VANESSA FARMER B.Comm (ADEL) LL.B. (HONS)
MANAGING PARTNER
Vanessa Farmer is the Managing Partner of Withnalls. Admitted to practice in 1999, she became a Principal of Withnalls in 2001.
She has a strong sense of social justice and specialises in family law with extensive experience in property division and children's issues.
Vanessa regularly appears as a counsel in the Supreme, Family and Local Courts.
She is a skilled, hard working advocate who takes pride in her work and who enjoys the challenge of complex litigation and successful outcomes on behalf of her clients.
Vanessa practices primarily in the area of Family Law and De Facto Litigation, Wills and Estates.
JOSEPH CAVANAGH B.A & LL.B.
Joe Cavanagh joined Withnalls Lawyers in January 2022 having previously practised exclusively in the area of Family Law in South Australia since 2019. Joe was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of South Australia and the High Court of Australia in 2020. Joe ensures a pragmatic approach is taken to each individual’s needs and seeks to resolve matters as cost-effectively and efficiently as possible.
Joe practices in the following areas of law
Family Law - including parenting and property matters, divorce, child support, spousal maintenance, and parentage testing matters;
Domestic Violence - matters on behalf of protected persons or defendants; and
Civil Litigation matters.
Joe is a committed advocate and enjoys appearing regularly in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia and Local Court of the Northern Territory. Advocacy is a key area of Joe’s interest in the law.
Education
Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts (Double Major in English and History) graduating 2019; and
Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice from the College of Law graduating 2020.
Joe also hopes to complete the College of Law Masters of Law majoring in Family Law
TAYAH THORNBERRY
Tayah has been working in the legal industry since 2017 when she simultaneously commenced studying a Bachelor of Laws at the University of New England. Tayah began at a boutique country law-firm in Tamworth NSW, working first in Legal and Estate Planning, then Personal Injury Law, Litigation, Family Law, Property Law, and finally, returning to Family Law with AFL Withnalls Lawyers in 2023. Tayah is an energetic, bubbly personality who loves to assist others wherever and however possible. She is driven and aspires to practice Law like her current mentor, Ms. Vanessa Farmer, in the coming years. Tayah is a team player and seeks to continue to progress her professional and personal skills with AFL Withnalls Lawyers.