Logo for Lockwood & Finch with stylized black and white text.

CAll: 0431006612

Talk to us

Our books are open

〰️

Litigation funding available

〰️

We take legal aid

〰️

Our books are open 〰️ Litigation funding available 〰️ We take legal aid 〰️

Newcastle Family Lawyers | Expert Family Law & Business Law

Our Services

Business law

For small to medium businesses with day-to-day legal issues. From using AI to understanding your contracts, we can help you simplify your legal requirements.

Learn more

Family law

Explore your options for separation, divorce, property division and children’s orders. We’ll help you understand your rights and develop a strategy to move forward.

Learn more

Empty document icon on a white background
Outline of a 4-piece puzzle piece
Silhouette of an umbrella
Black outline of a knight chess piece.

Litigation

An abstract icon featuring a circular design with connecting dots.
Outline icon of a person
Outline of a simple house icon
Outline drawing of a briefcase with a handle and clasp

Wills

Mediation

Why choose us?

  • Two women sitting and talking in a bright, modern office or lounge area with large windows showing a cityscape.

    Private and secure location

    Our beautiful offices at Honeysuckle are very private having:

    - No signs

    - Secure parking

    - Secure entry

    We space our bookings so you won’t even see any other clients while you’re here.

  • Two women are sitting and talking in a coffee shop, with one woman smiling and the other gesturing as they converse. There are plants, wooden chairs, and a curved counter in the background.

    Highly qualified and experienced

    We have 20+ years experience which includes:

    - Masters in Law

    - Qualified Arbitrator

    - NMAS Accredited Mediator

    - Adjunct Associate Professor

    - Delegate to the United Nations

  • An elderly man sitting cross-legged on the floor with eyes closed, wearing headphones, and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance with his hand over his heart in a living room.

    Empathy and Kindness

    - We lead with empathy, we don’t judge and we’ll support you holistically.

    - We know you’re human and you deserve to be treated seriously and with respect.

    - We won’t treat you like a number.

  • Two women sitting on a vintage pink sofa having a conversation, one holding a notepad and pen, in a bright room with large windows and houseplants.

    Collaborative Lawyers

    - We won’t use law to weaponise the process.

    - We ask what your goals are and help you work towards them.

    - Should things take a turn, we’re ready to be firm and fair to enforce your rights.

online services

australia wide

We’re a modern law firm. We use the latest technology, from Zoom to AI, to provide you with convenient and cost-effective services.  

NEED ASSISTANCE?

We offer a free 15 minute consult by phone or Zoom.

Talk to our team
A woman with blonde hair smiling against a dark blue background.

Sara Rayment, Principal

Hi, I’m Sara

I’ve been a lawyer for over 16 years with a focus on alternative dispute resolution and complex litigation. I’m also a qualified arbitrator.

I have a global reputation for blending empathy and legal simplicity with the latest technology to produce results for my clients. My focus has always been on the human issues, not just the legal ones. I hold a Masters of Law (disputes) from University of London and I’m an Adjunct Associate Professor at UoN. I’m a delegate to the United Nations and the ICC for AI in law.

I help clients with matters in business law and family law.

Book time with me
A woman with long, wavy brown hair and blue eyes, wearing black-rimmed glasses and a checkered shirt, smiling, with a brick wall in the background.

Kayla Curtis, Senior Associate

Meet our Team

Hi, I’m KAYLA

I’m a dedicated and compassionate Family Law Lawyer and NMAS Accredited Mediator. I’m committed to helping clients navigate some of life’s most challenging moments with clarity and care. I focus on achieving fair and practical outcomes that protect our clients’ best interests while minimising conflict wherever possible. I combine professionalism with empathy; legal matters often intersect deeply with personal lives, and I’m passionate about supporting clients through every step of the process.

I provide holistic guidance across a range of areas that tend to overlap with family law. I help clients with Wills and Estate Planning, Criminal Law, Children’s Court matters and Conveyancing.

Book time with me
Two women are having a conversation in a modern coffee shop, seated across from each other with coffee cups on the table. The setting includes indoor plants, wooden furniture, and a curved counter with faucets.

We know life isn’t always straightforward. But your legal rights should be. Sometimes you just need some quick and practical advice. Other times it might be more complicated. We’re here to help.

You can book:

  • a free 15 minute consult.

  • an initial consult of $330 (fixed price).

Creating a plan that works for you

Book your 15 minute free consult

Book a consultation

Testimonials

  • Sam R

    "What stood out most was their calm, grounded approach. They balanced professionalism with warmth, making what could have been a stressful process feel manageable and well-supported. I always felt informed, never in the dark, and never like 'just another file.'”

  • Hayley C

    “I would love to thank Kayla Curtis for her empathetic professionalism whilst helping our family in some tricky confronting circumstances. Kayla treated us all respectfully and got to the matter promptly. I couldn’t recommend the lovely Kayla enough for anyone needing a lawyer,.”

  • Justin W

    “Ready, to help…talk it through! No charge was asked. With that, I offered to cover the free initial over the phone consultation/conversation. It was, declined. There, was a heart to be helpful first before moving forward with their services.”

  • Alex M

    “Sara and the team are Compassionate, professional, and great at anticipating their clients needs. I would highly recommend to anyone needed assistance with their Family Law matters.”

