Emmalaura Messer
Principal Lawyer | Family Law | Collaborative Lawyer

Expertise

Emmalaura has not only a unique name but also a unique approach to family law matters. Emmalaura is one of a small number of Melbourne family lawyers who is both trained in and practices Collaborative Law, and at the other end of the spectrum, is highly skilled at managing high conflict litigation. As a result, Emmalaura’s experience varies across all aspects of family law, including simple and complex property and parenting matters, high wealth matters, same sex relationships, family violence and almost everything in between.

Emmalaura focuses her approach to family law around the needs of the client by putting herself in their shoes. She uses plain language to demystify the legal system and keep her clients informed so that they are best placed to make decisions and have control of their own family law matter. Emmalaura’s client-centred approach enables her clients to achieve tailored outcomes and minimise ongoing stress and other disruptions whilst their matter is resolved.

Emmalaura also has extensive advocacy experience, having appeared many times as a solicitor advocate before the Federal Circuit Court and Family Court of Australia and Magistrates’ Court of Victoria, as well as before the Family Court of Western Australia.

Emmalaura works closely with HOCW’s Wills and Estates team (in particular the Estate Litigation and VCAT Administration teams), our Property team and our Commercial Law team to provide holistic services to clients in complex matters that traverse multiple jurisdictions. This collective approach ensures that our client’s legal needs can be met in a comprehensive but efficient fashion.

About Emmalaura

Emmalaura began her legal career at the County Court of Victoria and subsequently as a Judge’s Associate at the Supreme Court of Victoria. Whilst working at Victoria Legal Aid, Emmalaura discovered her passion for Family Law and moved into private practice shortly after.

In addition to her legal training, Emmalaura holds a Bachelor of Behavioural Science and a Master of Laws majoring in Dispute Resolution. Emmalaura is trained as a collaborative lawyer and as a mediator, and in 2014 completed additional study in managing high conflict personalities in legal disputes.

Emmalaura has volunteered for many years in various capacities, including as a volunteer lawyer at Women’s Legal Service, on an Owners’ Corporation committee, at the Starlight Room at the Royal Children’s Hospital, in a boarding school in the south of England and in a human rights NGO in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

In her spare time, Emmalaura is an avid traveller. She can often be found listening to live music, at a comedy show or wandering around a local market.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Behavioural Science - La Trobe University
• Bachelor of Laws – La Trobe University
• Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice – College of Law
• Master of Laws – Monash University

Admissions

• Supreme Court of Victoria
• High Court of Australia

Memberships and Committees

• Law Institute of Victoria
• Family Law Section, Law Council of Australia
• Victorian Women Lawyers
• Victorian Association of Collaborative Professionals (VACP)