Our Team

Carla Franchina

Associate Director

carla@flplegal.com.au

Areas of Specialty within Family Law:

• Complex Property and Financial Matters

• Complex Parenting Matters

• Dispute Resolution

“My approach is empathetic, proactive and tactical. I want to help my clients build confidence and positivity around forging their new life pathway.”

Hi, I am Carla, the Associate Director of FLP Legal.

I have worked in specialist family law firms in Brisbane since 2010. I commenced my career with Joe at Hartley Healy. Firstly, as an administrative assistant and paralegal and then as a practising solicitor following my admission in 2013. I worked at Hartley Healy until mid-2016. I then worked for another reputable family law firm until April 2021. My experience has gifted me with a well-rounded approach and I have been recognised with industry nominations identifying me as a leading young legal practitioner for consecutive years. I have also completed Mediation and Collaborative Practice training.

In March 2021, Joe contacted me and told me he had commenced a new firm with a new direction and approach because he had become disillusioned with the status quo model. He asked me to join Family Law Planning to help him create a different, more client-centric approach to family law.

I agree with Joe that the conventional family law practice management model can lead to uncertainty and distress for clients, both with respect to process and the ultimate costs they face. It risks enabling a contentious process where lawyers become part of the conflict rather than part of the solution, which is damaging and stressful for all involved.

I was immediately interested in the opportunity to help Joe purposefully build a firm to decrease these barriers and deliver value for our niche clientele with a different, more structured, planned and transparent approach to family law.

I share Joe’s vision, what FLP stands for and who FLP is unapologetic about serving and not serving. They are consistent with my personal values.

I am excited to be part of a business that stands for something and enables me to, genuinely and authentically, achieve what I set out to do as a lawyer: to guide, support and empower my clients to build a better future without jeopardising that future through unknown legal fees and process. At FLP, we all share the desire to operate in a different way to achieve better outcomes for our niche clientele.

My approach is empathetic, proactive and tactical. I want to help my clients build confidence and positivity around forging their new life pathway. I am passionate about assisting clients to resolve their matters quickly and cost-effectively in order to minimise the associated emotional and financial toll that family law matters can have. I aim to encourage focus on a pathway that is geared towards achieving the most optimal legal and personal outcome through amicable agreements wherever practical and possible.

I have experience in all areas of family law, including:

• Complex property settlements involving companies and trusts

• Financial agreements

• Spousal maintenance

• De facto relationships

• Parenting matters, including relocation matters

• Child support matters, including child support agreements

• Divorce matters

• Domestic violence matters

• Matters involving third-party intervenors

• International family law

• Dispute resolution

• Caveats

• Subpoenas

• Litigation in the Federal Circuit Court and Family Court of Australia

• Appeals.

Denni Rogers

Senior Legal Consultant

Areas of Specialty within Family Law:

• Complex Research involving novel areas of law

• Financial Matters involving corporate structures

• Parenting Matters, including relocation matters

“My skills and services can assist in delivering the client-centric products that Family Law Planning are committed to providing.”

Hi, I am Denni, a Senior Legal Consultant here at FLP Legal.

I was admitted to practice as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of Queensland and the High Court of Australia in July 2012. After my admission as a solicitor, I was employed by a number of reputable Brisbane family law firms where I gained invaluable experience and exposure to a raft of simple and complex family law matters. This included working with Joe at Hartley Healy for 5 years (2013 to 2017).

Whilst engaged in private practice with Hartley Healy, I was recognised as one of Queensland’s Rising Stars in Family Law for 2018 in Doyle’s Guide to the Australian Legal Profession.

I have developed a sense of pride in my ability and reputation amongst my fellow family law practitioners. My key strengths are:

• Clear writing style and high level of oral and written communication skills, with strong attention to detail

• Proven ability to work autonomously and collaboratively

• My dedication to providing superior advice and service

• Working knowledge of the relevant applicable law and rules and my dedication to keeping up to date on legislative changes and recent cases

• Drafting affidavit material for interim and final hearings, Court Orders and Court material

• Drafting Binding Financial Agreements and Binding Child Support Agreements

• Complex legal research and analysis with regard to the application of the legislation and case law on a client’s matter

• Detailed letters of advice in respect of property settlement, Financial Agreements, child support and Child Support Agreements, international relocation, jurisdiction and other complex issues

• Drafting of submissions for both interim hearings and final hearings

• Drafting case outline documents and mediation position papers

• An ability to understand corporate structures, balance sheets and profit and loss statements

• My ability to build positive working relationships

• My proactive approach to implementing strategies and tactics

• My work ethic, reliability and dedication

• My empathy

• Effective time management.

