About
Emma understands that relationship breakdown is one of life’s most stressful experiences. Her focus is helping clients bring their dispute to an end as promptly as possible, knowing they are heard, understood and receiving quality advice and representation. She helps clients decide whether that outcome is best achieved through court or alternative dispute resolution. Her financial work includes complex settlements involving assets held or removed overseas, financial positions that have not been openly disclosed, assets held across corporate and trust structures, and inheritances received before or after separation. She has appeared in matters referred to the Major Complex Financial Proceedings List and acts for property clients across a number of Australian states. Emma’s parenting work includes arrangements for where children live and the time they spend with each parent, relocation, international travel, and matters involving family violence, child abuse, complex mental health issues or parental substance abuse. She was instructing solicitor in the successful appeal of Friseal & Friseal [2025] FedCFamC1A 102. In that case, the Full Court reinforced the five forensic steps a trial judge should take when determining allegations of coercion and control, as set out in Pickford. Emma also advises on spousal maintenance, divorce and financial agreements, both to finalise financial settlements and to protect assets in the event of separation, including for children of a previous relationship. She regularly appears in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia. Emma began her legal career at PWB in 1999. Her interest in children’s matters took her to London in 2002, where she provided child protection advice and representation. She returned to Hobart in 2005 and practised family law with an established local firm before rejoining PWB in January 2008. She became a principal in 2009. Emma has been consistently recognised in Doyle’s Guide to the Australian Legal Market since 2014, including as a recommended family lawyer and, in 2026, as a leading family and divorce lawyer in Tasmania.
Doyle’s Guide recognition
2026
Leading
Family and Divorce
Tasmania
2026
Recommended
Parenting and Children’s Matters
Tasmania
2025
Recommended
Family and Divorce
Tasmania
2024
Recommended
Family and Divorce
Tasmania
2023
Recommended
Family and Divorce
Tasmania
Doyle’s Guide’s family law rankings are based on peer nominations recognising lawyers’ expertise and abilities.
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What to expect at your first appointment