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Level 4
66 Kings Park Road
West Perth 6005

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Legal Practice Director

Richard Klimek

LLB, Accredited Family Law Specialist
Managing Director

Rishi Wijay

BCom, LLB
Practice Manager

Julie Visser
Partner

Kyle August

LLB, BA
Partner / In-house Counsel

Lachlan Finchett

BCom, LLB
Partner

Vince Bradley

BA, LLB, Accredited Family Law Specialist
Partner

Nicholas Coveney

BCom, LLB, LLM, Accredited Family Law Specialist
Senior Associate

Linley Wall

BCom, LLB
Senior Associate

Ishtar Steggall

BCom, LLB
Associate

Naela Kakar

LLB, BHSc
Associate

Ciara Colgan

LLB
Paralegal

Tiffany Scott
Paralegal

Janelle Ireland
Paralegal

Grace Simmons
Paralegal

Savanna Uttinger-Spencer
Paralegal

Rhiannon Mahon
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Richard KlimekLLB, Accredited Family Law Specialist

Legal Practice Director

In 2005 Richard established the firm and became its founding Director.

Richard has practised exclusively in family law his entire career. The Law Society of Western Australia has recognised Richard as an Accredited Family Law Specialist. His contributions to family law include serving on the executive of the Family Law Practitioners’ Association of W.A., guest lecturing at university law schools, serving as a long-standing board member of W.A.’s largest community legal centre and making submissions to the Law Reform Commission regarding family violence legislation.

Richard has considerable experience as a trial lawyer, having been the barrister in over 250 trials. This experience includes highly complicated financial and parenting matters in the Family Court of Western Australia, along with highly contested Violence Restraining Order proceedings in the various Magistrates Courts of Western Australia. These trials have often been heard by the court over a few weeks and involved complex expert evidence.

While most firms brief out Trials to independent Barristers, Richard acts as the firm’s in-house Counsel. This offers clients direct access to the Barrister who will oversee their matter from beginning to end.

Richard is also heavily involved in philanthropy outside the practise of law, most notably as an Ambassador of White Ribbon Australia. In that role, he co-founded their major annual event in Western Australia, both in terms of raising awareness and funds against family violence.

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  • Telephone 61 8 9221 5775
  • Email richard@klimekwijay.com
  • Qualifications Bachelor of Laws, The University of Western Australia
    Accredited Family Law Specialist
    Nationally Accredited Independent Children’s Lawyer
  • Memberships Law Society of Western Australia
    Family Law Practitioners’ Association of Western Australia
    Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia
    Family Pathways Network
  • Expertise All areas of family law
    Restraining order matters
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Rishi WijayBCom, LLB

Managing Director

Rishi is the Managing Director of the firm. His role involves oversight of complex financial matters undertaken by the firm.

Alongside his legal qualifications, Rishi has considerable commercial experience and qualifications. This has resulted in him becoming a trusted advisor to mutual clients of significant Perth accounting firms, commercial lawyers, financial planners and medical professionals. He has guest lectured at university law schools and given presentations to other related professionals.

Rishi excels in complicated financial matters. He routinely acts for high net wealth clients, whose matters involve intricate financial issues and structures such as partnerships, family trusts, discretionary trusts, unit trusts, trading companies, self-managed superannuation funds, businesses and other commercial ventures. He regularly advises clients in cases that raise issues at the intersection of family law and related disciplines such as taxation, trusts and bankruptcy.

Apart from the rigours of litigation, Rishi is also a skilled negotiator. He has acted for clients in many difficult settlement negotiations, and he regularly secures outcomes that exceed client expectations.

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  • Telephone 61 8 9221 5775
  • Email rishi@klimekwijay.com
  • Paralegal Janelle Ireland, Tiffany Scott
  • Qualifications Bachelor of Laws, Murdoch University
    Bachelor of Commerce, Murdoch University
  • Memberships Family Law Practitioners’ Association of Western Australia
  • Expertise All areas of family law
    Restraining order matters
    Wills, Probate & Letters of Administration
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Julie Visser

Practice Manager

Julie joined Klimek & Wijay Family Lawyers in May 2019 as their Practice Manager. She has over 20+ years’ experience in the legal sector and previously served as the Practice Manager of another Perth based family law firm. Julie also worked as the Legal Support Manager for an Australian leading national law firm for over 8 years.

Julie has expertise in areas such as people management and development; performance management; career development; workforce planning; retention and engagement; training and practice management. She also has expertise in areas such as service delivery, operations and workforce planning.

In her spare time, Julie enjoys music, reading and spending time with family, friends and her two Aussie Bulldogs Delilah and Howard.