Joe contacted me in 2021 and told me that he had commenced a new business with a different approach for a niche clientele. He said he believed my personal values were consistent with Family Law Planning’s values and that my skills would benefit the niche clientele. 

My expertise lies in drafting, advising and undertaking complex research involving novel areas of law. I have a particular interest in financial matters involving corporate structures and entities which complements Family Law Planning’s niche clientele of professionals, entrepreneurs and SME clients.

I found Joe’s concept interesting, different and something I wanted to contribute towards through my services. I believe my skills and services can assist in delivering the client-centric products that Family Law Planning are committed to providing.

I have experience in all areas of family law, including:

• Complex property settlements involving companies and trusts

• Financial Agreements

• Spousal maintenance

• De facto relationships

• Parenting matters, including relocation matters

• Child Support matters, including Child Support Agreements

• Divorce matters

• Domestic violence matters

• Matters involving third-party intervenors

• International family law

• Dispute resolution

• Caveats

• Subpoenas

• Litigation in the Federal Circuit Court and the Family Court

• Appeals.

I enjoy working collaboratively and effectively and look forward to providing superior service to you by assisting in a successful resolution of your family law event.

Thomas Ashton

Lawyer

thomas@flplegal.com.au

Areas of Specialty within Family Law:

• Review of Disclosure Documents

• Mediation Preparation

• Court Appearances

• Assisting Clients with day-to-day matters

Hi, I am Tom, a family lawyer here at FLP Legal.

After completing my Bachelor of Law in 2020, I began working at a criminal and family law firm based on the Gold Coast while completing my Practice Legal Training. Whilst criminal law has always interested me, I found I had a knack for family law. So, in late 2020, after completing my PLT, I moved to Mackay in North Queensland to begin practicing in family law.

During my time in Mackay, I was exposed to conveyancing law and was a great learning experience for me. I have been able to use that knowledge to best guide my clients through any post-settlement compliance obligations involving the sale of real property.

After 1 year in Mackay, I moved back to my hometown of Brisbane and have continued working solely in family law for the past 3 years. During my years in family law so far, I have assisted on property settlement matters, parenting and domestic violence matters and advocacy work for my clients.

In 2023, I joined FLP Legal, as I wanted to be part of a team that was collaborative and had a focus on providing outcomes of sufficient quality to clients. The support at FLP Legal has allowed me to further develop my skills in both parenting and property matters. I have been exposed to complex property and parenting matters, dealing with large property pools, relocation matters and non-disclosure issues.

I have a 'no-nonsense' approach' when assisting Joe and Carla in achieving outcomes for our clients that are commercially sensible and practical for their family. It is important to me that I provide my clients with the tools they need to overcome the separation hurdle that sometimes seems insurmountable. I aim to provide my clients with detailed, considered options to achieve their end goals. I look forward to assisting you achieve a resolution.

Jennifer Jimenez

Paralegal

jenny@flplegal.com.au

Areas of Specialty:

• Supporting our Director and Solicitors with family law matters

• Client Care & Relations

• Collation & Preparation of Disclosure Documentation

Hi, I am Jenny, the Paralegal here at FLP Legal. I will be your main point of contact when you phone our office.

I recently graduate in 2023 with a Bachelor of Law (Honours) at Queensland University of Technology. I am currently undertaking my PLT (Practical Legal Training) with the College of Law and am set to be admitted as a Lawyer in November 2024.

Prior to completing my law degree, I completed a Bachelor of Business Management (Marketing) in 2020. However not long after I graduated, the pandemic hit. This gave me a lot of time to reflect on my degree and I realised that the subjects that sparked the most joy in me were the prerequisite law ones, so it was an easy decision to transition to a law degree.

I began working from FLP Legal over 2 years ago as a Law Clerk where I undertook the administrative functions of the business including greeting clients, calendar management and organisation of disclosure documentation. In June 2023, I was promoted to Paralegal at the firm and my main responsibilities now include client care and relations, filing court material, indexing and collation of client's disclosure documents, searches and court material.

Starting my legal career at FLP Legal, whilst at university has allowed me to gain a strong understanding of the family law process and how best to support our clients. FLP's work culture fosters the growth of all team members, including my own which has allowed me to learn and develop my skills as I support the solicitors on file work.

At FLP, we value a collaborative environment which may mean that I will communicate with you from time to time to assist our solicitors. Whether that be relaying a message, assisting your with collating your disclosure, or answering any questions you may have. Our clients would describe me as reliable, efficient and eager to help. I am more than happy to assist on any task, big or small, to help you achieve the family law outcome you seek.