  • Vickie F

    The team at Lockwood and Finch are wonderful to deal with. They are very pleasant and helpful. I would highly recommend them.

  • CCG

    “I recently had the pleasure of working with this outstanding legal firm. Their team is incredibly approachable and made the legal process easy to navigate. What sets them apart is their remarkable responsiveness and ability to cater to the unique needs of new businesses. They identified and recommended contracts best suited for my business, ensuring legal compliance and protection. I can't recommend them enough for their professionalism and dedication.”

Critically recognised & award winning

Finalist badge for the 2019 Australian Law Awards by Lawyers Weekly, recognizing academic achievement.
Australian Law Awards finalist badge for Innovator of the Year 2025, presented by Lawyers Weekly.
A circular award badge for the Lawyers Weekly Australian Law Awards 2021, identifying as a finalist in the Law Student of the Year category.
A circular award badge from Lawyers Weekly recognizing a regional/suburban law firm as a finalist for the Australian Law Awards 2025.
An award badge for the Australian Law Awards 2023, indicating a finalist position for Innovator of the Year (Individual).
A circular award badge with a laurel wreath border, stating 'Lawyers Weekly Women in Law Awards 2024 Finalist Thought Leader of the Year'.
A laurel wreath with a circular award badge in the center. The badge has the text 'Lawyers Weekly Women in Law Awards 2024 FINALIST Innovator of the Year (Individual)'.
A black and white illustration of a sneaker with a star on the side.
An award badge for the Lawyers Weekly Australian Law Awards 2025, recognizing a finalist as Regional/Suburban Lawyer of the Year.
A silver and black award plaque for the 2020 Australian Law Awards finalist for Innovator of the Year (Individual), hosted by Lawyers Weekly.

The most awarded family law practice in Newcastle

Gold Winner - Australian Good Design Awards 2025

Finalist - Financial Times Most Innovative Lawyers Awards - Artificial Intelligence Solutions 2025

Gold Winner - Australian Good Design Awards 2024

Winner - Financial Times Most Innovative Lawyers Awards - Innovation in New Solutions 2024

Finalist - Financial Times Most Innovative Lawyers Awards - People & Skills 2024

Finalist - Australian Women in Law Awards - Innovator of the Year 2024

Finalist - Australian Women in Law Awards - Thought Leader of the Year 2024

Finalist - Financial Times Most Innovative Lawyers Awards - Smart Delivery 2023

Finalist - Australian Law Awards - Innovator of the Year 2023

Finalist - Financial Times Most Innovative Lawyers Awards - Innovation in Digital Legal Practice 2022

Winner - Financial Times Most Innovative Lawyers Awards - Legal Design 2021

Finalist - Australian Law Awards - Law Student of the Year 2021

Finalist - Australian Law Awards - Innovator of the Year 2020

Finalist - Australian Law Awards - Academic of the Year 2019

Lockwood and Finch (formerly Inkling Law)

Need financial assistance?

JustFund

We’re a premium partner with JustFund, who offer a range of litigation finance and short-term life expenses.

JustFund is Australia’s only dedicated provider of flexible funding solutions for family law legal fees. Eligible clients can access a flexible line of credit to cover legal fees and expenses related to separation or relationship property proceedings. You don't have to repay the loan until you reach a settlement, which we hope reduces the stress associated with paying costs upfront.

A circular badge with a blue outer ring and a white inner circle. The outer ring says "ACCREDITED" at the top and "LEGAL FEE FUNDING" at the bottom in yellow text. The inner circle features the JustFund logo, which includes an illustration of two gold book stacks, and the words "JustFund" in dark blue.

Legal aid

We are a member of the legal aid panel and take on legal aid matters. If you qualify, we can help you make an application for a grant of legal aid.

Frequently Asked questions

  • Yes. You can contact us with no obligations to continue using us.

  • We work nationally and online. We have offices in Newcastle (Honeysuckle) and Sydney CBD by appointment. We’ll use agents for local court attendance where required.

  • We’ll always give you a quote up front. We also assist with legal aid grants and financial aid through JustFund.

  • That is a tough question! There are lots of awards and directories, but at the end of the day you should choose the family law lawyer who you think understands your case and has capacity to take you on. It’s important that you feel you can trust your lawyer.

  • Yes, there are. In NSW you’ll usually have 12 months from the date of your divorce to apply for property orders (they don’t need to be finalised but you need to have filed with the court). If you think you’re nearly out of time, let us know and we can speed things up for you.

  • Most matters won’t go to court. Even if you can’t agree with your ex now, we can normally reach an agreement by working with them or their lawyers. For some matters, no agreement can be reached and court will be necessary.

  • It’s based on a formula that looks at both partners income and care arrangements. It won’t consider expenses or other factors beyond taxable income. Family lawyers can help create private child support agreements to ensure child support is fair and complies with federal guidelines.

  • You’ll need to do some research on individual lawyers or you can call the law society for a referral. Most family law firms are very busy so you may have to try more than one. Check their websites, look for credentials such as a Masters in Law or Accredited Specailists. At the end of the day, you need to choose a lawyer who you feel you can trust and who has time to take on your case.