Ellen Hitchen

Ellen Hitchen is a distinguished Senior Associate at our firm, bringing a wealth of experience and knowledge to her practice areas in family law, wills and estates law, and employment law. Admitted to practice in 2010, Ellen holds a Bachelor of Law and a Bachelor of Science from the University of New South Wales. With nearly a decade of experience at a large firm, where she excelled as a law clerk and paralegal even before her admission, Ellen joined Finnane Family Law in August 2018. Here, she thrives in the close-knit environment, collaborating with our team and working alongside our family law accredited specialist, Michelle Finnane. Ellen has extensive courtroom experience, having appeared and instructed in the Family Court, Federal Court, and Federal Circuit Courts of Australia, as well as the District and Supreme Courts. Her representation of clients extends to various tribunals, including the Australian Human Rights Commission, NCAT, and Fair Work Australia. Though Ellen is an adept litigator, she is particularly skilled at securing favourable settlements for her clients, helping them to sidestep the financial and emotional burdens of protracted legal battles. Within family law, Ellen is deeply involved with divorce, parenting, and property matters, providing comprehensive support to her clients. In the realm of wills and estates, Ellen offers tailored advice on estate planning, including the preparation of wills, Powers of Attorney, and appointments of Enduring Guardian. She is proficient in guiding clients through the probate process and addressing estate matters such as Family Provision claims. Ellen also delivers expert counsel in employment law, adeptly representing both employees and employers in a range of matters. Her expertise includes unfair dismissals, general protections, underpayments, and unlawful discrimination claims, ensuring that her clients receive informed and strategic advice across all employment-related issues.