Stephen Rugendyke obtained his legal qualifications from the University of Sydney in March, 1982 and was admitted as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of NSW on 22 December, 1982.
Since then, Stephen has worked in Sydney city and suburban practices, in Armidale in north-western NSW where he ran his own practice, Rugendyke Lawyers, for approximately 16 years. He has practiced in Newcastle since late 2007. Stephen has specialised in family law for the 28 years he has been in practice. In 1996, Stephen was accredited by the Law Society of N.S.W. as a specialist in Family Law and he has been a member of the N.S.W. Legal Aid Independent Children’s Lawyer (formerly Separate Representative) panel continuously since 1992.
Stephen has represented partners to marriage, de facto relationships and same-sex relationships, as well as children, parents and other relatives of parties and other people with relevant interests who are joined as parties to proceedings.
Stephen has developed a strong reputation as an experienced, competent and capable family lawyer and advocate. He has conducted hearings of up to 8 days in duration appearing as solicitor advocate in the Local Court, Federal Magistrate’s Court, District Court, Family Court and has also conducted appeals in the Full Court of the Family Court. He has appeared in registries of the Family Court and/or the Federal Magistrate’s Court in N.S.W., A.C.T., Queensland and Victoria and has also conducted matters before those courts in Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia. Stephen has represented many clients from interstate as well as from overseas and has been involved in a number of family law cases being conducted in other countries.
Stephen is committed to always delivering clients with outcomes in their best interests and, where applicable, their children, while always respecting their dignity and other important relationships and at a cost which they will recognise as outstanding value.
In addition to his family law experience, Stephen has also conducted matters in other areas of law nobtably care and protection, criminal law and civil matters including small commercial proceedings and matters in the Land & Environment Court. As a rural practitioner, Stephen has had extensive experience in conveyancing, wills and estates and other general law areas.
Stephen has 2 adult children. His interests include cycling, snow-skiing, reading and wasting time on the internet.
To contact the office of Stephen Rugendyke:
Assistant: Barbara Jellyman
P: (02) 4929 3995
F: (02) 4929 2099
E: barbaraj@chpartners.com.au