The Team

Kate Cherry – Legal Practice Director

SURROGACY  |  FAMILY LAW  |  MEDIATION | DIVORCE |  PARENTING AND PROPERTY MATTERS

Kate has a passion for family law, having worked almost exclusively in the area since entering the legal profession in 2000 and her admission to the Supreme Court of Queensland in 2002, and the High Court of Australia shortly thereafter.

Kate is a highly experienced Family Law Accredited Specialist, National Accredited Mediator, Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner and Independent Children’s Lawyer who is respected by her clients and colleagues.

Kate has been recognised by Doyles Guide consistently since 2020 as one of Brisbane’s leading parenting lawyers, and one of Brisbane’s most recommended family law practices, most recently in 2025/2026.

Kate has devoted her legal career to becoming a highly respected Brisbane based family lawyer, known for both her genuine compassion for her clients and her vitality as an advocate of their legal interests.

Kate has also recently extended her practice to include offering the services of full day or half day mediation and family dispute resolution.

Kate and her team at Cherry Family Lawyers have recently celebrated 11 years in business, reflecting their ongoing commitment to providing dedicated, compassionate and strategic legal support to the Bayside community.

Amy Piggott – Associate Solicitor

SURROGACY  |  FAMILY LAW  | DIVORCE |  PARENTING AND PROPERTY MATTERS

Amy holds a Bachelor of Laws with Honours and a Bachelor of Psychological Science, a combination that means she cares just as much about how people feel as she does about the legal outcome they are working toward.

Amy has practised exclusively in family law for over 12 years. Amy genuinely loves this area of law because of the intersection between the complexity, the strategy and the very human side of this work.

Amy is currently completing her Master of Laws, including finalising her studies and training to become an accredited Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner.

Amy is naturally analytical, some might even call her an overthinker. Amy prefers to call it thorough. She looks at every perspective, every detail, and every option before recommending a way forward. Overthinking is her superpower. It means you will walk into negotiations prepared, considered and strategically positioned (even if you don’t see the mental gymnastics that got you there).

Amy is calm under pressure, focused on solutions, and not particularly interested in drama for drama’s sake. She believes in thoughtful strategy over knee-jerk reactions. That said, when strong advocacy is required, Amy is absolutely there for it, just with a clear plan rather than fireworks.

Amy is passionate about helping clients preserve what matters most while navigating separation in a thoughtful and child-focused way.

Amy also has a deep passion for surrogacy. That interest was sparked by someone very dear to her through an unexpected and emotional journey to parenthood. It showed Amy that while she cannot fix everything, she can use her skills to play a meaningful role in helping people build their families and embark on the journey of parenthood, the most rewarding hood to be in!

Tanisha Watts – Solicitor

FAMILY LAW  | DIVORCE |  PARENTING AND PROPERTY MATTERS

An experienced Family Lawyer and Parenting Coordinator, Tanisha has extensive experience assisting families through complex parenting disputes. She has particular expertise and interest in high-risk parenting matters, including cases involving family violence, child safety concerns, mental health issues, substance misuse, and high-conflict co-parenting arrangements. She has significant experience managing these matters through negotiation, dispute resolution, and litigation.

Tanisha’s multidisciplinary background includes a double Degree in Law and Social Science, together with a Master of Laws majoring in family law and family dispute resolution. This combination of legal knowledge and an understanding of the social and psychological factors affecting families enables her to provide practical, child-focused advice in even the most challenging circumstances.

As both a Family Lawyer and Parenting Coordinator, Tanisha works to support families in resolving disputes, implementing parenting arrangements, and reducing conflict wherever possible, while remaining prepared to advocate strongly when litigation is necessary. Her approach is strategic, compassionate, and grounded in achieving outcomes that prioritise the best interests of children.

Tanisha is a member of the Resolution Institute, Family Law Section, Sunshine Coast Law Association, Parenting Coordination Australia and Child Protection Practitioners Associate of Queensland.

Tanisha is currently working towards accreditation as a Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner through the Australian Attorney-General’s Department and looks forward to expanding her practice in family dispute resolution.

Through her combined experience in family law, parenting coordination, and dispute resolution, Tanisha is committed to supporting families navigating challenging circumstances and achieving sustainable outcomes that promote the wellbeing and best interests of children.

Narelle Watson – Senior Legal Assistant

Narelle brings over 40 years of experience in the legal industry, having worked predominately in the Bayside area.

With extensive knowledge across various areas of law and legal practice administration, Narelle is an invaluable member of the Firm and a trusted source for our team, colleagues and clients.

Her dedication, compassion and exceptional attention to detail are at the heart of everything she does.  Narelle takes pride in delivering outstanding service and ensuring every colleague and client feels supported and valued.

Samantha Beaumont – Legal Assistant

Sam has worked in the legal industry for 14 years and was delighted to return to Cherry Family Lawyers in 2024 after taking a short break to start her family.

With valuable experience in family law, Sam plays an integral role in supporting the team and assisting our clients, making her an invaluable member of the Firm.

Sam is always happy to assist and provide support whenever your appointed Solicitor is unavailable, ensuring you feel well supported, informed and cared for throughout your time with us.