Our Team
Your Trusted Lawyers in Preston, Victoria
Haven Legal Co. – The idea behind the name
We all yearn for security.
Sharing your story with anyone can be intimidating, especially with a lawyer.
We chose our name to embody the environment we strive to nurture – one that’s open, truthful, compassionate, and, above all, secure.
Whether discussing the difficult decision to exclude a family member from your Will, navigating a 25-year relationship’s separation, or coping with the loss of a loved one, you deserve someone who makes you feel at ease sharing your heart.
We aspire to be the ones who provide you with the comfort you need and empower you in the process.
Adelle Jones
Principal Lawyer
READ MORE
Adelle is a mother, a wife, a birth trauma/sepsis survivor and an advocate of all things ostomy related. She is one of the most empathetic lawyers you will ever meet. And she is proud of it!
Adelle has a long-founded interest in operating her own enterprises. She owned her own law firm, Jones Lawyers & Associates, from 2013–2017 in Cobram, Victoria. After selling this practice and moving to Melbourne she worked exclusively as a Wills and Estates Lawyer in Northcote where she crossed paths with Fiona. Their commonalities in the way they practice law, engage with their clients and their approach to improving efficiency and productivity within the workplace led to the establishment of Haven Legal Co.
Fiona Buchanan
Principal Lawyer
READ MORE
Fiona is a wife, mother to two beautiful girls and has a fur baby named Chilli.
Fiona previously worked in the Financial Markets and Funds Management trading Equities, Bonds and Currency for a boutique Asset Management Firm. She left the world of Funds Management and assisted in establishing Buchanan Legal in 2007 with her husband in QLD. She went on to gain her legal qualifications studying the Juris Doctor at Bond University. They followed their girls to Melbourne in 2016 and are loving Victoria and city living (although the winters are a bit chilly). Meeting Adelle was like finding a kindred spirit and they are both passionate about helping clients on their life journey. Whether it’s family law, estate planning, buying or selling property or dealing with a deceased estate, Fiona is passionate in advocating for her client and their needs.
Emma Pickford
Family Lawyer
READ MORE
Emma has a “can do” attitude and doesn’t sweat the small stuff. She won’t just act as your intermediary but will give you practical and strategic advice which will help you to weigh up and assess the benefit versus the cost of choosing a particular legal path.
Emma really enjoys working with clients to help reduce (not increase) conflict with their former partners. She knows that while playing the blame game can feel good at the time, it can cost more emotionally and financially in the long run. Emma prefers to have smart conversations and negotiate strategically to maximise the prospects of resolving sticky issues quickly, cost effectively and without the necessity of court intervention.
Most people have never had to go through the court process before and naturally find it intimidating. If court intervention is required, Emma is the type of lawyer who will guide you through the process with kindness and expertise.
STRENGTHS
– Out of court solutions
– High conflict parenting cases
– Property settlement negotiations
Ashlyn McCurdy
Family Lawyer
READ MORE
Ashlyn grew up on a dairy farm in Cobram East, Victoria.
After completing University, Ashlyn worked in Shepparton and Echuca before settling in Ballarat. Much of Ashlyn’s family still reside in Cobram and Shepparton so she travels home often. Ashlyn has been admitted to practice for 10 years with broad experience in Family Law, litigation, Wills and Estates and Property Law. Ashlyn found her niche in Family Law and has been practicing solely in this area for the past 5 years. Ashlyn can assist with everything from child custody and parenting matters through to property settlements. Ashlyn enjoys family time with partner Chris and her three stepchildren, particularly heading out for a walk together with their fur baby Murphy, going for swims (when the weather allows for it in Ballarat!) and playing local netball on the weekends.
Brittany Hicks
Lawyer
READ MORE
Brittany was born and raised in Kyabram where she started her legal journey undertaking full-time work and full-time study completing her Bachelor of Laws with Deakin University.
She has now over 10 years in the industry working her way from Assistant, Law Clerk to Solicitor. She was admitted to practice 4 years ago and works predominantly in Wills and Estate Planning, Property Law, Conveyancing, Commercial, Leasing and Business Transactions. Brittany takes pride in assisting her clients to meet their objectives and making the process as smooth as possible.
Brittany is currently completing her Master of Laws (Applied Law) majoring in Wills and Estates with College of Law.
Outside of work Brittany enjoys spending time with her husband and fur babies Stuart, Walter & Joe.
Abdul Moukaddem
Lawyer
READ MORE
Abdul brings with him a plethora of knowledge and wealth of dynamic experience as a Lawyer primarily working within the firm’s Wills & Estate Planning team. Abdul previously worked in Real Estate as well as the Banking and Finance sector prior to coming to the Law. He went on to obtain his legal qualifications by completing a Bachelor of Laws at Southern Cross University in a mere two and a half years whilst simultaneously working as a full time Paralegal! A true testament to the vivacious nature and drive he possesses.
Abdul has a multifaceted fluency across a vast rage of practice areas. Prior to joining the Haven Legal Co. team, Abdul regularly appeared in Courts across a number of jurisdictions amassing an abundance of experience as a tenacious Litigator and advocate for his clients in both Criminal and Civil law matters.
Having been born in his Native country of Lebanon and migrating to Australia with his family at 14 months old, Abdul is passionate about assisting his clients from all walks of life and being able to relate to his diverse clientele by ensuring they have access to their legal rights and entitlements as well as having a sound understanding of the cultural sensitivities and familial expectations which may often be at play with his client’s legal affairs. This is accompanied by Abdul’s multi-lingual skillset whereby he is also able to assist you with your legal needs in your native language.
Ebony Adams
Conveyancer
READ MORE
We welcomed Ebony Adams to our law firm – Haven Legal Co. – in May 2022. Ebony works remotely for our law firm and is now also the face of our Cobram office.
Ebony lives on the NSW/VIC border in Barooga. Ebony’s client base now spans from the Cobram/Barooga region down to Melbourne CBD and suburbs and along the Peninsula and Geelong coast.
Ebony has 10 years of experience in the legal industry and 8 years as a conveyancing clerk. She has a passion for assisting new and familiar faces with their conveyancing needs. She enjoys making the process easy and stress free for our clients.
Ebony loves being around her friends and family, reading and spending her summers wakeboarding on the Murray River.
Kayla Melo
Law Graduate
READ MORE
David Tom
Law Graduate
READ MORE
David Tom grew up in the regional Victorian town of Cobram. He is currently studying a Bachelor of Laws at La Trobe Bundoora.
Lauren Doganay
Executive Assistant
READ MORE
TBC
Jacquelyn Peirce
Law Graduate
READ MORE
Jane Bearham
Legal Assistant
READ MORE
More information coming soon.