Our Team

Nicole Croft

Director

“I was drawn to practice law through a desire to help others. Being able to assist people through an extremely difficult and emotional time in their lives is an honour.”

Nicole graduated from Murdoch University with a Bachelor of Laws degree in 2003 and successfully completed a Master of Applied Law (Family Law) and LL.M (Master of Laws) through the College of Law Australia in 2014. She was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of Western Australia in 2005 and to the High Court of Australia in 2008.

Nicole has appeared in the Doyle’s Guide multiple times since 2014. In 2019, 2023 and 2024 she was named as one of Western Australia’s leading family and divorce lawyers, and was also acknowledged as one of the leading lawyers in the parenting, custody and children’s matters category.

With experience in all areas of family law, including financial and child related matters, she appears regularly in the Family Court of Western Australia in complicated property and children’s cases and also instructs solicitor and junior counsel with many Perth barristers.

Nicole is also a trained Independent Children’s Lawyer and acts in this capacity in the Family Court of Western Australia and Children’s Court.

A member of the Family Law Practitioners’ Association of WA and The Law Society of Western Australia, Nicole served for eight years on the Council and/or Executive of the Family Law Practitioners’ Association of WA, in the roles of Councillor, Secretary, Vice President and President.

Andrea Sassella

Director

“Our clients are often going through one of the most stressful and emotional times in their lives. We always keep this at the forefront of our minds and act with empathy and care. As lawyers, we’re not just here to provide legal advice, we’re here to deliver a service. My clients’ wellbeing is at the heart of that service.”

Andrea completed her Bachelor of Laws from Murdoch University in 2005 and was admitted to the Supreme Court of Western Australia in 2006 and to the High Court of Australia in 2011. She successfully completed a Master of Laws (Applied Law majoring in Family Law) (LL.M) with the College of Law Australia in 2014.

Andrea was named by Doyles Guide as one of Western Australia’s recommended leading Family & Divorce Lawyers in 2023, as well as Perth’s recommended Family and Divorce Lawyers in 2017, 2018, 2019, ,2020 and 2024. She was also recommended in the parenting, custody and children’s matters category for 2020.

Andrea has appeared as Junior Counsel and instructing solicitor in a number of complicated children’s and financial cases in the Family Court of WA and in the Family Court of Australia.

In 2015, Andrea completed the National Training Program for Independent Children’s Lawyers conducted by the Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia and National Legal Aid. She became an Accredited Mediator with the Australian Mediation Association in 2020.

Andrea is a member of the Family Law Practitioners’ Association of WA and has previously served as the Secretary, Treasurer and Chair of the Sponsorship Committee. She is also a member of the Law Society of Western Australia and Women’s Lawyers (WA). She is the current secretary of the St Mary’s Anglican Girls School Old Girls Association.

Andrea is also an active networker and is a former Chapter President of her award-winning BNI chapter, Western Edge.

Catriona Kilgallon

Director

“I chose to practise law so I can help people resolve conflict in their lives and get through a traumatic experience as quickly and painlessly as possible.”

Catriona holds a combined Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts. She completed a Master of Applied Law (Family Law) through the College of Law Australia in 2016 and is an Accredited Family Law Specialist.

Catriona has worked exclusively in family law since 2008. She advises and acts for clients in matters relating to children including suitable parenting arrangements and more complex matters such as relocations, recovery matters, domestic violence, child abuse, adoptions, and surrogacy arrangements. Catriona regularly provides advice in relation to property settlements (including complex matters involving businesses, trusts, self-managed superannuation funds, overseas assets, farming matters and international jurisdictions), spousal maintenance, child support and child support agreements.

She has been recommended as a leading parenting, custody and children’s matters lawyer in Western Australia by Doyle’s Guide in 2023 and 2024.

Catriona has acted as counsel in many Family Court hearings and has appeared as either junior counsel or an instructor in trials in both the Family Court of Western Australia and the Family Court of Australia.

She has been an active member of the Family Law Practitioners Association of Western Australia for the last five years, and was a member of Council from 2012 to 2014. She is also a member of the Law Society and Women Lawyers of Western Australia.

Maree Valentine

Senior Associate

“I am passionate about helping vulnerable people achieve practical, efficient, cost-effective outcomes.“

Maree completed a Bachelor of Laws from Murdoch University and was admitted to the Supreme Court of WA in 2008.

She has worked exclusively in the area of Family Law and enjoys assisting clients from all walks of life, on a variety of financial and child-related matters.

