About ConnectLaw
At our boutique law firm, we believe in the power of authenticity. We strive to provide a truly honest and approachable experience for our clients.
Gone are the days of stuffy and intimidating lawyers. We understand that legal matters can be overwhelming, and we aim to create a comfortable and welcoming environment for our clients.
Our team is dedicated to building strong relationships with our clients, based on trust and transparency. We take the time to listen and understand your unique needs and concerns, ensuring that you feel heard and supported throughout your legal journey.
We believe that being authentic means being true to ourselves and our clients. We provide honest and straightforward advice, never sugar-coating the reality of your situation. We are committed to keeping you informed and educated, empowering you to make well-informed decisions about your legal matters.
Our boutique firm allows us to provide personalised attention and tailored solutions for each client. We understand that every matter is different, and we take the time to understand the intricacies of your specific situation.
With our honest and approachable attitude, we aim to demystify the legal process and make it more accessible to everyone. We want you to feel comfortable asking questions and seeking clarification at any stage of your matter.
At our firm, you can expect a warm and friendly atmosphere, where you are treated as a valued individual and not just another number. We are here to guide you through the legal process with integrity and compassion, making your experience as stress-free as possible. We understand that navigating the legal system can be daunting, and we are here to guide you every step of the way.
Unleash the power of authenticity with our law firm, and experience a new level of personalised, honest, and approachable legal services.
In addition, our utilisation of state-of-the-art online technology means that we can service you no matter where you are. So, whether you want to connect with us via the Internet, or come in and see us face-to-face, we make law easy, accessible, and affordable.
Luiza Struska
Principal Solicitor and Notary Public
Luiza is a rare breed of generalist in an era of specialists — she practises across litigation, family law, property, wills and estates, and business matters, and does so with the same level of engagement across all of them. Where other lawyers refer out, Luiza rolls up her sleeves.
Her approach is practical and modern. She does not just review a contract or flag a problem and move on — she looks for solutions, and wherever possible, cost-effective ones. Her focus is the outcome for her client, not the size of the invoice.
She brings a genuine enthusiasm for complexity. Whether a matter involves a contested dispute, a family law property settlement, an unusual property issue, a business transaction, or something that defies easy categorisation, Luiza is more likely to find it interesting than daunting. Clients come to her when they need someone who will engage fully with a problem — not just process paperwork — and who will advocate clearly and persistently until it is resolved.
Beyond the law, Luiza is drawn to new business ideas and opportunities with an energy that occasionally borders on distraction — except that she actually builds them. That habit of turning ideas into action has given her a sharp, grounded understanding of how businesses and money really work, which she brings directly to the table for her clients.
Outside of the office, she has a deep appreciation for Nordic cinema and its gripping crime narratives, and is equally at home in the world of English detective fiction.
Danielle RaynEr
Senior Conveyancer
Fellow of The Institute of Legal Executives (Victoria)
With an impressive 30 years of experience in the legal industry, Danielle leads our conveyancing team with unparalleled expertise. Starting as a legal secretary in large multinational law firms in Melbourne, Danielle honed her skills and eventually found her passion in conveyancing. Since then, she has dedicated herself to delivering exceptional conveyancing services, ensuring that every client receives the highest standard of work.
Danielle’s remarkable attention to detail sets her apart, allowing her to navigate even the most challenging conveyancing matters with precision and efficiency. Her unwavering dedication to her clients ensures that their needs are met and their expectations exceeded throughout the entire conveyancing process.
Danielle’s commitment to excellence is further evidenced by her recent honor of being awarded a Fellowship from The Institute of Legal Executives (Victoria). This prestigious recognition is a testament to her extensive knowledge and expertise in various legal aspects, including conflicts of interest and trust accounting. With this Fellowship, Danielle is authorised by the Oaths and Affirmations Act 2018 (Vic) to witness Statutory Declarations, take Affidavits, and certify documents as true copies in Victoria, enhancing her ability to serve our clients effectively.
Beyond her professional life, Danielle finds joy in spending quality time with her family. When she gets the opportunity, she loves to explore the beautiful landscapes of Australia through travel.
rebecca cauchi
Paralegal/Law Clerk
With over 15 years of paralegal experience, Rebecca brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to our legal team. She has a keen eye for identifying inefficiencies and streamlining processes to create a more effective and client-focused operation.
She is responsible for many of the things that keep the office running smoothly and acts as the informal practice manager, ensuring everything is on track.
Rebecca’s role as a paralegal involves providing support to our legal staff in various administrative, regulatory, and legal matters. She excels in legal research, document creation, and database maintenance, ensuring that our team has the necessary resources and information to achieve positive outcomes for our clients.
Having previously worked at two well-respected major firms, Rebecca has honed her skills in navigating and mastering legal support systems. Her expertise allows us to deliver a higher level of service and enhance your overall experience.
Outside of work, Rebecca enjoys playing basketball and cherishing quality time with her family. Her dedication and commitment to both her personal and professional life shine through in everything she does.
Since joining our team in November 2022, Rebecca has already made an immediate and positive impact on our work. Her efficiency and attention to detail have helped us deliver even better results for our clients.
