Our Mediators
Graham Lyons
The founder and practice administrator of Family First, Graham was a practising barrister for 35 years following a career in commerce. He has been a specialist family law mediator since 1998. He has handled more than 1,000 family mediation cases; about half have been with Legal Aid clients for which he is quality mark licensed. He is qualified to supervise other family mediators nationwide and contributes to legal journals on family mediation.
Graham has a university Diploma for Child Protection, a Certificate for Counselling and is licensed to consult with children.
Akash Soni
Akash is the owner of family law firm Breakthrough Solicitors and a member of the Law Society, College of Mediators, Family Mediation Council and Resolution. As a mediator, Akash has worked in the areas of clinical negligence, social housing, care proceedings and workplace disputes as well as family law. A successful business owner for over 25 years, he is also able to use his commercial expertise to find constructive answers to complex issues. Akash enjoys a reputation for finding practical and cost-effective solutions for his clients and for negotiating with difficult opposition to reach successful outcomes in protracted cases.
Akash has a wide experience of family law and mediating on issues dealing with children, property and finances arising out of relationship breakdown. A highly empathetic individual who strives to assist others to resolve their issues and make sustainable decisions for a positive future.
Sameena Alladin
Sameena is an experienced and accredited ‘All Issues’ family mediator, which enables her to offer a wide range of topics for discussion during mediation, including child/ren arrangements; property and financial matters; separation and divorce; cohabitation and pre-nuptial agreements etc. Registered with the Family Mediation Council and a member of the Resolution Alternate Dispute Resolution section, Sameena is a consultant mediator with Family First Mediation Service. She aims to facilitate the process of mediation by assisting clients to discuss their issues in a constructive and balanced manner, and to attempt the outcome sought by consensus.
As a practising solicitor specialising in family law, Sameena is able to enhance her family mediation work by utilising her skills and knowledge to appropriately share relevant information with clients that undertake mediation with her. Sameena cannot offer legal advice as a consultant mediator, but she does share appropriate information that can often assist clients in understanding their available options.
Patrick Shephard
Patrick is an FMA certified family mediator and also a BACP Accredited psychotherapist and has practised since 2011. Before that, he ran his own training consultancy after a 17 year career as a dispute resolution lawyer.
Patrick was a partner in a Top 20 law firm, Pinsent Masons, for three years before working in-house in Hong Kong. His BA was in English Language & Literature, and his interests include his young daughter, creative writing, yoga, Chi Kung and outdoor swimming.
