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This session focused on helping family law practitioners develop the skills and confidence to prepare for and conduct interim hearings in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia. It covered key principles of interim applications, including preparation, evidence, strategy and advocacy.
SENIOR JUDICIAL REGISTRAR HILES
SENIOR JUDICIAL REGISTRAR I FEDERAL CIRCUIT AND FAMILY COURT OF AUSTRALIA
Senior Judicial Registrar Hiles commenced working in family law in 2008 in Newcastle before also taking up a role as a solicitor with a specialist family law firm in Canberra the next year. Immediately prior to joining the Family Law Courts in August 2021, Senior Judicial Registrar Hiles worked as the Deputy Head of Family Law Practice at Legal Aid ACT. She has attained a Master of Laws (Family Law) and is an Accredited Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner. Senior Judicial Registrar Hiles was an Independent Children’s Lawyer (ICL) for many years, part of the teaching panel for ICLs nationally and is currently Chair of the ACT ICL Advisory Committee. Senior Judicial Registrar Hiles was appointed as a Judicial Registrar of the Federal Circuit and Family Court at the Canberra Registry in 2021 and was sworn in as a Senior Judicial Registrar in September 2025.
GAVIN HOWARD SC
BARRISTER I BLACKBURN CHAMBERS
Gavin is a barrister at Blackburn Chambers, Canberra. He specialises in Family Law. He was admitted as a solicitor in 1993 and was called to the Bar in 2010. He is also a member of the ACT Law Society’s Family Law Committee (since 1999) as well as chair of the Bar Association’s Family Law Committee since 2020. He is a regular presenter on Family Law and Ethics topics.
MERRILYN (MELL) DAVIS
BARRISTER I BURLEY GRIFFIN CHAMBERS
Merrilyn is a graduate of Sydney University, obtaining her law degree in 1997 and admission to the Supreme Court Roll in June 1998. Merrilyn joined the Canberra legal community in 1999 when she moved from the NSW to the ACT Women’s Legal Centre. She worked in private practice in a firm specialising in Family Law before joining the Family Law team at Legal Aid in 2002. Merrilyn’s experience of representing a high number of clients in complex litigation matters in the family, domestic violence and care jurisdictions has provided a strong foundation for her joining the bar in 2017. In particular, Merrilyn has been trained and practiced as an independent children’s lawyer since 2003, which brings a specialised perspective to her work in children’s matters.
DETAILS
- This is an on-demand webinar you can watch at anytime - a link and password will be sent to you when you register
- Cost: Members $50, Non-member $70
- CPD: Members will earn 1 CPD points in core area 3
- This event was recorded as part of the 2026 Family Law Conference 19 August 2026
- This recording will expire on 31 December 2026
Registration
| Members | $50.00(GST incl.) | Register |
| Non-member | $70.00(GST incl.) | Register |
