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About Melrose Keys Lawyers

About

At Melrose Keys Lawyers, we truly care about the people we serve. With deep expertise, years of experience, and a commitment to achieving the best outcomes, we’re here to support you every step of the way.

Nestled in Brisbane’s West, we proudly provide trusted legal services across Queensland. We know that access to high-quality legal support shouldn’t come with intimidating costs.

That’s why we offer fair, transparent fees while delivering the same exceptional service and knowledge you’d expect from larger firms.

Helping people is at the heart of what we do. We believe in offering clear, honest advice and making the legal process as smooth and stress-free as possible for you.

We’re proud to serve Kenmore, Chapel Hill, Brookfield, Indooroopilly, Chelmer, Toowong, The Gap, Ashgrove, Upper Kedron, Mount Ommaney, and all surrounding Brisbane suburbs.

When you need guidance, we’re here—with expertise, integrity, and genuine care.

Our Team

Hayder Shkara

Director

Hayder has vast experience in family law, including financial and property settlements, divorce, custody matters, wills and estate, consent orders, and binding financial agreements. He is an excellent communicator and holds well before a Judge and Magistrate in legal proceedings. He is also great with clients, and able to build close connections with them.
 
Hayder leads the team at Melrose Keys and heads the Justice Network in Australia. He has a double degree from the University of Technology Sydney with a Bachelor of Laws and Communication.
 
He is committed to his team, overlooking all the matters and providing detailed support to his staff and clients. He values hard work and dedication and will provide endless guidance to his team and clients.
 
When Hayder isn’t demonstrating his dedication to the firm, he is playing padel with friends or coaching sports on the weekends.

Brianna Finnegan

Associate

Brianna is an Associate at Melrose Keys Lawyers with a strong background in both prosecution and defence work.

Before moving into family law, she spent several years as a Federal Prosecutor with the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions, working closely with the Australian Federal Police and State police on serious and complex matters, including financial crime and other sensitive investigations.

She later moved into private practice, representing clients in criminal and domestic violence proceedings.

Across these roles, Brianna developed extensive court experience and is recognised for providing clear advice, disciplined judgement and strong advocacy in challenging, high‑stakes matters.

Her experience across prosecution and defence gave Brianna a clear understanding of how family breakdown and complex personal circumstances can affect individuals.

This perspective drew her to family law, where she could support clients more directly during these challenging periods with clarity, empathy and practical guidance.

At Melrose Keys Lawyers, Brianna assists clients with family law matters, including parenting and property disputes, as well as domestic violence proceedings.

She is known for her calm and steady approach, her ability to identify key issues quickly, and her commitment to helping clients feel informed and supported at every stage of their matter.

Outside of work, Brianna enjoys exploring the outdoors with her miniature Groodle, Lacey.

Katherine Siotos​

Associate

Katherine Siotos is the kind of lawyer clients remember—for all the right reasons. Warm, clear, and easy to talk to, she combines deep expertise in Family Law with a refreshingly human approach. Whether navigating property settlements, parenting arrangements, or divorce proceedings, Katherine brings calm, clarity, and confidence to every conversation.

After earning her Juris Doctor from Deakin University in 2020, Katherine spent five years honing her skills as a Family Law paralegal before being admitted as an Australian Lawyer in 2021. Her background means she knows how to get things done—efficiently, cost-effectively, and with minimal fuss.

Clients value Katherine’s ability to cut through complexity and deliver tailored, practical solutions that protect their interests and move things forward. She’s not just passionate about Family Law—she’s passionate about helping people feel heard, supported, and empowered during some of life’s toughest transitions.

A natural problem-solver and quiet achiever, Katherine is driven by outcomes, not ego. Her track record speaks for itself: smart strategy, strong advocacy, and results that make a difference.

Melissa Paet

Solicitor

Melissa is a lawyer who holds a Bachelor of Laws from Auckland University of Technology and is admitted under the High Court of New Zealand and the Supreme Court of Queensland.

Beginning her legal career as a legal secretary during university, she was immersed in Wills and Estates, and Family Law in New Zealand, where she developed a strong passion for both areas of law. Melissa is particularly passionate about Trans-Tasman practice, which motivated her move to Queensland to continue assisting clients across jurisdictions.