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Kyle AugustLLB, BA

Partner

Kyle August completed his Bachelor of Law and Bachelor of Arts (majoring in History and English) at the University of WA and was admitted in the Supreme Court of WA in 2014.

Kyle previously worked at the Department of Corrective Services and Legal Aid WA before joining Klimek & Wijay Family Lawyers in 2015. In 2016 he moved to Canberra where he worked for Relationships Australia ACT and Legal Aid ACT. In 2020, Kyle returned to Perth and worked as a Legal Policy Officer at the Office of the Commissioner for Victims of Crime before returning to Klimek and Wijay Family Lawyers as an Associate Lawyer.

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Lachlan FinchettBCom, LLB

Partner / In-house Counsel

 

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Vince Bradley BA, LLB, Accredited Family Law Specialist

Partner

Vince Bradley is a highly respected Partner with over 14 years of dedicated experience in family law and earned his accreditation as a Family Law Specialist in 2019.

Vince specialises in complex property matters and high-net-worth clients, often representing third parties. He also has extensive experience and a strong interest in the international dimensions of family law, including international relocation, child abduction under the Hague Convention, and cross-jurisdictional disputes.

Known for his exceptional negotiation skills, Vince understands the importance of clear communication with clients. He adopts a pragmatic and cost-effective approach to resolving family law matters, always focused on achieving practical outcomes.

Vince actively contributes to the legal community as a member of the Family Law Practitioners Association of Western Australia. He regularly presents at industry seminars, reflecting his commitment to staying current with developments in the field. His dedication to clients and passion for family law have established him as a sought-after advisor.

In addition to presenting at state conferences, Vince has shared his expertise on complex family law matters with international audiences, further demonstrating his leadership in the profession.

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  • Telephone 08 9221 5775
  • Email vince@klimekwijay.com
  • Paralegal Rhiannon Mahon
  • Qualifications Bachelor of Arts
    Postgraduate Diploma in Law
    Family Law Accredited Specialist
    Admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of WA
  • Expertise – Negotiated and litigated property matters including third-party proceedings
    – Complex parenting disputes
    – Enforcement applications
    – Spousal and child support matters
    – Binding Financial Agreements
    – Family Violence Restraining Orders
    – Relocation applications
    – Representing clients in Hague Convention Abduction cases
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Nicholas CoveneyBCom, LLB, LLM, Accredited Family Law Specialist

Partner

Nic is an accomplished family lawyer known for his expertise in handling complex and high-value cases. His client base includes high-net-worth individuals such as business owners, executives, medical professionals, and those with intricate financial portfolios, including agricultural and rural assets.

Nic’s practice is distinguished by his experience across a broad range of family law issues. He brings a robust skillset to cases involving financial settlements, binding financial agreements, forensic valuation, and disputes with third-party interests. His pragmatic approach, backed by an in-depth understanding of financial matters, makes him a trusted advisor in cases with substantial assets and sophisticated financial structures.

Before dedicating his career to family law, Nic worked in corporate tax for a Big Four accounting firm, a background that enhances his strategic planning in financially complex cases. His insights are especially valuable in matters involving forensic accounting, financial disputes, and multi-faceted family business interests.

Nic is actively involved in the legal community as a member of the Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia and the Family Law Practitioners’ Association of Western Australia. He is also a seasoned speaker, having presented at legal seminars, and is a published author on various family law topics.

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  • Telephone 08 9221 5775
  • Email nicholas@klimekwijay.com
  • Qualifications Bachelor of Commerce

    Bachelor of Laws

    Master of Applied Law (Family Law)

    Accredited Family Law Specialist

    Admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of Western Australia

    Admitted to practice in the High Court of Australia
  • Expertise Complex property and financial settlements

    Third-party and trust disputes

    Child support and spousal maintenance

    Binding Financial Agreements

    Relocation and international family matters
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Linley Wall BCom, LLB

Senior Associate

Linley graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 2020 with a Bachelor of Laws. Prior to this she completed a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Business Law at Curtin University.

Linley was admitted to the Supreme Court of Western Australia in October 2021 and the High Court of Australia in November 2022.

Linley joined Klimek & Wijay Family Lawyers in 2024 and practices in all areas of family law. She has experience in complex financial matters, child support and parenting matters. Linley represents clients at all stages of their matter, including with consent orders, mediation, negotiation and litigation. She has instructed both Senior Counsel and Counsel in trials in the Family Court of Western Australia.

Linley is a member of the Family Law Practitioners Association of Western Australia, Law Society of Western Australia and Family Law Section – Law Council of Australia

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Ishtar Steggall BCom, LLB

Senior Associate

Ishtar graduated from the University of Notre Dame in November 2020 with a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Commerce (Marketing). In 2021, she obtained her Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice from the College of Law and was admitted to the Supreme Court of Western Australia in October 2021.

