On 2 October 2024, Ms. Vanessa-Jane Leishman was appointed as a new Judge to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (FCFCOA) (Division 2) located in Canberra.

Judge Leishman was awarded a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts in 1993 from Auckland University and a Master of Applied Law (Family Law) in 2012. She was admitted as a legal practitioner in 1994. Her Honour has been Principal at Leishman Legal and Director at Leishman Legal (NZ) since 2014. Prior to this, Judge Leishman was special counsel and Head of the Family Law Team At Thynne & Macartney from 2011 to 2014.

Judge Leishman will be joining the ranks of Judge Hughes, and Judge Mansfield in Division 2 of the FCFCOA of Canberra Registry.

The Chief Judge of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2), the Honourable William Alstergren AO, said that “Judge Leishman’s depth of experience in family law and specialist knowledge of family and domestic violence law will be a welcome addition to the Court.”

 

Author: Stephanie Wong, Partner, Family & Inheritance

 

Media release: https://www.fcfcoa.gov.au/news-and-media-centre/media-releases/mr021024