Maree spent a period of time residing in the USA with her family, where she travelled extensively and volunteered as a Special Advocate for children in foster care, gaining insightful experience in an international legal system.

She joined the Carr and Co team in August 2022, and enjoys working collaboratively to provide clients with practical and effective outcomes.

Maree is a member of the Family Law Practitioners Association of WA and of the Law Society of WA.

Sophie Raven

SENIOR ASSOCIATE

“I have been inspired to practise family law through a desire to apply my skills and experience to help clients navigate their way through one of life’s most difficult and stressful experiences, as quickly and successfully as possible” 

Sophie completed a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Western Australia. She was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of Western Australia in 1993 and in the Cayman Islands in 2001. She joined Carr & Co in 2024. 

Prior to commencing her career in family law, Sophie worked as a corporate lawyer in Australia, Chile, the Cayman Islands and Monaco. She has extensive experience in corporate acquisitions, legal due diligence, establishment of offshore investment funds, initial public offerings, capital raisings, and the sale of private companies. 

Sophie has been a non-executive director of both ASX-listed companies and not-for-profit organisations. She has acted as the company secretary for many ASX-listed and large proprietary entities in the resources, technology, agriculture and financial services industries, with a focus on compliance and board governance. 

Sophie has joined Carr & Co with a particular interest in financial and property matters, including those involving complex corporate and trust structures. 

Sophie is a member of the Family Law Practitioners’ Association of Western Australia and the Law Society of Western Australia.

Renee Grego

Senior Associate

“Experiencing a relationship breakdown whilst trying to navigate the family law system can be a harrowing and emotional journey. It brings me joy to be able to provide my clients with clear guidance and support every step of the way.”

Graduating from Murdoch University in 2015 with a Bachelor of Laws, Renee was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of Western Australia and the High Court of Australia in February 2017.

Renee has worked in family law since 2014 and practised exclusively in this area since early 2019. She joined Carr & Co in May 2024 after having gained experience as a Head of Family Law Practice at a boutique firm in Perth.

With a particular interest in complex financial matters, Renee has extensive negotiation skills and takes a practical approach to resolving conflict. She has achieved many favourable outcomes for her clients through mediation by identifying and focusing on key issues.

Renee appreciates the importance of working collaboratively with other professionals such as accountants, financial advisors, counsellors and psychologists to provide clients with holistic advice and ensure they have the knowledge to be able to make informed decisions about their future.

Renee has acquired experience in the Family Court of Western Australia, Federal Circuit Court and Family Court of Australia, and appeared regularly in the Magistrates Court for restraining order proceedings. She has instructed and worked alongside some of Western Australia’s most highly skilled barristers including Senior Counsel, and briefed Counsel in Victoria and Queensland.

Renee is a member of the Family Law Practitioners’ Association of WA, the Law Society of Western Australia and the Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia.

Natusha Wenn

Associate

“Knowing that I have the opportunity to make a difference in a client’s journey, making a very difficult time less difficult, makes working in the family law sector so rewarding.”

Natusha completed a Bachelor of Laws from Notre Dame University in 2012 and was admitted in the Supreme Court of South Australia in August 2018.

Prior to joining Carr & Co, Natusha had extensive experience in employment law, specialising in workplace investigations. She was investigating sexual harassment, bullying and other workplace issues. She also has worked as a generalist lawyer gaining experience in not only family law but a range of different law, including employment, property, settlements as well as succession planning with wills and estates.

As a generalist lawyer Natusha was focused on the family law matters in the firm. Natusha joined Carr & Co in July 2024 to pursue specialisation. She enjoys assisting clients with both financial and child-related matters and is focused on achieving the best results for her clients.

Natusha has skills in negotiation, resolving conflict, drafting, investigations, property disputes, commercial dealings, compliance and working with teams of other professionals to assist her clients with the level of knowledge and expertise that is required.

Natusha is a member of the Family Law Practitioners’ Association of Western Australia, the Law Society of Western Australia and the Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia. She is the current president of the Presbyterian Ladies College Old Collegians Association.

Heidi Griffiths

Associate

“As a young family lawyer, I’m driven to make a difference by helping clients navigate the complexities of the legal system with clarity and care. My goal is to ease the legal burden so that my clients can focus on what matters most – their wellbeing, their family and their future.”

Heidi graduated with a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Behavioral Science from the University of Notre Dame Australia in 2024 and was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of Western Australia in 2025. Heidi joined the Carr & Co team in 2025.