Lucy brown
Solicitor
Practising as a lawyer is surprising only because it is by far the least chaotic thing she does.
Before settling into the relative calm of legislation and deadlines, she attempted to avoid employment by winning a television game show. She tried three times. She lost three times. This was her first lesson in risk management.
She has worked as a registered nurse in remote and emergency settings, learned to fly gliders (without engines, by choice), become an advanced scuba diver (despite a fear of electric eels), and taken up skiing with an enthusiasm that has never once been supported by physics.
Compared to running out of air underwater and trusting her balance at speed on ice, legal practice is soothing. The law has rules. Mistakes rarely require oxygen or stitches.
She now practises law with the serenity of someone who has already made worse decisions and survived them. She plans obsessively, assumes nothing, and treats “it’ll be fine” as a red flag.
Her background as a registered nurse — including experience intersecting with mental health law — informs a calm, informed, and trauma-aware approach to legal practice. She practises as a generalist lawyer with a particular focus on family law, and is an experienced advocate who has regularly appeared before VCAT, the Mental Health Tribunal, and the Magistrates’ Court.
If your matter is stressful, complex, or already spiralling: she has done far more unhinged things for fun. This one comes with a framework, footnotes, and significantly better odds.
genie shum
Solicitor
Genie brings a rare combination of legal and financial expertise to her practice — a pairing that is as practical as it is powerful.
Before joining Connectlaw, she honed her legal skills within the Victorian state government, gaining a sharp understanding of how law operates at an institutional level. She is also a CPA accountant with extensive experience across the commercial and not-for-profit sectors, meaning she understands not just the legal dimensions of a matter, but the financial and operational realities behind it.
Genie holds a Master of Business Studies and a Bachelor of Health Science — a breadth of knowledge that allows her to engage confidently with complex, cross-disciplinary matters and to advise clients with both precision and context.
Outside of work, Genie embraces curiosity in all directions and is always open to new ideas. She brings the same energy to her practice: positive, persistent, and — when the moment calls for it — genuinely good company.
stephanie hargrave
Conveyancer
Stephanie’s approach to conveyancing is best described as organised calm in the face of everyone else’s chaos — which, during a property settlement, is exactly what you want.
She manages residential, commercial, subdivision, and off-the-plan transactions from start to settlement, handling every contract, Section 32, and piece of legal documentation with the kind of precision that stops problems before they start. She is the person making sure the details are right so that the settlement actually happens on the day it is supposed to.
Before conveyancing, Stephanie spent years in corporate sales and training at Symantec, covering the Asia-Pacific region, writing global onboarding manuals, and negotiating key business contracts. She then moved into financial administration, including a stint at Ambulance Victoria. None of this was a detour — it means she understands how businesses and money work, communicates clearly with everyone in the room, and does not get flustered when things get complicated.
She works from Geelong and is across every platform the industry runs on: PEXA, LEAP, TriConvey, Conveyancing Manager, ActionStep, and SRO Duties Online. If those names mean nothing to you, that is completely fine — it just means she has the technology side covered so you do not have to think about it.
If your property transaction needs someone who has genuinely seen it all and will not blink — Stephanie is your person.
karen jennings
Paralegal
Karen is the kind of person clients remember — not just because she is exceptionally good at her job, but because dealing with her is genuinely a pleasure.
With nearly two decades of experience as a law clerk across litigation, property, wills, estates, probate, and powers of attorney, Karen has seen almost every kind of legal matter a client can walk in with. She has spent years liaising with clients, barristers, court officials, and just about every relevant authority in between — and she does it all with warmth, competence, and the sort of unflappable manner that makes stressful situations feel significantly less so.
She is across the full range of legal systems and platforms — PEXA, LEAP, SAI Global, InfoTrack, the Commonwealth Courts Portal, RedCrest, and CITEC for Supreme, County, and Magistrates’ Court filings. If those names don’t mean much to you, the short version is: Karen knows her way around, and nothing catches her off guard.
It should also be noted that Karen is the office’s designated feeder. Brownies, rocky road, pecan slices, caramel slices, zucchini slice — her baking appears regularly and without warning, and has done more for staff morale than any team-building exercise ever could. We consider ourselves very lucky!
When she is not in the office (or the kitchen), Karen can be found reading, at the gym, walking, or spending time with family.
Integrity
Relatability
Community
We’ll provide you with the most efficient and effective resolution to your problem. You’ll know your costs upfront always. We believe people always come first. You are at the heart of all we do. We understand the legal issues can be stressful. We pride ourselves on respecting what you are going through.
Why you'll love working with us
Straight Answers
You will always know where your matter stands, what it will cost, and what your options are. We say the thing other lawyers tend to avoid saying — and if there is a faster, smarter, or cheaper way to get you to the same outcome, we will find it and tell you.
Solutions First
Good outcomes matter more to us than good invoices. If there is a faster or more cost-effective way to get you where you need to be, we will find it — even when that means less work for us.
One Firm. Everything.
Almost everything, actually. Family law. Property. Litigation. Wills and estates. Business matters. Conveyancing. Notarial services. We cover it all, and we use technology the legal profession is still catching up to. Faster turnaround, lower costs, no unnecessary overhead passed on to you.