Melissa takes a client-focused approach, combining professionalism with compassion and understanding. Melissa works closely with clients to understand their unique needs and goals, providing practical and tailored advice to guide them through complex legal matters with confidence and clarity.

Outside of her legal career, Melissa loves exploring the beauty that Queensland has to offer and spending time with her dog, family, and friends.

Karly Muller

Solicitor

Karly graduated from Western Sydney University with a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) in 2021 and completed her Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice (GDLP) with the College of Law in 2022. Shortly after she was admitted as a Solicitor to the Supreme Court of NSW and also the High Court of Australia. Prior to joining Justice Family Lawyers, Karly began her career working as a paralegal in Commercial and civil litigation and was also exposed to general practice before transferring into Family and Criminal Law to pursue her dream career.

Like her clients Karly had unfortunately found herself in the Family Court System for 2 years which allowed her to gain valuable insight and “behind the scenes” personal experience most practitioners do not have inclusive of interactions with NSW Police and Department of Communities and Justice. This experience has allowed her to develop empathy, rapport and a deep understanding of the Family and Criminal Court system and understand the emotions, frustrations and difficulties clients experience when entering into family law proceedings. Karly has experience in dealing with matters that involve allegations of domestic and family violence, coercive and controlling behaviour, child abuse allegations, Local Court proceedings in relation to criminal charges for Apprehended Domestic Violence Orders, mental health, divorce, financial settlement, contravention applications, custody disputes. As an advocate for her clients she has appeared in directions hearings, interim and final hearings and mediations.

She endeavours to assist clients with her bubbly personality, confidence, kindness, empathy and compassion to navigate through this chapter of their lives and aims to provide them with a resolution focused approach to ensure they receive the best possible outcome for them and their family.

Tait Hutchinson

Solicitor

Tait graduated from Griffith University in 2023 with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and from the College of Law in 2025 with a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice.

With a strong and growing interest in family law, he is committed to assisting clients with professionalism, empathy, and clear communication, recognising that family law matters often involve sensitive and deeply personal circumstances.

In his role, Tait supports the team by preparing court documents, undertaking detailed legal research, and assisting with ongoing case management. He is dedicated to ensuring clients receive accurate, efficient, and well-informed guidance throughout their matters.

Outside of work, Tait enjoys exploring new places and experiences. He regularly visits local markets to engage with the community and discover local artisans, often accompanied by his dog. On weekends, he can be found at the beach, hiking, or relaxing with a good book.

Tharaniah Suthes

Tharaniah Suthes

Legal Assistant

Tharaniah is a — currently undertaking a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Queensland. She is passionate about building a career in the legal profession and is committed to continually expanding her knowledge to provide meaningful support to clients. Tharaniah approaches every matter with professionalism, attention to detail, and a genuine desire to make clients feel comfortable, supported, and understood.

Alongside her studies, Tharaniah is gaining experience in Wills and Estates, where she works closely with Melissa to assist clients through every stage of the legal process. She enjoys the diverse nature of legal practice and is dedicated to delivering efficient, high-quality support while continuing to develop her legal skills.

Recognised for her friendly and approachable nature, Tharaniah values building strong relationships with both clients and colleagues. She believes that clear communication, compassion, and reliability are essential to creating a positive client experience and is committed to ensuring every client feels informed and supported throughout their matter.

Outside of the office, Tharaniah enjoys creating digital content, including marketing videos and lifestyle vlogs, keeping active at the gym, discovering new cafés around Brisbane, and spending quality time with her family and friends.

Christine Fagan

Receptionist

With over 20 years of experience in the legal industry, Christine began her career in archiving and gradually progressed into specialising in Wills, estates, and the management of safe custody documents.
 
Her strong attention to detail and understanding of legal processes have been key assets throughout her career. She is currently the receptionist at Melrose Keys, where she enjoys being part of a close-knit team and contributing to a supportive, client-focused environment.
 
Christine enjoys horse riding through quiet trails, camping under the stars, and gardening. Quilting is her creative escape, where each stitch tells a story.
 
Most of all, Chris cherishes time spent with family—sharing laughs, making memories, and enjoying the little things together.

Take your claim on with confidence. We’re here to help.

Melrose Keys Lawyers is here to help you navigate your case, no matter how complex. Get started with Melrose Keys Lawyers. Book your consultation today.

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