About
Compassionate
Legal Specialists
The Family Law Co. is a boutique practice where our collective goal is to provide reliable and accessible family law advice to anyone, anywhere, anytime – regardless of how simple or complicated their circumstances are.
We are experts in Family Law in Newcastle and Maitland. Although many firms offer family law services, very few make it their sole focus. This is our significant point of difference, and it has allowed us to provide the best possible services.
PRINCIPAL SOLICITOR / Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner / Collaborative Practitioner & Coach
B. LAWS, GDLP, MASTERS OF LAW (FAMILY LAW), GRAD. DIP. FDRP
Doyle's Guide - Recommended Lawyer for Newcastle/Central Coast
Carla was born and raised in regional New South Wales and has experienced firsthand the barriers faced by regional Australians in accessing quality family law advice and support. With this in mind, Carla established The Family Law Co. as a firm that specialises exclusively in Family Law and leverages technology to deliver quality family law services Australia-wide, providing services not only to clients living in Newcastle, Maitland, and the Hunter Valley but also to those in regional and remote areas.
Carla has extensive experience as a Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner (FDRP) and Collaborative Practitioner. Her legal career has focused on litigious disputes, including property disputes with complex corporate structures or trusts, and requiring carefully managed discovery of unaccounted assets/due diligence.
Carla’s expertise also extends to delicate and intricate parenting matters, including those with complicating factors such as parental alienation, international/interstate relocation, significant neglect of children, and parentage disputes. Carla’s unwavering commitment to resolving disputes through mediation and collaborative practices, before resorting to the legal route, ensures that her clients reach amicable and practical solutions.
Carla also has a strong commitment to supporting, mentoring and training junior lawyers, helping to shape the next generation of legal professionals.
Carla’s dedication and expertise have been recognised by the legal community through various awards:
2023 Australian Law Awards:
-Mentor of the Year: Winner
-Regional/Suburban Lawyer of the Year: Finalist
2023 Women in Law Awards:
-Mentor of the Year: Winner
2024 Recognised as a Doyles Guide ‘Recommended Lawyer’
2024 Australian Law Awards:
-Mentor of the Year: Finalist
-Regional/Suburban Lawyer of the Year: Finalist
When she’s not hard at work, Carla enjoys spending time at home with her family, and two jackadoodles, Hank and Ginger.
SENIOR SOLICITOR/ ACCREDITED SPECIALIST
B. ARTS, B. LAWS, MASTERS OF APPLIED LAW (FAMILY LAW), GDLP
Sacha Mastras is a dedicated Senior Solicitor at The Family Law Co., bringing over 15 years of experience in family law. As an Accredited Specialist in Family Law, Sacha has demonstrated expertise in providing legal advice, dispute resolution, and court representation. This accreditation is a mark of excellence, indicating Sacha’s commitment to the highest standards of legal practice and specialist knowledge.
Sacha completed her Master of Laws (Applied Law) with a major in Family Law, further enhancing her ability to navigate complex family law matters. She is passionate about helping clients through challenging times, offering a compassionate and results-driven approach.
Sacha has a keen interest in fertility law, including surrogacy, adoption, and donor agreements. Her expertise in these niche areas ensures that clients receive comprehensive advice and clear guidance through these sensitive and often complex legal processes.
Sacha’s role involves managing cases, drafting legal correspondence, and advocating for clients both in and out of court. Her extensive experience and specialist accreditation ensure clients receive top-tier legal support tailored to their unique circumstances.
In her spare time, Sacha enjoys exploring new parks and beaches with her young family and catching up with friends over a (often competitive) board game.
SOLICITOR
B. LAWS, GDLP, MASTERS OF DISPUTE RESOLUTION, GRAD. DIP. FDRP, B. SOCIAL SCIENCE
Sharon was born in a little place called Texas, in QLD and raised in regional city Tamworth (Kamilaroi/Gomeroi Aboriginal and).
To date, the focus of Sharon’s legal career has spanned throughout many non-lawyer platforms, such as a Child Protection Investigator with the Joint Investigation Response Team for 13 years. However, following her admission to the Supreme Court of NSW as a lawyer in 2024, Sharon has chosen to practice in family law. Assisting clients navigate the complexities of the legal system is very important to Sharon as is achieving the best possible outcome.
