in 1999 and is a member of the Queensland Collaborative Law Association. Karen has over 27 years of experience in family law matters. Karen believes that the birth of her daughter in 2002 has given an added dimension to her understanding and empathy in this area of law. Karen has a strong belief in assisting her clients to resolve their matters out of the Court process wherever possible and to “decode” for clients the complex and ever changing area of family law.