Briana Kotzapavlidis

Briana Kotzapavlidis commenced her legal career in general practice, where she gained broad experience in commercial, litigation, property and estate (planning and litigation) and criminal law, whilst maintaining her family law practice. She has practised exclusively in Family Law for more than 14 years and was promoted to principal in 2018.

Briana has experience in difficult property cases, concerning companies, trusts and businesses and involving complex taxation issues. She acts in a range of parenting matters, including international issues such as relocation and child abduction cases under the Hague Convention. Briana regularly assists her clients to negotiate parenting arrangements which are in the best interests of their children.

Briana has a particular interest in child support. She worked as a Senior Lawyer for the Australian Government Solicitor where she was the legal advisor to the Child Support Agency (“CSA”) National office (in relation to policy and litigation). More recently, Briana has acted for the Department of Human Services (Child Support) in complex child support matters, including international maintenance cases. Briana has experience in a broad range of child support matters, including enforcement, appeals, departure prohibition orders, departure and parentage testing matters.

Briana Kotzapavlidis was awarded an Australia Day Medallion in 2007 in recognition of her outstanding professional contribution and work in the child support field. Briana has also represented the Attorney-General’s Department and the Deputy Commissioner of Taxation in the Family Court of Australia. Briana was named a finalist for the Special Counsel category at the 2018 Women in Law Awards, one of the industry’s premier events.

There is little doubt that family law can be an emotionally difficult and stressful time for clients, who may be facing a range of highly personal and individual challenges. Briana is sensitive to the need to balance her warm and empathetic approach, with providing clear, firm and direct advice to guide her clients in navigating those challenges and to support her clients to work toward the best possible outcome for them.

Outside of the firm, Briana is kept busy with three young children. She enjoys cooking, spending time with her husband, family and friends and comes from a long line of St Kilda Football Club supporters.