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03 9225 6444
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03 9225 6444
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03 9225 6444
Marie Wilkening-Le Brun
E: mwlb@vicbar.com.au
P:
M:
Chamber:
Admitted: 01/06/2005
Called to Bar: 24/05/2007
Date Appointed Silk:
Qualifications: LLB – University College London; BA – University of Melbourne; Post Grad. Dip. Criminology – University of Melbourne; LPC – Legal Practice Course – University of Bristol
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About

Marie was admitted to practise in 2005 in Victoria and in 2002 in England and Wales. 

Marie was called to the Bar in 2007.  Marie has extensive experience in family law, civil and commercial law including bankruptcy and insolvency.

Family Law

Children matters

 Marie has appeared in all areas of family law in interim hearings, trials and mediations.

  • including children’s matters, relocations both interstate and international.
  • Hague Convention applications on international child abduction.
  • complex matters involving family violence.
  • matters involving parents and children with disabilities.
  • applications on behalf of grandparents.
  • represented Independent Children’s Lawyers.
  • recovery and contraventions applications.
  • represented parents on a privately funded basis in child protection matters in the Children’s Court of Victoria.
  • IVOs in the Magistrates’ Court.

Property matters

Marie has appeared in interim hearings, trials and mediations and has provided advice in respect of property divisions including:

  • Equitable and family trust.
  • international assets.
  • inheritances.
  • financial agreements.
  • spousal maintenance applications.
  • represented trustees in bankruptcy and spouses in family property disputes.
  • represented judgment creditors.

In her capacity as counsel, Marie has advised and represented parties as a duty lawyer in the Family court in Melbourne and Dandenong Registries.  Marie was exposed to a wide range of disputes representing court users including assisting in urgent recovery applications.   Marie is experienced in dealing with court support workers, foreign language interpreters and the police. 

Commercial Law and Civil

Her broad and commercial work includes drafting, providing opinions, trials, mediations and negotiating settlements.  Marie has appeared and advised in:

  • bankruptcy and insolvency for trustees in bankruptcy, administrators and receivers.
  • contractual disputes in all courts including building disputes and partnership disagreements.
  • property disputes involving loan agreements, caveats and trusts.
  • represented a not-for-profit association in the take-over of a successful French language program by the Department of Education in Victoria.
  • Administration law, VCAT and appeals from VCAT to the Supreme Court.
  • represented professionals including medical practitioners in disciplinary proceedings and in relation to the recognition professional qualifications acquired overseas.
  • Appeal to the Court of Appeal in respect of a claim relating to the division of property.
  • Marie was junior to Michael Heaton KC in a long running large scale commercial law matter in the Supreme Court.
  • Marie was junior to Philip Solomon KC in an appeal in respect of property law appeal in the Court of Appeal.

Other experience and nominations

Between 2000 and 2005, Marie has worked at leading international law firms in commercial law, EU competition law and in mergers and acquisitions.  She has appeared as an advocate in at the High Court of Justice, UK.  

Marie was President of the French Australian Lawyers Society from its inception in 2014 to 2020.  She is a legal advisor to the French Honorary Consul in Victoria.  In 2022, Marie was awarded an “Ordre National de Merite” by the French President for her extensive legal work in the French community in Australia and for her leadership of the Society.  In that role, Marie has mentored law students and law graduates from France. 

Marie was nominated as a finalist in the Barrister of the year category of the Australian Lawyers Weekly Awards in 2022 and in 2023 for her legal work and leadership of the French Australian Lawyers Society. 

Marie is a committee member of the French Australian Lawyers Society. 

Qualifications

Bachelor of Laws, University of London, UK – awarded prizes for her results for her academic achievements for the intermediate and final examinations.

Bachelor of Arts, Post Graduate Diploma majoring in Criminology, the University of Melbourne.

Accredited Mediator with AIFLAM

Languages

Marie is fluent in French and German and conversational Greek.

  

Practice Areas

Bankruptcy and Insolvency
,
Commercial
Contractual Disputes,Insurance and Professional Negligence,
Corporations Law
,
Equity
Wills and Probate,
Family Law and Guardianship
Parenting Orders,Property,
Public Administrative
Civil and Human Rights,Disciplinary Proceedings,Discrimination,Immigration Law,Judicial Review and Administrative Law,

CPD PRESENTATIONS BY

Marie Wilkening-Le Brun

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