The Family Court of Australia and Federal Circuit Court (the Courts) today announce the appointment of three Senior Registrars as part of an ongoing and extensive recruitment process.
Ms Anne-Marie Rice has been appointed as a Senior Registrar, based in the Brisbane registry.
Mr Rohan Hoult has been appointed as a Senior Registrar, based in the Melbourne registry.
Mr Colin Campbell has been appointed as Senior Registrar, based in the Sydney registry.
All appointments are effective from 13 July 2020.
The Chief Justice of the Family Court of Australia and Chief Judge of the Federal Circuit Court of Australia, the Hon Will Alstergren, said the appointments come at a significant time for the Courts as they continue to implement a range of reforms that aim to provide additional support to judges, enhance alternative dispute resolution within the Courts, and importantly, reduce delays.
"I sincerely welcome the appointment of such highly skilled and well-regarded practitioners to the Courts and I am confident that their enormous wealth of experience will be extremely beneficial to the judiciary and to the litigants who come before the Courts."
The Chief Executive Officer and Principal Registrar of the Courts, Mr David Pringle said, "These initial appointments form part of a broader and ongoing recruitment process nationally to fill the roles of Senior Registrars and Registrars in both Courts for funded projects and vacant positions. The registrar recruitment will be critical in assisting to support the work of judges and in providing enhanced case management practices across both Courts."
As part of her role, Ms Rice will lead at an executive level nationally in dispute resolution within the Courts. In response to the announcement of her appointment, Ms Rice said, "The Courts have long espoused the view that a trial is a place of last resort for separated families and this role presents an important opportunity to actively assist those families who are able to reach agreement without the need for a trial but to also enable those who do require judicial determination to access those resources. I am delighted to join the Courts and look forward to drawing on my technical family law expertise and dispute resolution skills in this unique forum."
Mr Hoult said, "I am delighted to be appointed as Senior Registrar. As counsel who has appeared in the Courts over the last 30 years I am looking forward to contributing to the vibrancy of the Courts and their role in assisting Australian families throughout changing and challenging times."
Mr Campbell added, "I feel honoured to be selected for the role of Senior Registrar and I am ready for the challenges that lie ahead. But above all, I'm grateful to continue to be part of the cohort of Registrars of the family law courts - a group of exceptional lawyers who are leaders in the fields of family law and dispute resolution."
Biographical information:
Anne-Marie Rice
Ms Rice has been appointed as a Senior Registrar, based in the Brisbane registry, and will play a leading role at an executive level nationally in dispute resolution within the Courts, including undertaking dispute resolution, and managing, training and educating registrars and family consultants in dispute resolution. Ms Rice is an Accredited Family Law Specialist whose extensive legal career began in the role of Legal Associate in the Family Court of Australia. In addition to the development of her highly regarded technical legal expertise, her 22 year career progression has emphasised practice, education and training in mediation and alternative dispute resolution. Ms Rice is routinely recognised by her peers as a leading family lawyer and pre-eminent mediator and her professional standing has seen her elected to the Executive of the Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia. She is the editor of Australian Family Lawyer and has served on various industry boards including the QLS, FLPA (Qld) and AIFLAM. Ms Rice has been the recipient of multiple legal awards and recognitions including as the inaugural Queensland Law Society's Outstanding Accredited Specialist and her acceptance speech in being named the Leneen Forde AC Woman Lawyer of the Year sparked an important conversation about the opportunities of non-adversarial practice. Ms Rice was a founding partner in one of Brisbane's premier family law firms and has most recently worked with practitioners throughout Australia in her role as Principal Mediator in her own practice which focusses on mediation, family dispute resolution and arbitration. Ms Rice teaches the family law and post graduate mediation subjects at the University of Queensland and is a highly sought after speaker and trainer. She will bring to the role of Senior Registrar her unique legal and non-adversarial dispute resolution skills to have a positive impact on families who find themselves in the court system.
Rohan Hoult
Mr Hoult has been appointed as a Senior Registrar, based in the Melbourne registry. Mr Hoult is a highly regarded barrister with 32 years' experience practising exclusively in family law. He has extensive experience in complex child and property matters as well as highly developed mediation and ADR skills.
With his clear and analytical thinking Mr Hoult is able to understand the essence of the dispute, both from the perspective of the Courts and also from the perspective of the parties. Mr Hoult is highly regarded by his peers within the family law profession and the judiciary. He will bring to the Courts a strong work ethic, excellent communication skills and a determination to assist the family law courts to achieve efficiency in clearing and resolving the large number of family law matters filed with the Courts each year.
Colin Campbell
Mr Campbell has been acting in the role of Senior Registrar in the Sydney registry for the past 7 years. Mr Campbell has been a Registrar with the family law courts for 14 years, and has had an extensive legal career prior to this role as a mediator and in private practice. Mr Campbell has over 30 years' professional experience during which he has earned the reputation within the Courts and among the legal profession as a highly respected decision-maker and mediator.
Mr Campbell has demonstrated his capacity to achieve great results through the success of his strategic and skilled approach to mediation and case management in the family law courts. Mr Campbell has resolved a large volume of disputes and exhibits great integrity and dedication to his work and to achieving effective outcomes for families in dispute.
