Executive Committee

Allysha-Jane Merrett commenced practice at the Bar in 2024 after ten years as a solicitor. Allysha-Jane is at 8 Wentworth Chambers and specialises in family law, equity, estate litigation and commercial disputes.
Before relocating to Sydney in 2020 Allysha-Jane worked as a senior lawyer with responsibility for a large family and criminal law practice in Newcastle and appeared regularly as a solicitor advocate in the Local, District, Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia and Children’s Court.
Immediately prior to commencing at the bar Allysha-Jane was special counsel in a leading Sydney family law firm.
She has conducted numerous family law cases including complex financial and parenting disputes successfully drawing upon her experience and qualifications including:

• Masters of Applied Family Law (College of Law 2017);
• Specialist Accreditation (Family Law) Law Society of NSW (2021); and
• Master of Business Administration (RMIT 2023).

She is an NMAS accredited mediator (AIFLAM), Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner (FDRP) and is available to mediate family law cases.

Allysha-Jane is passionate about advocating for issues that women face in the legal profession, and in society more broadly. She is also keen for the legal profession to lead the way in making sustainable choices and having a positive impact on the environment.

Jenna Georgopoulos is a Senior Associate in Mills Oakley’s Family Law Team. She specialises in a wide range of family law matters, including; property matters involving asset pools with multiple corporate and trust structures and high-net-worth clients, parenting matters involving serious allegations of family violence, complex mental health concerns and high conflict parenting arrangements, child support and spousal maintenance.

Jenna is also a Member of the Australian Association of Collaborative Professionals (AACP) which focuses on resolving disputes collaboratively and constructively without resorting to litigation.

Prior to her current position, Jenna was a Legal Associate to a Division 1 Judge of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia and also previously worked at the Crown Solicitors’ Office in the Child Protection Team.

Jenna has a strong commitment to the practice of family law and women in the legal profession. She is excited about joining the 2024 WLANSW Executive Committee and working with its Members to develop and support initiatives for women to advance their professional opportunities in the law and encourage greater collaboration amongst young female lawyers.

Rochelle is Senior Risk and Compliance Advisor with over 20 years of diverse experience in financial accounting, trust account management and regulatory compliance. She is currently specialising in Anti Money Laundering and Counter Terrorist Financing (AML/CTF) and is passionate about leveraging her expertise to drive meaningful change, especially in combating financial crime. Her work is dedicated to ensuring compliance and creating systems that protect organizations and vulnerable communities from harm.  She is also a fervent advocate for the empowerment of women in the legal sector, as she serves as Treasurer of the Women Lawyers Association of NSW for the past two years. She is committed to delivering outstanding legal services and cultivating a culture of integrity, diversity, and innovation, Rochelle is driven to make a significant impact within the legal community.

Jasmine Lai is a fourth year Bachelor of Laws/Psychological Science Student at the University of New South Wales. She has a strong interest in corporate and commercial law, particularly where cognitive psychology intersects with business and law. As a law student, Jasmine is passionate about contributing to the work of the Women Lawyers Association of New South Wales and the advancement of female law students and lawyers.

Justine is the Immediate Past President of the Women Lawyers Association of NSW. Justine is a medical negligence lawyer with a passion for women’s health and access to health care.

Called to the Bar in 2005, Penny is highly regarded for her expertise in all aspects of employment and discrimination law, including all matters arising under the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth), contractual disputes and restraints of trade. With over 24 years’ experience in advocacy, advising and dispute resolution, Doyle’s Guide has consistently recognised Penny as a recommended leading employment law barrister.

Penny is a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Directors (GAICD), a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (MCIArb) and recently completed the in-person component of a CIArb Diploma in arbitration at the University of Oxford, Worcester College. Penny appears in all courts and is admitted to appear in the High Court of Australia. In addition to her practise as a barrister, since 2017 Penny has been appointed a part-time Tribunal Member of the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal, having been reappointed for further terms in 2019 and 2024. Further details about Penny’s experience can be viewed here: https://statechambers.net/penny-thew/

Renée Bianchi is a barrister at 13th Floor St James Hall Chambers, having been called to the Bar in 2013 after practising as a solicitor in private practice for five years.

Renée joined the Executive Committee of the Women Lawyers Association of New South Wales in November 2018, becoming Vice President in November 2019 and was President from 2020-2022. As the incoming President, she introduced the first Strategic Plan for the Association, continued the work for the advancement of women within all facets of the legal profession and the community, and increased the profile of WLANSW by way of advocacy and by having an active social media presence, particularly as WLANSW celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2022.

Renée is currently the Co-vice Chair of the Women Barristers Forum and President of the Australian Women Lawyers (AWL), as well as the AWL delegate to the Law Council of Australia’s Equal Opportunity Committee. She is also the Chair of the B Miles Women’s Foundation and member of the NSW Bar Association’s Succession and Protective Law Committee.

Renée is a past Chair of the Law Council of Australia’s Young Lawyers Committee (October 2016 – April 2019) and past President of NSW Young Lawyers (2016). She is also a past member of the NSW Bar Association’s Diversity and Equality Committee (July 2020 – June 2023) and past Council Member of the National Council of Women of NSW (November 2019 – February 2023).

Doyle’s Guide has listed her in its Wills and Estates Litigation Leading Lawyers list since 2016, naming her as Preeminent Junior Counsel in this area in NSW and Leading Junior Counsel in Australia in 2024. Renée graduated from the University of Newcastle with a Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Honours) and a Bachelor of Laws/Diploma of Legal Practice.

Clarissa Sempel is a Commercial and Employment Lawyer at Our Lawyers, in Mittagong and Picton. Clarissa is passionate about providing support in all walks of life and being able to build connections and growth of those around her, particular as a regional lawyer. She is well aware of the demands juggling “home” duties that come with a strong family commitment, working full time, and studying. For that reason, Clarissa often advocates on work-life balance and understanding mental health of colleagues.

Clarissa is also the Vice-Chair of the Wollongong Regional Chapter, Immediate Past President of JCI Australia, and takes part in local grass root organisations that benefit and support her community.

As a lawyer working in the Southern Highlands and Wollondilly, Clarissa is looking to support the growth of regional lawyers.

Asiya is a graduate of the University of New South Wales, holding a Juris Doctor degree, and joined the Executive Committee of the WLA NSW in 2023 where she currently serves as Co-Chair of the Diversity, Inclusion, Equity and Leadership Sub-Committee.

Asiya has experience in both criminal and family law and completed a research thesis on comparative succession law.

Her experience as a criminal lawyer has seen her appear in many high-profile matters in NSW, whilst her position held as an Associate at the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia has allowed her to understand the importance of court processes and access to justice.

Being a mother to two young children, Asiya is passionate about supporting women in the profession. She hopes to see an increasing number of diverse women in the legal profession reflected at both the bar and the bench.

Rebecca Darr is a property, commercial and estate planning lawyer and a partner at Pikes and Verekers lawyers in Sydney. Her practice focuses on providing excellent service to private clients, corporations, developers and numerous local government Councils. She also provides estate planning and probate services for private clients and has a keen interest in elder law.

Pikes and Verekers has a long association with the Women Lawyers Association of NSW. The firm was previously known as Pike Pike & Fenwick before a merger and two of the founding partners of that firm, Veronica Pike and Aline Fenwick were also founding members of WLANSW.

Rebecca is passionate about supporting women in the legal profession and continuing the work of the founders of the WLANSW.

Outside of the law, Rebecca enjoys reading and crochet and as a mum of two teenagers, seems to spend most of her time as a taxi service!