Toni Parkinson

The short version of my legal career to date is that I graduated in law and arts from the University of Otago in New Zealand in 1993. After graduation I joined the New Zealand Police service in various operational and legal roles until 2002. I had a period of working at the United Nations based in the Pacific Island region where I worked on various legal development projects.

In 2005 I joined the Crown Prosecutor’s Office based in Auckland and took prosecutions including the odd cattle rustling case.

In 2008 I moved to Perth for the weather and family, and began by chance, to practice in family law. I have practiced in family law exclusively since 2008, firstly at Lavan Legal, and then DCH Legal Group. I joined the partners at DCH Legal Group in 2013 until my move to the WA Bar in June 2021.

I accept briefs in all areas of family law including complex property cases and parenting cases, care and protection matters and appeal matters. I accept briefs on behalf of Legal Aid Western Australia as an Independent Children’s Lawyer, and Child Representative. I am also a qualified and experienced mediator.

I have an approachable, collaborative, and practical working style. I have a calm temperament (most of the time) and I am comfortable working with people from all walks of life. I grew up in a fishing community in New Zealand and still enjoy a daily swim in the ocean, getting outside, my French Bulldogs, and a glass of wine or beer at my local hotel.

I am a member of the Law Society of Western Australia, Family Law Practitioners Association of WA, and Law Council Family Law Section.