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Richard Klimek LL.B
Director
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| Telephone |
+61 8 9221 5775 |
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| Email |
richard@klimekco.com.au |
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| Legal Assistant |
Michael Klimek |
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| Legal Assistant's Email |
michael@klimekco.com.au |
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| Joined the Firm |
1 July 2005 |
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| Qualifications |
- Bachelor of Laws, University of Western Australia
- Nationally Accredited Independent Children's Lawyer
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| Memberships |
- Law Society of Western Australia
- Family Law Practitioners' Association of Western Australia (Council Member)
- Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia
- Family Pathways Network
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| Expertise |
- All areas of family law
- Restraining order matters
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Richard is a graduate of the University of Western Australia with a Bachelor of Laws.
Prior to founding Klimek & Co Family Lawyers on 1 July 2005, Richard first practised at the Legal Aid Commission of Western Australia, then in the family law department of a medium-sized multi-disciplinary law firm. He has practised exclusively in family law and restraining order matters for the duration of his legal career.
At Klimek & Co Family Lawyers, Richard acts as In-House Counsel and is the Director responsible for the practice of law.
Richard has considerable experience as an advocate and litigator. He has acted as Counsel in over 200 trials, which is highly uncommon for any legal practitioner that practises outside of the Independent Bar. He has been Counsel in numerous trials in the Family Court of Western Australia, ranging from uncomplicated matters that have taken up to one day through to highly complicated property and child related matters that have taken weeks requiring complex expert evidence. He has also acted as Counsel in numerous trials in the various Magistrates Courts in Western Australia for restraining order matters.
Richard has extensive experience in financial matters including property settlement, binding financial agreements, child support agreements and spousal maintenance. He frequently acts for clients whose matters involve complex financial issues and structures such as partnerships, family trusts, discretionary trusts, unit trusts, trading companies, self-managed superannuation funds, businesses and other commercial ventures.
Richard is nationally qualified as an Independent Children's Lawyer and has extensive experience in child related matters including cases involving relocation (intrastate, interstate and international), abduction, recovery orders, domestic violence (physical and emotional) and all forms of child abuse.
Richard is an expert at matters involving Violence Restraining Orders and Misconduct Restraining Orders. It is unlikely that any legal practitioner in Perth has more experience in this area than Richard.
Richard presently serves on several boards, committees and sub-committees, including as a:
- Council Member of the Family Law Practitioners' Association of Western Australia (2003 – 2006; 2008 - present);
- Member of the Court Liaison and Law Reform Sub-Committee of the Family Law Practitioners' Association of Western Australia (2009 – present); and
- Board Member of the Northern Suburbs Community Legal Centre (2010 - present).
Richard has previously served on several other boards, committees and sub-committees, including as:
- Secretary of the Family Law Practitioners' Association of Western Australia (2004 - 2006);
- Various sub-committees of the Family Law Practitioners' Association of Western Australia (2004 – 2006; 2008 - 2009);
- Member of the Steering Committee of the Family Pathways Network (2004 - 2006).
Richard is a member of the following professional organisations relevant to family law:
- Law Society of Western Australia;
- Family Law Practitioners' Association of Western Australia;
- Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia; and
- Family Pathways Network.
Richard was one of four finalists for the 2011 Attorney-General's Community Service Law Award for the considerable pro bono work undertaken by Klimek & Co Family Lawyers.
Richard has a strong belief that one should give back to the discipline in which they practise. In addition to his official participation on boards, committees and sub-committees he has:
- Presented to the legal profession at conferences (locally and internationally) in aspects of family law, including property settlement, parenting matters, restraining orders and ethics;
- Delivered training seminars at various community legal centres and community organisations;
- Contributed to the area of law reform, both nationally by liaising with the Australian Law Reform Commission and locally through various organisations; and
- Been invited from time to time as a guest lecturer in family law at Edith Cowan University, at which Klimek and Co Family Lawyers will sponsor the annual Family Law Prize to the most deserving student in the subject of family law from 2012.
Richard was a recipient of a coveted 40 Under 40 Award from WA Business News in 2010 for his business achievements in establishing Klimek & Co Family Lawyers in 2005 at the age of 25 years and for developing the firm into one of the premier family law firms in Western Australia over the subsequent years.
Outside of the practice of family law, Richard enjoys spending considerable time with his two children. He has experienced marital separation and as such he understands its significance both on a personal and professional level.
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