Susan Warda

Partner

Susan Warda is a Partner and team leader of the Sydney family law practice. Susan has particular expertise in family law matters that involve complex financial issues, including property settlements that incorporate family businesses, multiple assets and assets outside Australia. Susan is an accredited specialist in family law, a collaborative lawyer and a parenting coordinator.

Susan is a leading family lawyer with over 30 years’ experience and has a reputation for achieving the best possible outcomes for her clients.  Whilst Susan is a seasoned advocate for her clients’ best interests in court, she is also highly regarded for her extensive experience in resolving family law matters outside the courtroom. A trained collaborative law practitioner and skilful negotiator, Susan helps clients reach amicable resolutions through mediation, avoiding the cost and stress of prolonged litigation.

Recently named as one of only 16 leading prenuptial agreement lawyers in Australia, Susan is consistently recognised by her peers in the prestigious Doyle’s Guide and Best Lawyers in Australia list.

Susan is a Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL), a prestigious global network of leading family law practitioners. Her international practice focuses on cross-border matters, where she draws on her IAFL connections to find the best jurisdiction and representation for each client.  She also hosts Beyond Borders: International Family Law, an Australian podcast covering topics such as custody disputes, property settlements, and child abduction across international lines, featuring expert insights from around the world.  Beyond Borders can be found on your favourite podcast app including Apple and Spotify.

Memberships, Accreditation and Activities

  • Fellow, International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL)
  • Leading Prenuptial Agreement Lawyer Australia, Doyle’s Guide 2025
  • Recommended Family Lawyer (High-Value and Complex Property Matters) (NSW), Doyle’s Guide 2020 – 2025
  • Recommended, Family and Divorce Law (Sydney), Doyle’s Guide 2019-2025
  • Recognised Lawyer, Family Law (Sydney), Best Lawyers in Australia 2019 -2024
  • Past Chair of the Austlaw Board, an association of independent law firms located throughout NSW, Victoria, Queensland and the ACT
  • Founding Member, Western Sydney Collaborative Family Lawyers network
  • Member, NSW Law Society
  • Member, Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD)
  • Vice-President to the Board, NSW Collaborative Professional Inc. in 2017
  • Previous Board Member, Australian Association of Collaborative Professionals
  • Director, Variety Asia Pacific Regional Council
  • 2013 Woman Lawyer of the Year in Private Practice, Women Lawyers Association of NSW
  • Diploma of Law (University of Sydney) – 1993.

Expertise

Susan’s expertise include:

  • International Family Law – an extensive practice representing Australian expatriates and international clients navigating cross border issues including custody disputes, property settlements and child abduction through her strong connections with expert family lawyers within her international network
  • Complex Property and Financial Settlements – advising high net worth individuals and cases involving substantial asset pools including matters with complex company, trust, partnership, taxation and valuation issues
  • Divorce, Separation and De-Facto Relationship Breakdowns – negotiation of amicable settlements, court-based proceedings in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia as well as alternative conflict resolution including mediation, arbitration and collaborative law
  • Binding Financial Agreements (Prenups) – structuring tailored financial agreements at any stage of the relationship including before marriage or cohabitation, during marriage or de facto relationships and after separation or divorce
  • Children’s issues including complex parenting arrangements, Hague Convention applications, interstate and international relocation and the separate representation of children
  • High conflict disputes involving mental health disorders.

Memberships, Accreditation & Activities

  • Fellow, International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL)
  • Leading Prenuptial Agreement Lawyer Australia, Doyle’s Guide 2025
  • Recommended Family Lawyer (High-Value and Complex Property Matters) (NSW), Doyle’s Guide 2020 – 2025
  • Recommended, Family and Divorce Law (Sydney), Doyle’s Guide 2019-2025
  • Recognised Lawyer, Family Law (Sydney), Best Lawyers in Australia 2019 -2024
  • Past Chair of the Austlaw Board, an association of independent law firms located throughout NSW, Victoria, Queensland and the ACT
  • Founding Member, Western Sydney Collaborative Family Lawyers network
  • Member, NSW Law Society
  • Member, Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD)
  • Vice-President to the Board, NSW Collaborative Professional Inc. in 2017
  • Previous Board Member, Australian Association of Collaborative Professionals
  • Director, Variety Asia Pacific Regional Council
  • 2013 Woman Lawyer of the Year in Private Practice, Women Lawyers Association of NSW
  • Diploma of Law (University of Sydney) – 1993.