We believe in helping our clients resolve their family law matters amicably, respectfully and with dignity.
We started dignity.legal in 2021 to create a more family centred resolution practice, rather than the traditional litigation practice.
We do things differently.
We are a team of experienced Family Law Accredited Specialists with a wealth of knowledge, empathy and understanding.
Leon Berger
Leon Berger is a Family Law Accredited Specialist,
NMAS Accredited Mediator, Accredited Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner (FDRP), and Facilitator
Leon has over 17 years’ experience in relationship and family law and 12 years as an LIV Accredited Specialist. Leon is known in the profession for his sensible, calm, strategic and pragmatic approach to complex family law matters. As a seasoned family law litigator, Leon is determined change the approach to relationship and family law matters by designing people centred resolution processes focusing on maintaining civility and dignity beyond separation.
Leon is one of our Directors and co-founders here at dignity.edr. Leon was a former Partner of Berger Kordos Lawyers and graduated with a Bachelor of Laws (2002) from Bond University and Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice (2004) from Leo Cussen Centre for Law. He is an NMAS Accredited Mediator (2021), and has now also obtained his accreditation as a Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner FDRP (2023).
Leon can help you with family and relationship law matters including: binding financial agreements including pre-nuptial agreements, family law and separations including consent orders, contact arrangements and property settlements, divorce applications, mediations and facilitation.
Leon views the best approach to relationship and family law matters is to find resolutions outside of the courtroom.
In his spare time, Leon enjoys cooking up masterpieces in the kitchen, watching the English Premier League, reading and hanging out with his family.
Phone: 03 7031 4460
Mobile: 0411 027 980
Barry Berger
Barry Berger is a Family Law Accredited Specialist, Collaborative Lawyer, NMAS Accredited Mediator and Arbitrator.
Contact Barry Start Online With BarryBarry Berger is a Family Law Accredited Specialist, Collaborative Lawyer, NMAS Accredited Mediator and Arbitrator.
Barry Berger is one of Australia’s most experienced family lawyers and is known in the profession for giving strategic legal advice in complex family law matters, an innovator in collaborative law and alternative dispute resolution, and a champion of value-priced offerings.
Barry is one of our Directors and co-founders here at dignity.edr. and dignity.legal. Throughout his 48 year career, Barry was the co-founder and Managing Partner of Berger Kordos Lawyers and prior to that he was the Head of the Family Law Department of Home Wilkinson Lowry which subsequently became HWLE.
Barry graduated from Monash University with a Bachelor of Economics (1972) and Bachelor of Laws (1974).
In his spare time, Barry has a keen interest all things cycling.
Barry is committed to helping people effectively find workable outcomes and practical resolutions at all stages of their relationship. Barry is always looking at new ways to reinvent how to achieve family law resolutions effectively.
Phone: 03 7031 4460
Mobile: 0412 352 044
barry@dignityedr.com.au
Athanasia Balaskas
Ath is a Family Law Accredited Specialist, an NMAS Accredited Mediator, and is our Special Counsel at Dignity.EDR.
Contact Ath Start Online With AthAthanasia is a Family Law Accredited Specialist, Accredited Mediator and is our Special Counsel at Dignity.EDR. Ath has 17 years of extensive experience assisting clients across all aspects in family and relationship law. She has a particular interest in negotiating and drafting Financial Agreements. Ath brings a practical focus and provides results driven advice to assist her clients. She is an effective negotiator, motivated wherever possible to resolve matters for clients in an expeditious and cost effective matter. Ath is also fluent in Greek.
Ath graduated from Deakin University with a Bachelor of Laws (2002), obtained her Specialisation in 2009, undertook Collaborative Law training in 2010 and recently obtained her NMAS Accreditation as a Mediator.
On a personal note, Ath loves spending quality time with her family.
Having been involved in an array of related litigation matters over the years has convinced Ath that there is a better way. Ath has a keen interest in effective dispute resolutions processes such as Mediation and Collaborative Law.
Ph: 03 7031 4460
Holly is an Associate at Dignity.EDR. She graduated from Deakin University in 2018 with a Bachelor of Laws and was admitted into legal practice by the Supreme Court of Victoria in 2019.
Holly has experience assisting clients across a range of areas of law including criminal law and estate planning, however it was her practice in civil litigation and dispute resolution that caused her to be passionate about Dignity’s philosophy to find an amicable resolution without the need for litigation.
In her spare time, Holly enjoys reading, cooking, spending time with friends and family, and chasing after her toddler.
Ph: 03 7031 4460
Megan is a Graduate Lawyer with 9 years experience working in various legal secretarial and assistant roles across many different areas of law. Having started out in personal injuries, she went on to work exclusively in Family Law for the following 7 years. Megan graduated from Charles Darwin University with a Bachelor of Laws (2020) and a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice (2021) from Leo Cussen Centre for Law. Megan was admitted to legal practice in 2021.
After having originally worked closely with Barry and Leon in 2015, Megan went on to gain valuation experience as a litigation secretary with a focus on family law and domestic violence/ Intervention Order matters, estate litigation, debt recovery, property disputes and commercial litigation.
Megan is happy to be back with the team and is eager to deepen her family law knowledge and expand her technical skills associated with the many facets of collaborative law and effective dispute resolution.
On a personal note, Megan lives in Brisbane and loves spending time outdoors with her family. She enjoys fishing and camping adventures and frequenting beaches up and down the Sunshine Coast.
Ph: 03 7031 4460
Tina is our Legal Personal Assistant at Dignity.EDR. She has been a legal assistant for 7 years, mainly in family law but also including one year in criminal law.
Whilst working in the legal industry, Tina has also been undertaking her Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws, and endeavours to become a Family Lawyer once her degree is completed and she is fully qualified. Tina has gained extensive experience working alongside a number of highly experienced specialist lawyers and has developed her skills and knowledge in family law, criminal law and property law. Tina’s aim is to be able to provide assistance to clients in a respectful and compassionate manner, and is always willing to assist in any way she can.
Outside of work Tina loves spending time with her family and friends and of course her dog, playing music and cooking.
Ph: 03 7031 4460
Melissa Eagleton
Melissa is the Practice Manager here at Dignity.EDR.
Melissa is the Practice Manager at Dignity.EDR. Having also come across with Barry and Leon from Berger Kordos Lawyers, Melissa has over 16 years’ experience in supporting and managing a specialist family law firm.
Melissa’s role involves all aspects of management of the firm, including financial control, accounts, banking and reporting; human resources including staff training/development, resourcing and recruitment; operations, compliance, policies and procedures, equipment and technology; and assisting with marketing and practice development. She credits her organisation, scheduling and list-making skills as her highest-regarding professional attributes.
Personally, Melissa loves her family’s adventures – whether camping and 4WDing around remote areas of Australia or vegetable gardening on her hobby farm – raising her young boys to learn about the great outdoors and sustainability, and she also likes trying to find some quiet time with a good book.
Ph: 03 7031 4460
