Samantha Baily LLM, LLB, BA, GDLP
MANAGING DIRECTOR
Samantha has 15+ years of family law experience with some of WA’s most prestigious boutique Family Law firms which makes for a potent combination of legal knowledge and real-world experience.
Samantha holds a Masters Degree in Law and was admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of New South Wales in 2003 and before the Supreme Court of Western Australia on 20 December 2007.
Samantha has practiced in the areas of criminal and family law. For the past 13 years, she has practiced exclusively in family law and has worked in two of the largest family law firms in Perth.
Samantha has extensive advocacy experience, including regular appearances before the Family Court of Western Australia and has appeared in the Family Court of Australia and a multitude of different Magistrates Courts throughout Western Australia and New South Wales.
As a nationally accredited mediation provider, Samantha can provide clients with a wider range of options to resolve their family law conflict by offering alternative dispute resolution mechanisms such as mediation and arbitration rather than simply advising clients to fight it out in the Family Court like too many family lawyers do. As the firm’s owner and Managing Director, Samantha has extensive experience as an Independent Children’s Lawyer in countless proceedings before the Family Court of WA, and significant experience in high-level child abuse, alienation and risk cases.
Samantha is an active member of a number of Legal Aid Panels and is also an Independent Children’s Lawyer. In addition, Samantha regularly volunteers at the Joondalup office of the Northern Suburbs Community Legal Service, as well as donating her time each month to assist WREN, an organisation assisting women who are escaping relationships as a result of domestic violence.
Samantha is also named as a recommended Leading Parenting, Custody and Childrens Matter Lawyer in the 2018 and 2019 Doyles Guide.
Elvira Mustafa LLB, LLM
ASSOCIATE
Admitted to the Supreme Court of Western Australia in 2016, Elvira is a Family Lawyer whose tenacious yet cooperative approach to quickly and amicably resolving her client’s Family Law issues has already set her apart. Prior to being admitted, Elvira worked for a prominent National Law Firm where she developed her passion for Family Law. In her first year of practice as a Lawyer, Elvira remarkably acted in a complex children’s issue Trial in the Family Court of Western Australia which resolved an outcome in favor of her clients.
Elvira comes to BFL from a boutique practice that recognises the immense benefits of utilising Alternative Dispute Resolution processes such as mediation and engaging in respectful, open dialogue with opponents to reach fair, timely and inexpensive settlements without recourse to the Courts.
Elvira is fluent in her National language of Albanian and often assists clients with similar cultural diversity who struggle with English as their first language. In addition to her commitments at BFL, Elvira dedicates her spare time to “Law Access”; an organisation that coordinates the distribution of pro bono legal assistance by Western Australian Lawyers.
With core values fundamentally congruent with BFL’s culture and modus operandi, Elvira’s impressive legal smarts and sensible, resolution focused approach to representing her clients makes her a valued addition to BFL.
Caitlin Ede LLB, BA, GDLP
LAWYER
Caitlin graduated with a Bachelor of Laws from Murdoch University in 2017, completing her College of Law in 2018. Caitlin briefly worked at a commercial law firm post-graduation, before pursuing her interest in family law. She commenced her employment at Baily Family Law in July 2018 as a Law Clerk, until she was admitted to the Supreme Court of Western Australia in late 2018 when she continued her employment with Baily Family Law as a Lawyer. Caitlin has a particular interest in Parenting matters and Care and Protection matters.
Caitlin also holds a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Psychology from the University of Western Australia, which helps her have a better understanding of the emotional needs of our clients.
Justine Ralph LLB BA (Hons.)
LAWYER
Justine is a graduate of The University of Notre Dame where she completed a Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Arts (Honours) majoring in Social Justice. Already firmly focusing her future legal practice on important social and family justice issues, Justine completed her Honours thesis titled: “The Effectiveness of Government Funding for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Victims of Domestic Violence“ in 2016.
Justine joined the BFL team as a Law Clerk in early 2018. Following graduation, she completed her College of Law requirements and was admitted to practice in June 2019. After which she joined the team on a full-time basis as a Lawyer. Justine intends to continue pursuing Family Law as her primary practice area and has a particular interest in the role that Independent Children’s Lawyers play in Family Court proceedings.
Swarali (Ali) Kembhavi LLB, BA
LAW CLERK
Swarali is a graduate of Western Sydney University where she completed a Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Arts majoring in History and Political Thought. She relocated to Perth following graduation and joined the BFL team as a Law Clerk in May 2019. She is currently undertaking her Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice to be admitted to practice as a Lawyer.
Swarali intends to continue working in Family Law post-admission and has a particular interest in property matters and financial agreements.
