Dimitra Tolis
Partner and Accredited Family Law Specialist
Dimitra began her career practicing in family law, criminal law, worker’s compensation and civil litigation, including with the Crown Solicitors Office, before specialising in Family Law in 1998 and joining Tolis and Co in 2000. She has twenty-six years of post-admission experience across all aspects of legal practice and a wide knowledge base across all jurisdictions with expertise in Family Law.
In 2015 Dimitra attained Family Law Specialist Accreditation, one of the first and currently one of only a handful of legal practitioners to hold this accreditation in South Australia. This Accreditation acknowledges that she provides the highest standard of service to clients, and this evidences her comprehensive knowledge and understanding of family law.
Dimitra has been recognised by the peer-reviewed website ‘Doyle’s Guide’, for the past three years as a ‘Leading Family and Divorce Lawyer’ and ‘Leading Family Law – Parenting Lawyer.’ Additionally, the firm, under her direction, has been listed for the last four consecutive years as a ‘Leading Family Law Firm in South Australia.’
She has a drive to achieve results, advanced analytical and technical capabilities, and enables successful outcomes to be realised by applying strategic thinking. She has developed an excellent reputation amongst her clients and peers for her integrity, technical skills, sensible judgement, and empathy for her clients.
As a result of her training through the Australian Institute of Family Law Arbitrators and Mediators and her extensive experience in persuasively negotiating on behalf of her clients in complex mediations, Family Dispute Resolution Conferences, Conciliation Conferences, and informal conferences, she is able to negotiate practical, commercially pragmatic and cost-effective solutions for her clients and avoid litigation in most cases.
In parenting matters, Dimitra is committed to achieving child focused resolutions and ensuring that negotiations are conducted respectfully and, if safe and appropriate, without disruption or damage to the co-parenting relationship.
Dimitra has successfully negotiated and litigated complex property matters involving high net worth property pools, numerous trusts and corporate entities, self-managed superannuation funds, third parties and complex business structures.
Dimitra has authored papers and presented to Flinders University Family Law students and at Television Education Network’s Annual Family Law Conference in Melbourne. She has contributed her skill and experience in the practice of Family Law to Flinders University Law School’s Juris Doctor postgraduate degree in 2023.
Education & Training
2023 Australian Institute of Family Law Arbitrators and Mediators, Mediation training
2016- 2017 Australian Advocacy Institute, Advocacy Skills in Family Law
2015 Family Law Specialist Accreditation, Law Institute of Victoria/Law Society of South Australia
1996 Graduate Certificate in Legal Practice, University of South Australia
1995 Bachelor of Laws, Flinders University of South Australia
Active Professional Memberships
Law Society of South Australia
Australian Institute of Family Law Arbitrators and Mediators (AIFLAM)
Family Law Section, The Law Council of Australia
Women’s Legal Service
Women Lawyers Association
Hellenic Australian Lawyers
Hellenic Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Committee & Community Representation and Philanthropy
2021 – 2023 Committee Member, Young Impact 100
2012 Founding Committee, Treetops Autism Specific School
Language Specialisation
Greek – Fluent written and spoken
Articles and Presentations
2021 Innovation in Family Law Practice, Television Education Network Annual Family Law Conference, Melbourne
2021 Drawing Affidavits in Family Law property matters, Flinders University Law School
2021 The Importance of the Women’s Legal Service in Matters Involving Family Violence – Women’s Legal Service 25th Anniversary Gala