Dannielle Young

Dannielle Young is Special Counsel and Head of Family Law at Collective Family Law Group, bringing almost two decades of experience practising exclusively in family law.

Admitted to practice in 2007, Dannielle has built her career helping individuals and families navigate separation, parenting disputes and complex financial matters with clear advice, practical strategy and a strong focus on achieving outcomes that allow clients to move forward.

Dannielle holds a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) from Griffith University. Her background in psychology has significantly shaped the way she practises family law, particularly her understanding of conflict, communication, family dynamics and the impact separation can have on parents and children.

Her approach is straightforward and solutions-focused. Dannielle believes that good family law advice is not about creating conflict where it does not need to exist. It is about helping clients understand their legal position, identify what genuinely matters and make informed decisions about the best way forward.

Where matters can be resolved through negotiation, mediation or other forms of dispute resolution, Dannielle is a strong advocate for doing so. She understands the financial and emotional cost of prolonged family law proceedings and works strategically to resolve disputes without unnecessary escalation.

At the same time, Dannielle is an experienced advocate who is equally comfortable dealing with complex and highly contested matters. Her experience extends across parenting and property disputes, relocation matters, domestic and family violence issues, complex financial matters, interim hearings, mediations and final hearings in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia.

Leadership and dispute resolution

As Head of Family Law, Dannielle also plays an important leadership role within Collective Family Law Group, supporting the firm’s family lawyers with strategy, mentoring and the management of complex matters.

Her interest in resolving family disputes extends beyond traditional legal practice. Dannielle holds a Graduate Diploma of Family Dispute Resolution Practice, is an AMDRAS Accredited Mediator and is registered as a Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner with the Australian Government Attorney-General’s Department. She is also a Certified Pet Custody Mediator.

This combination of experience as a family lawyer, advocate and dispute resolution practitioner gives Dannielle a broad perspective on family law disputes. She understands both what can happen when a matter proceeds through the Court system and the opportunities that exist to resolve disputes before they reach that point.

Dannielle is particularly passionate about helping parents remain focused on their children following separation. She encourages clients to look beyond the immediate conflict and consider the longer-term impact of the decisions being made today — on themselves, their children and their future co-parenting relationship.

A different approach to family law

Clients often describe Dannielle as direct, approachable and down-to-earth. She believes people facing separation need more than technical legal advice. They need someone who can explain the law in plain English, provide perspective when emotions are running high and give clear advice about what is and is not worth fighting about.

For Dannielle, being a strong family lawyer does not necessarily mean being the loudest person in the room. Sometimes it means negotiating firmly. Sometimes it means finding a creative solution. Sometimes it means telling a client something they may not want to hear. And when litigation is necessary, it means being thoroughly prepared and ready to advocate.

The objective remains the same: helping clients make informed decisions and move through separation with as much clarity, dignity and certainty as possible.

Beyond the law

Outside the office, Dannielle is rarely far from her two Shih Tzus, Peggy-Boo and Slugger, who feature prominently in life away from family law.

Her love of dogs has also found its way into her professional work through her interest in pet custody disputes and helping separating couples find practical arrangements for much-loved family pets.

When she isn’t working, mediating or spending time with her dogs, Dannielle enjoys travelling and getting away from the demands of legal practice, preferably somewhere that offers a good opportunity to switch off and explore.