I am pleased to announce that Mr Andrew Strum QC and Mr Richard Schonell SC have been appointed as judges of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (FCFCOA) (Division 1) (formerly the Family Court of Australia) and will commence on 29 November 2021.
Mr Strum has been appointed to the Victorian Registry. Mr Strum was admitted to practise as a barrister and solicitor in the Supreme Court of Victoria in 1992. In 2015, he was appointed Senior Counsel, with the position transitioning to Queen’s Counsel in 2016.
Mr Schonell has been appointed to the New South Wales Registry. Mr Schonell was admitted as a Solicitor in the Supreme Court of New South Wales in 1986. Mr Schonell was called to the Bar in 1993 and was appointed Senior Counsel in 2010.
On behalf of the Australian Government, I congratulate Mr Strum and Mr Schonell on their appointments and thank them for their willingness to serve the people of Australia as Judges of the FCFCOA (Division 1).
MR ANDREW STRUM QC Mr Strum graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1989 and Bachelor of Laws (Honours) in 1991 both from Monash University.
Mr Strum commenced his career as a Judge’s Associate to the Honourable Justice Steven Strauss, Judge of the Appellate Division of the Family Court of Australia. As a barrister, Mr Strum has practised exclusively in the family law jurisdiction, both at the interlocutory, trial and appellate levels, and in mediations (including as a mediator). He has also delivered and published papers on assorted family law topics.
MR RICHARD SCHONELL SC Mr Schonell graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Sydney in 1981 and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Technology Sydney in 1985.
Mr Schonell commenced his career as a solicitor at Allen Allen & Hemsley Solicitors from 1986 to 1988 and then subsequently at Henry Davis York from 1988 to 1993. As a barrister, Mr Schonell practised exclusively in family law and related work. He is also a regular contributor and speaker at conferences and seminars on family law matters.