Sharon has also worked as a nationally accredited Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner, Mediator and Conflict Practitioner for over 20 years and has assisted clients with complex parenting and property matters. Sharon believes in fostering respectful and peaceful relationships between conflicting parties, to achieve amicable and healthy resolutions, particularly important for people who share children and will have to continue to co-parent. Sharon is passionate about providing a resolution less adversarial and more amicable preserving a healthy relationship to foster best interest of children is forefront.
Sharon’s has extensive frontline experience working in spaces of disadvantage and vulnerability, such as domestic family violence and abuse, mental health and sexual assault. Sharon is a strong advocate in these spaces for policy and legislative reform and awareness. Sharon has dedicated her career to assisting individuals and families navigate challenging circumstances, including separation and making this journey as positive as possible.
In 2023 / 2024, Sharon organised and presented many community based Coercive Control Forums, providing bespoke and specialist training to educate public & private sector workers with the knowledge to deepen their understanding of coercive control and abusive behaviours.
When she’s not hard at work, Sharon enjoys spending time with her two daughters, her first granddaughter and her two pooches, Frankie the poodle and Archie the cavoodle. Sharon also enjoys walking/hiking to assist re-centre and continue to appreciate the amazing world we live in.
SOLICITOR
B. LAWS (HONS.), B. ARTS, GDLP
Jasmyn grew up in the Newcastle area and completed her law degree at Newcastle University in 2020. She was admitted to practice in 2021, bringing with her three years of dedicated experience in family law. From the outset of her career, Jasmyn was drawn to family law due to its personal and people-oriented nature, finding it more fulfilling than her initial focus on property law.
Jasmyn is particularly passionate about supporting victims of domestic violence. She understands the profound impact that family violence can have within the legal system and is committed to helping those affected navigate these challenging circumstances. Jasmyn is especially concerned with how perpetrators can misuse the family law system to continue their abusive behaviour, and she works diligently to recognise and address these issues in her practice.
Known for her ability to think on her feet, Jasmyn also values thorough preparation in her work. She believes in providing honest and straightforward advice to her clients, removing any confusion and ensuring a clear understanding of their situation and the next steps involved in the process. Jasmyn’s kind and caring nature shines through in her interactions with clients, making them feel supported and understood during what is often a very difficult time.
Jasmyn’s future goals include continuing to work on uniquely complex family law cases and pursuing a Master of Applied Law. She is dedicated to continuing her professional development and expanding her expertise, particularly in matters involving domestic violence.
Outside of work, Jasmyn recently got married and enjoys spending quality time with her husband. She loves going to the beach and taking walks with her beloved Staffy, Frank. Jasmyn also takes pride in staying connected with friends and values her personal relationships just as much as her professional ones.
Jasmyn’s commitment to providing accessible, quality family law services, regardless of a client’s socio-economic status or location, makes her a valuable member of The Family Law Co. Her continual efforts to support her clients through their separation and to make a positive impact in the family law system.
SOLICITOR
B. LAWS, GDLP
Caity is a dedicated family law solicitor known for her sharp advocacy, strategic thinking and unwavering commitment to achieving the best possible outcomes for her clients. Admitted to the Supreme Court and High Court of Australia in 2022, she has practised exclusively in family law ever since, guiding clients through financial, parenting and divorce matters with confidence and clarity.
From the beginning of her career, Caity has shown a natural aptitude for courtroom advocacy. She regularly appears in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Divisions 1 & 2) and has achieved a number of exceptional results, including successfully overturning a first-instance decision on appeal, securing Final Parenting Orders on an undefended and ex-parte basis and obtaining all final orders sought for her client following a defended hearing in Division 1. She has also obtained leave for a client to pursue property adjustment orders outside the statutory limitation period, a result rarely achieved without strong evidence and persuasive advocacy.
Beyond the courtroom, Caity is valued for her practical, commercial approach to family law. She provides frank, timely advice and ensures her clients understand the cost-benefit considerations at every stage. Her ability to cut through complexity, draw on current authorities and deliver clear, solution-focused guidance has made her a trusted advisor to clients facing stressful and emotionally charged circumstances.
Caity’s practice includes the preparation and negotiation of Financial Agreements, Binding Child Support Agreements, Superannuation Splitting Agreements and Consent Orders. No matter the matter, her priority is always to empower her clients with knowledge and deliver outcomes that give them stability, confidence and a way forward.
Born and raised in Newcastle, Caity is passionate about supporting local families and contributing positively to the community she calls home. Outside of work, she is a keen equestrian who competes in show-jumping competitions across NSW. When she’s not with her horse, you’ll likely find her at a café with a good book or enjoying Horseshoe Beach with her dog, Harvey.