During her university studies, Heidi worked as a paralegal in two boutique firms which specialised in a number of areas including family, succession and personal injury law. Throughout her work, Heidi has developed a keen interest in family law, specifically financial and property related matters.

Heidi is a member of the Law Society and the Family Law Practitioners’ Association

Leon Belica

Associate

“The most fulfilling part about working in family law is helping people reach an amicable settlement. It brings a sense of accomplishment to not only help solve complicated financial and parenting matters, but doing it in a way that leads to positive interactions between both parties.”

Leon completed a Bachelor of Laws from the University of New England in 2020 and was admitted to the Supreme Court of Western Australia in 2021. He joined the Carr & Co team in 2023.

Leon has worked primarily in the area of family law since 2019. Prior to joining Carr & Co, he worked at another family law firm where he gained valuable experience instructing Senior Associates and Senior Counsel in a number of trials in the Family Court of Western Australia involving complex parenting and financial matters.

Leon is a member of the Family Law Practitioners’ Association of Western Australia and Law Society of Western Australia.

Abbey Ross

Associate

Abbey has been part of the Carr & Co team since November 2021. She completed a Bachelor of Laws from Murdoch University and was admitted to the Supreme Court of Western Australia on 4 August 2023.

Abbey has a strong interest in parenting matters, particularly in helping clients work through issues involving the care and wellbeing of their children. She also regularly assists clients with financial matters, including property settlements and spousal maintenance applications. She understands how emotionally and financially challenging these situations can be and is committed to providing practical advice and compassionate support throughout the process.

Prior to her legal career, she completed a degree in journalism and public relations, which has equipped her with strong communication skills—an essential asset when advocating for clients and guiding them through the Family Court process.

Abbey values building trusting relationships with clients and strives to achieve outcomes that support the best interests of families, whilst aiming to make the process as smooth and straight forward as possible.

April Small

Associate

April graduated with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) from Macquarie University and was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of Western Australia in 2021. April joined the Carr & Co team in 2025.

She has practised almost exclusively in family law, with a strong focus on parenting matters. She has experience drafting and negotiating parenting plans and consent orders and is skilled in advancing parenting applications through the Family Court when agreement cannot be reached. Alongside her parenting practice, April has a solid foundation in property settlement and financial separation providing clear, strategic advice tailored to each client’s unique circumstances, guiding them through the complexities of property negotiations and preparing them for potential court proceedings.

April is a solutions-focused advocate, and she encourages resolution through mediation and negotiations where possible. She recognises the stress and costs often involved in family law matters and works closely with clients to achieve practical, cost-effective outcomes that align with their long-term goals. Where proceedings are necessitated, April is a confident advocate in court and is committed to presenting her clients’ cases in a precise and persuasive manner, with a focus on achieving positive outcomes for families.

Prior to joining Carr & Co, April’s experience included work in criminal law, care and protection proceedings, and family violence matters. This diverse experience equips April with a well-rounded and practical perspective, enabling her to understand the nuances involved in high-conflict and sensitive situations. She has appeared regularly in the Family Court of Western Australia, as well as the Magistrates Court and Children’s Court.

April is a member of the Law Society of WA and the Family Law Practitioners Association of WA.

Camille Eckhaus

Consultant

“My favourite part of this job is seeing people walk away from all of this stronger and happier than when they started.”

Camille obtained her Bachelor of Laws with Honours and Bachelor of Arts with Honours from Monash University in 2012 and completed her PhD in 2019. She commenced work as a Judge’s Associate to the Honourable Justice Walters in 2014 and was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of Western Australia in 2015.

Camille joined the Carr & Co team in 2017. She practices in all areas of family law, but has a particular interest in, and passion for, property proceedings.

Camille has instructed Senior Counsel and Counsel in a number of trials in diverse areas of law in the Family Court of Australia. She has a strong background in research and has worked with directors at Carr & Co on the preparation of research papers and submissions regarding law reform.

Camille is a member of the Family Law Practitioners’ Association of Western Australia and the associated Law Reform Committee, as well as the Law Society of Western Australia.

Javiera Riquelme

Graduate Law Clerk

Javiera was born in Chile and moved with her family to Western Australia in 2007. 

She has a Bachelor’s degree in History and Political Sciences from Edith Cowan University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Western Australia. She is currently working to be admitted to the Supreme Court of Western Australia as a solicitor.

During her university studies, Javiera worked as a legal assistant in both boutique generalist firms and large corporate firms. Throughout her work, Javiera has been involved in financial and parenting matters but has a particular interest in the latter.

Javiera is fluent in both Spanish and Portuguese