Matthew Shepherd

Matthew Shepherd is a highly experienced legal professional with a distinguished career dedicated to resolving legal and financial issues arising from relationship breakdowns. Renowned for his ability to achieve resolutions outside of the courtroom, he currently serves as the Principal Solicitor at Shepherds the Family Law Specialists, where his extensive knowledge in the field of family law is invaluable. Since being admitted as a solicitor in 1990, Matthew has been recognised for his expertise, having been named a Family Law Specialist by the NSW Law Society in 1996. His commitment to fostering amicable resolutions is demonstrated through his accreditation as a mediator under the National Mediator Accreditation System and his registration as a Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner with the authority to issue S60I Certificates. His dedication to dispute resolution is further underscored by his completion of a Master of Dispute Resolution with Honours from the University of Technology Sydney in 2013. Matthew's dedication to the legal community and education is notable through his tenure as a lecturer in Dispute Resolution Advocacy at the University of Technology Sydney from 2014 to 2020. He actively contributes to professional bodies as a committee member for the NSW Law Society's Dispute Resolution Committee, the Family Law Committee, and the Dispute Resolution Specialist Accreditation Advisory Committee. His training in mediation has been extensive and includes prestigious institutions such as Bond University, the University of Technology Sydney, LEADR, and the Australian Institute for Relationship Studies, along with the Harvard Project on Negotiation. This commitment is further emphasised by his membership in organisations like the NSW Law Society, Family Law Section of the Federal Law Council, and the NSW Collaborative Professionals. As a trained Collaborative Practitioner, Matthew plays an active role with the Relationships Australia Collaborative Practice Group, Collaborative Professionals NSW, and the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals. His involvement in these groups underscores his dedication to collaborative practice as a means of effectively resolving family disputes.