Contact Details
Kennedy Partners Lawyers
Level 29, 459 Collins Street
Melbourne
Victoria
3000
Australia
- + 61 3 9618-7300
- + 61 3 9618-7322
- John.Spender@kennedylaw.com.au
- www.kennedypartnerslawyers.com.au
Profile
Admitted as a lawyer in New South Wales in 1992 and in Victoria in 1993, and has practised in family law ever since. Accredited by the Law Institute of Victoria (LIV) as a specialist practitioner in family law in 2003. Joined the specialist family law practice, Kennedy Partners, in 2007, and became a partner of the firm in 2012. Has expertise in all aspects of family law, including parenting and financial matters, and has worked significantly in the area of international family law. An active member of committees of the Family Law Section of the LIV since 2003, including a member of the Executive Committee since 2011 and Chair of the Maintenance and Property Sub-Committee between 2011 and 2018 and the Courts Practice Sub-Committee from from 2019 to 2023. Received a Distinguished Service Award from the Law Institute of Victoria in 2023. Has written or co-authored a number of papers and has presented at continuing legal education seminars (both in Australia and overseas) since 2009. Is the co-author of "Focus Family Law: Tenth Edition", published by LexisNexis in Australia in November 2025. Has lectured at Deakin University in Melbourne between 2021 and 2025.
Languages Spoken: English, French (basic conversational), German (basic)
Practice Areas: Appeals, Child Care/Public Law, Child Custody/Residence/Visitation/Contact, Child Support, Cohabitation, Custody/Residence/Visitation/Contact, Divorce, Domestic Abuse/Violence/Protection Orders, Emergency Procedures/Injunctions, Enforcement: Child Custody, Enforcement: Child Support, Enforcement: Property Division, Enforcement: Spousal Support, Finance: Capital Provision, Finance: Pensions/Superannuation/Retirement and Employment Benefits, Finance: Property Issues, Finance: Trusts, Hague Convention/Child Abduction, Mediation, Modification/Variation: Child Custody, Modification/Variation: Child Support, Modification/Variation: Property Division, Modification/Variation: Spousal Support, Parentage/Paternity, Pre-nuptial/Post-nuptial Agreements, Relocation/Removal from Jurisdiction, Same Sex Partnerships, Spousal Support/Maintenance/Alimony
