Melissa Lee
Principal
Melissa Lee is the Principal Lawyer and Director at Maeve O’Brien & Associates. Melissa was formerly employed at local firm Patten Robins Lawyers, where she led the Family Law Department. Melissa has many years of experience practising in Family Law, having worked at a variety of mid and small tier specialist and general legal practices in the Melbourne CBD and suburbs.
Melissa regularly appears for clients at Court, at Mediations, Collaborations at out-of-court negotiation meetings. As a qualified Collaborative Practitioner, Melissa can help families move through the breakdown of a relationship in a non-adversarial and future-focused way, where this option is appropriate. Melissa’s focus is on separation and divorce without Court, wherever possible. She prides herself on delivering client service of the highest quality, with great diligence and a genuine personal touch.
Melissa holds Bachelor’s Degrees in Law and Arts from The University of Melbourne. She has also completed a post-graduate legal unit in Collaborative Practice at Monash University and additional training in Collaborative Practice with MELCA.
Melissa is a committee member of the Victorian Association of Collaborative Professionals (VACP), and a member of Victorian Women Lawyers (VWL) and Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC).
Outside of work, Melissa is an active parent and a passionate choral and ensemble singer. She is a member, committee member and Secretary of the Australian Chamber Choir.
Contact Melissa at Maeve O’Brien & Associates Lawyers today on (03) 9857 0099 or via email, [email protected]
Client Testimonial
“Melissa is a highly experienced and capable adviser, who provides a really useful blend of legal and practical insight quite rare, even among the most experienced and dedicated lawyers. I also found her to be diligent in attending to the small details, while never losing sight of the big picture of the outcomes I was seeking to achieve, all while bringing sensitivity, compassion and humour to her daily work. I would not hesitate to recommend her to any legal task or brief, large or small.”
~ KS
“I always feel so reassured after speaking with you. You may not realise it, but you have helped me save my mental health. I would never have expected to find someone who is so supportive and frank, who just pushes me in the right direction but also extends a sensitive and kind touch to such an unpleasant situation.”
~ VT
“Melissa presented a calming and confident presence at all times. She really took the time to understand me and what I wanted to achieve and was very insightful and professional. The end result was one that I was hoping for, but thought would never be possible. Melissa is an outstanding family lawyer and I highly recommend her to anyone. I could not have made a better choice. Simply phenomenal from start to finish!”
~ VS
“My ex and I were keen to find a separation path that prioritized the well-being of our 3 teenagers and preserved our supportive friendship. Having observed some horrendous separations that had destroyed families and finances, we were recommended to explore Collaborative Divorce and Melissa was recommended to me as a highly experienced Senior Family Lawyer that was also a specialist in Collaborative practice. Throughout the process Melissa has been supportive of the outcomes being sought and has been practical, intuitive, and direct when necessary. The result achieved with Melissa’s stewardship and advice has enabled our children’s education and support as young adults to continue to be prioritized and financial concerns and needs heard and addressed. I highly recommend Melissa as a Family Lawyer.”
~ David
Arthur Athan
Associate & Parenting Coordinator
Arthur Athan is an Associate Lawyer and Parenting Coordinator at Maeve O’Brien & Associates, who practices in all areas of Family Law. Arthur is a pragmatic lawyer who assists clients in all areas of Family Law including matters that involve domestic violence, complex asset pools that include trusts and multiple entities, parental alienation, and instances of relocation. His strength lies in navigating clients through and out of Family Law litigation. He has a special interest in assisting parents to pursue ongoing dispute resolution after separation – both in and out of the Court context, such as parenting coordination.
Arthur has developed a broad range of professional relationships that assist in providing a support team for his clients as they navigate their family or relationship situation. Further, Arthur’s background in languages and culture studies allows him to assist clients from multicultural backgrounds with flexibility and sensitivity.
Arthur holds a Bachelor of Law, Bachelor of Music and Diploma of Languages (Indonesian) from Monash University and a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice with the College of Law. Arthur is admitted to practice by the Supreme Court of Victoria and the High Court of Australia.
Away from the law, Arthur is an accomplished concert pianist and enjoys spending time with family, friends and at his local church.
Contact Arthur at Maeve O’Brien & Associates Lawyers today about your family situation on (03) 9857 0099 or via email, [email protected].
Client Testimonial
“I wanted to let you know that I appreciate all the help you have provided. I remember you were very good on the phone when I spoke to you the night before I first met you… Your words made me feel safer… Thank you, Arthur.”
~ DC
“It’s difficult to describe the hurdles that you face when coming out of a long term abusive relationship… I have found that it is critical to have the right people around you at this time and I’m lucky you were there.”
~ NR
“Both Melissa and Arthur are confident and caring advisers. They gave me fantastic advice and guided me so I could achieve the best possible result. They were both calming and compassionate and any question I asked was ever made to feel unimportant. I have and will keep referring them to anyone who needs a great Solicitor.’’
~ Anne Maree
Anthony Murdoch
Senior Consultant
Anthony Murdoch is the Principal Lawyer and Director of Patten Robins Lawyers. Anthony works closely with our clients as a Senior Consultant to provide advice including about their business/commercial and property matters. Anthony encourages a conciliatory approach to legal practice, with the aim of providing the most efficient outcome for all clients.
Outside of the law Anthony enjoys time outdoors with his wife and 4 young children.
Contact Anthony at Patten Robins Lawyers today on (03) 9859 5455.
Marion Cels
Conveyancer
Marion Cels is a Conveyancer and Justice of the Peace and works in the areas of Conveyancing and Wills & Estates under the supervision of Melissa Lee. As a conveyancer, Marion has experience acting for both vendors and purchasers, landlords and tenants. She also assists clients with estate planning and estate administration matters. With over 30 years of experience in the legal industry, Marion is highly professional and compassionate towards her clients.
Contact Marion at Maeve O’Brien & Associates on (03) 9859 5455 or via email, marion@maeveobrien.com.au.