During her studies, Ishtar gained practical legal experience by working at a boutique law firm in Perth and volunteering at several community legal centres. These experiences ignited her passion for family law, driven by her desire to assist and support individuals through difficult phases of their life. This also deepened her understanding of family law and the practices and procedures of the Family Court of Western Australia.

Ishtar joined Klimek & Wijay Family Lawyers in March 2024, where she practices in all areas of family law, including matters involving divorce, property settlement, de facto relationships, spousal maintenance, care arrangements for children, and child support matters. She continues to volunteer at the Northern Suburbs Community Legal Centre in Mirrabooka.

Ishtar’s focus is to provide her clients with clear and concise advice, enabling them to reach practical and cost-effective resolutions to their family law matters.

She is a member of the Family Law Practitioners Association of Western Australia and the Law Society of Western Australia.

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Naela Kakar LLB, BHSc

Associate

Naela graduated from Edith Cowan University in 2021 with a Bachelor of Laws. Naela was admitted to practice in Western Australia and the High Court of Australia in 2021.

Since admission, Naela has practiced Family Law exclusively. Naela has experience working on the different aspects of family law matters including divorce applications, parenting disputes, separation, property settlement and children matters.

Naela is committed to obtaining the best results for her clients through negotiation and dispute resolution or litigation.

Naela has also volunteered at Northern Suburb Community Legal Centre and Law Access where she gained experience working with members of the Perth community.

Outside work, Naela enjoys spending time with her family and friends, baking and exercising.

Naela is fluent in Farsi/Dari and Pashto.

Naela is a member of the Family Law Practitioners Association of Western Australia.

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Ciara Colgan LLB

Associate

Originally from Cork, Ireland, Ciara brings over eight years of customer service experience to the team. She began her legal career in 2018 after earning her Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL) with Honours from University College Cork in 2017, later complementing her qualifications with practical legal training.

Ciara is an enthusiastic, hardworking, and dedicated member of the Klimek & Wijay Family Lawyers team, known for her professionalism and composure at the front line. She delivers efficient legal support and services, ensuring a high-quality experience for our valued clients.

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Tiffany Scott

Paralegal

Tiffany joined our firm in 2018 as a Paralegal. Tiffany specialises in providing high level legal support and has previously worked with a national multi-disciplinary law firms for 16 years.

Tiffany has over 20 years of legal experience and is a dedicated addition to our team.

Her areas of expertise include debt recovery and family law, but her passion has been with family law where she has previously supported an accredited family law specialist for 12 years.

Tiffany studied and received a Diploma in Legal Services through Victoria University in 2014.

In her spare time, Tiffany enjoys music, travel adventures, cooking and painting.

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Janelle Ireland

Paralegal

Janelle joined Klimek & Wijay Family Lawyers in June 2016 as a paralegal. She brings a high level of legal support to one of our Directors, our Senior Consultant and Senior Associates.

Janelle has previously worked for reputable law firms both in Perth and in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand. She has 14 years of family law experience assisting lawyers and counsel during court hearings and trials.

In her spare time, Janelle enjoys keeping fit, camping, reading, and spending time with family and friends.

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Grace Simmons

Paralegal

Grace joined Klimek & Wijay Family Lawyers as a receptionist in September 2020 . She prides herself on providing a high level of support to clients and the legal team. Grace is currently studying a Bachelor of Laws at Murdoch University and enjoys the intricacies of Law School. Grace has previously worked abroad in London, England for some years and has acquired experience from her travels. In her spare time, Grace entertains her toy poodle Ted and enjoys the beach.

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Savanna Uttinger-Spencer

Paralegal

Savanna joined Klimek & Wijay Lawyers in June 2024 as a Paralegal, bringing a high level of legal expertise to the firm. She previously worked for top-tier law firms in Brisbane and mid-tier firms in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand.

Savanna earned a Bachelor of Business, majoring in Strategic Management, in 2019 and completed a Diploma in Legal Studies in 2024.

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Rhiannon Mahon

Paralegal

Rhiannon has over seven years of legal experience, having previously worked at one of the leading full-service law firms in Southland and Central Otago, New Zealand. She also gained international experience in the United Kingdom before settling in Perth, where she discovered her passion for family law.

Currently, Rhiannon is pursuing a Diploma in Paralegal Services.

Outside of work, she enjoys the outdoors, whether it’s running, mountain biking, or exploring new places through travel.

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Find us at

Level 22, Tower 3,
1 Spring Street,
Perth 6000

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