Areas of Expertise
Keturah is an Accredited Family Law Specialist and a Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers. Her practice covers all areas of family law, with expertise in complex property and financial settlements, prenuptial agreements, parenting disputes (including interstate and international relocations and abductions) and child support issues. While experienced in litigation and appearing regularly in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, she also negotiates out-of-court settlements and undertakes mediations to help clients resolve their disputes amicably.
Professional Experience
Keturah has over 25 years of specialist experience in family law. She has gained admission to practice as a lawyer in NSW, WA and Victoria. Prior to joining Nicholes Family Lawyers in 2012, Keturah was based in Sydney where she held senior roles in two of Australia’s leading family law firms, representing high net worth clients. Keturah coaches and mentors our junior lawyers, is an active member of the Family Law Section of the Law Institute of Victoria and has presented family law papers at conferences.
Qualifications
- Accredited Family Law Specialist (Victoria and previously NSW)
- Admitted to practice in the Victorian Supreme Court (and NSW and WA)
- Admitted to practice in the High Court of Australia
- Bachelor of Laws with Honours – Australian National University
- Bachelor of Science – Australian National University
Memberships
- Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers
- 2018 Doyle’s Guide – Recommended Parenting & Children’s Matters Lawyers Victoria
- Law Institute of Victoria – Committee Member of the Accredited Specialisation Family Law Advisory
- Law Institute of Victoria – Committee Member of the Family Law Section Executive
- Law Council of Australia – Family Law Section
- Law Asia – Family Law & Family Rights Section
In the Media
International Academy of Family Lawyers Newsletter ‘Spousal Maintenance Across Jurisdictions’
This month, Sally Nicholes and Keturah Sageman led a piece on spousal maintenance across varying jurisdictions with their IAFL Fellows. The article below explores how spousal maintenance is approached in Australia, Hong Kong, and New Zealand and examines each jurisdiction’s legislative framework, the discretionary factors courts consider, and how concepts like the “clean break” principle and family violence intersect with maintenance obligations.
These cross-jurisdictional insights have been provided by Winnie Chow, a Hong Kong-based family lawyer and former Vice-President of the IAFL, and Inger Blackford, a Barrister based at Trinity Chambers in Auckland, New Zealand.
Presentation on protecting clients’ assets to a commercial law firm
Managing Partner Sally Nicholes, Senior Partner Keturah Sageman, and Partner Catherine Giles presented to commercial lawyers this week on asset protection and strategies for preserving clients’ wealth.
Sally, Keturah and Catherine explored how assets such as family trusts, inheritances and loans are treated in the context of family law proceedings. They examined the potential impact these assets can have on business interests, company structures and financial agreements.
Partner, Catherine Giles and Senior Partner, Keturah Sageman
Presentation on international family law and its intersection with a wealth management firm
Managing Partner, Sally Nicholes and Senior Partner, Keturah Sageman, had the pleasure of presenting on the fascinating and complex world of international family law. From anti-suit injunctions and parallel proceedings to the recognition of overseas orders, cross-border financial agreements and international tax traps, it was a rich conversation highlighting just how critical coordinated legal strategy is when families and assets span multiple jurisdictions.
Managing Partner, Sally Nicholes and Senior Partner, Keturah Sageman
IAFL European Chapter Meeting in Barcelona
Senior Partner, Keturah Sageman, was in the beautiful city of Barcelona to attend the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL) conference.
The IAFL is an organisation that connects practising lawyers from around the world. The IAFL European Chapter Meeting in 2026 had an impressive international program, fostering learnings that Keturah will bring back to Australia as she leads the Nicholes Family Lawyers specialist focus group dedicated to international family law matters.
Keturah Sageman and Managing Partner Sally Nicholes are both proud to be Fellows of this wonderful organisation.
Keeping Wealth in the family and preserving assets
Senior Partner Keturah Sageman and Partner Catherine Giles presented to K&L Gates on asset protection, with Managing Partner Sally Nicholes introducing the session.
Keturah and Catherine explored how assets, including inheritances and trusts, are treated in divorce proceedings and the significant impact this can have on business interests, company structures, and financial arrangements. They also shared practical strategies for clients to safeguard these interests.
Partner Catherine Giles, Managing Partner Sally Nicholes and Senior Partner Keturah Sageman
Recognition of pre-nuptial agreements in Australia and the United Kingdom
Nicholes Family Lawyer’s Managing Partner Sally Nicholes and Senior Partner Keturah Sageman joined Dawson Cornwall Partner Simon Bruce in a podcast discussing the legal treatment of pre-nuptial agreements in Australia and the United Kingdom. Their podcast featured in the International Academy of Family Lawyers May Newsletter, showcasing their in-depth conversation highlighting their knowledge of pre-nuptial agreements in family law.
To read the newsletter, click here.
International Child Abduction under Japan’s Sole Parental Custody System
Nicholes Family Lawyer Senior Partner Keturah Sageman wrote an article on ‘International Child Abduction under Japan’s Sole Parental Custody System’ for the May edition of the International Academy of Family Lawyers Newsletter. Keturah’s article addresses Japan’s sole custody laws and the implications for child safety during relationship breakdowns.
To read the article, click here.
Opening Pandora’s Box – Law Institute of Victoria Law Institute Journal Special Edition on Family Law (March 2023 Edition)
Sally co authored an article with colleague Nicholes Family Lawyers Senior Partner Keturah Sageman titled “Opening Pandora’s box?” which looks at the Forster decision regarding mutual wills agreements and the implications this case has for binding financial agreements and property settlements from a family law perspective, especially for blended families. Read the article here.
Can we do more to protect children? Intercountry adoption, relocation and abduction
Keturah co-authored an article with colleague Nicholes Family Lawyers Managing Partner Sally Nicholes titled “Can we do more to protect children? Intercountry adoption, relocation, and abduction” for the January / February 2023 edition of “Precedent”, the journal of the Australian Lawyers Alliance. Read the article here.
How International Jurisdictions Address Systems Abuse in Their Family Courts
Managing Partner Sally Nicholes and Senior Partner Keturah Sageman co-authored an article for the International Academy of Family Lawyers on ‘How International Jurisdictions Address Systems Abuse in Their Family Courts’ in January 2023. The article provides a comparison on how international jurisdictions seek to protect vulnerable litigants against systems abuse and offers insight into whether the current response ought to be strengthened in order to prevent the prevalence of this kind of abuse.
To read the article, click here.
Thought Leadership
Keturah is a leader in her field. She has presented on a range of family law topics. Recent thought leadership includes:
8th World Congress on Family Law 2021: Through the eyes of the Child [a Law Asia Event] – Keturah spoke on the issue of Identity Theft: rights of donor conceived children. Keturah was also the moderator of the “Companies as weapons in the commission of domestic and family violence” webinar. The World Congress is held every four years.
Family Law Conference (Singapore) 2021: Fight or Flight: Is Abduction a Hindrance to Return? Keturah appeared as a panellist with Mr Yap Teong and spoke of issue of ‘habitual residence’ and ‘grave risk’ defence under Article 13 of the Hague Convention.
Leo Cussen School: Keturah has run sessions on drafting complex agreements and orders.
Leading contributor / consultant to CCH Wolter Publications including the Australian Master Family Law Guide – 11th Edition (2021). Keturah updated:
- The chapters on Child Abduction
- The chapter on Major Long Term Children’s Issues.