Three Greek Australian’s have made the list of South Australia’s young rising stars of family law, each making their mark in the community in a caring and professional manner.
A series by The Advertiser profiles standout lawyers, each under the age of 35, working in family law to celebrate the state’s emerging stars across civil jurisdictions and it follows a feature on those considered the state’s best.
Among the named lawyers are Erica Panagakos and Alysia Panagakos from the Clark Panagakos practice and Nestoras “Nes” Alexandropoulos, Mellor Olsson.
Erica Panagakos, Clark Panagakos
Erica Panagakos was nominated by her former university and also made it into SA’s top family and divorce lawyers as the director at Clark Panagakos.
The 35 year old has represented various clients from struggling parents “to agree arrangements for their children in difficult circumstances” and to “high-net-worth individuals with complex financial structures”, Erica Panagakos told said in an interview.
It wasn’t until Erica studied working as a lawyer that she discovered family law, when she assisted a solicitor who preparing for maternity leave.
“I studied family law as part of my (University of Adelaide) law degree but it wasn’t until I started working as a lawyer that I felt it could be my area of specialisation,” she said.
“I enjoy the opportunity to help families navigate challenging situations and the diverse range of cases that I work on each day.”
Alysia Panagakos from Clark Panagakos
Alysia Panagakos is a senior associate at Clark Panagakos practice. She chose to study family law in her final year of her degree at The University of Adelaide.
The 29-year-old has been described by a state senior leading divorce lawyer as “well respected in the court and the profession” with all the “qualities you need in a family lawyer”.
The young lawyer was drawn to the opportunity to work closely with and support members of the community.
“Clients often find themselves in desperate need of assistance and it is a privilege to have the opportunity to guide them towards a resolution,” Alysia says as one of the rising stars of family law.
Nestoras “Nes” Alexandropoulos, Mellor Olsson
Senior associate from Mellor and Olsson, Nestoras Alexandropoulos, is a graduate of Flinders University who is driven to grow in all areas of critical law, however, is mainly focused on “intervention orders to help people in circumstances where domestic violence has been a factor in their separation”
A senior associate described Nestoras as being a “standout professional in the field” due to his “genuine concern” for his clients.
The 34-year-old says it is clients who motivate him: “I enjoy getting to know my clients and helping them through what is generally one of the most stressful times of their lives.
“I find a lot of people are unsure of what steps need to be undertaken following a separation and how it can affect their lives,” Nestoras explains. “You see the relief they feel when their matters are finalised and they can move on with their lives.”
Source: The Advertiser
