Isobel Feben

In her years of practice, Isobel has represented individuals and family groups in a wide range of cases, including:

• will contests (including testator family maintenance claims and allegations regarding wills made by a person without legal capacity or under influence);
• estate disputes (including concerns about executor conduct and issues relating to the construction and interpretation of wills);
• trust disputes;
• disputes involving persons under a disability;
• guardianship proceedings;
• breach of fiduciary duties claims;
• unconscionable conduct claims; and
• other family property disputes.

In addition to litigious matters, Isobel assists individuals and families with all aspects of succession planning, and with the administration of trusts and deceased estates.  She also accepts appointments in decision making roles, including as litigation guardian (for minors or persons under a disability who are involved in legal proceedings), as independent trustee for family trusts and as independent administrator for deceased estates.

Isobel’s approach to legal practice is intuitive, yet practical.  She never loses sight of the need for both common sense and creativity when addressing what are often difficult and highly personal matters.  

Isobel has been recognised by her peers and opponents in Doyles Guide as a ‘Rising Star’ in Wills and Estates law for four consecutive years (2019 – 2022).  In March 2023, she was recognised by ‘The Australasian Lawyer’ as a top lawyer under the age of 35.

She holds a degree in Arts and Law (with Honours) from Monash University.  In 2022, she undertook further study and assessment and was in the minority of candidates to be awarded Specialist Accreditation in Wills and Estates law by the Law Institute of Victoria.

• Estate and succession planning, including succession planning for individuals, family groups and business owners.
• Trust advice, including advice to trustees and to beneficiaries of family trusts.
• Guardianship proceedings and other legal matters involving individuals under a disability (including proceedings to unwind transactions entered into by a person under a disability or otherwise to susceptible to undue influence or unconscionable conduct).
• Initiating and defending proceedings issued against attorneys, including for misappropriation and other breaches of fiduciary duties.
• Probate and estate administration matters.
• Coronial disputes, and disputes over funeral and burial arrangements.
• Acting in litigious estate matters, including disputes about the validity of a Will, testator family maintenance claims, disputes about beneficiary entitlements where a person dies without a Will (including paternity disputes and disputes about the existence of domestic relationships), disputes about the conduct of executors, executor removal applications, applications for judicial advice and Will construction and rectification proceedings.
• Acting in family property dispute matters, including property co-ownership disputes, disputes arising in connection with family joint ventures and the pooling of assets and resources and family business disputes.
• Acting in litigious trust matters, including initiating and defending claims brought by beneficiaries against trustees, including in relation to provision of information, the conduct of trustees and disputes about trustee decisions.