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April is a qualified solicitor of the Supreme Court of New South Wales with over 18 years' experience in the legal industry, having joined Attwood Marshall Lawyers in 2008.
Empathetic to the needs of clients who are often unfamiliar with legal processes, April adopts a pragmatic approach to all matters ensuring her clients understand each stage of the process.
April is experienced in all types of estate, power of attorney and guardianship/financial management disputes, with a keen interest in matters concerning informal Wills, capacity issues, and undue influence. She regularly assists her clients navigate complex court and tribunal matters.
April chose to pursue a career in law because she is interested in the dynamics that ultimately lead to (or inform) contentious legal matters, and this fuels her desire to help those involved navigate the often difficult legal journey.
She was admitted as a solicitor in 2018, holds a Diploma in Legal Practice from the College of Law Australia and is completing a Master of Laws (Applied Law), majoring in Wills and Estates.
She is also a STEP Affiliate Member. STEP is a global professional body, comprising of lawyers, trustees, accountants and other practitioners that help families plan for their futures.
April is based in our Coolangatta office.
Her notable cases are:
Estate Litigation Special Counsel, April Kennedy was recently featured in the Australian Financial Review where she was asked to comment on a case where an estranged daughter who was left 15% of the estate sued for a bigger share but lost, and was ordered to pay the legal costs.
Renee Pilatos challenged her estranged father’s will after being left just 15% of his $3 million estate. While she accepted her sister’s 50% share, she disputed why her father’s friend and executor, Warran Whillier, received 20%. Pilatos sued to claim part of Whillier’s $600,000 share, but lost. NSW Supreme Court Justice Hayley Bennett also ordered her to pay most legal costs, a move that could cut her inheritance to under $200,000.
April spoke to Wealth Reporter Andrew Hobbs about the unusual factors of the case. Normally, the estate covers legal costs when a will is contested but if a judge rules a claim is baseless, that can change fast.
April explained how Pilatos found herself in a position where she’s likely to lose much of her original inheritance.
“The court distinguishes between a person’s needs vs wants, and they will thoroughly examine all aspects of their life to make this determination. There is no hard and fast ‘rule of thumb’ to decide what provision is adequate or what moral duty a parent owes their child. It requires an assessment of the evidence.”
Read April’s full interview in the AFR here.
