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WOMEN IN BUSINESS
Kerstin THODE P R I N C I PA L S O L I C I TO R AT SM ART CHOICE L AW
with CATH FOWLER
F R O M T H E D I G I TA L L A N E W AY
C
an you tell us a little bit about your career and what led you to start Smart Choice Law? I grew up in Germany and practised as a German lawyer before moving to Coffs Harbour 18 years ago. I have two law degrees as I had to resit my law exams when I came here, like many other overseas professionals need to do. As a solicitor I have had many years of local experience working in the Coffs Harbour area for family law matters, wills and estate planning and administration. I decided to start my own business as I wanted to start a firm with a fresh new approach. At Smart Choice Law our goal is to resolve disputes as quickly and efficiently as possible, so that our clients don’t end up with massive legal costs and years of ongoing conflict. My team and I believe that divorce and separation do not have to be costly and drawn out. That’s why we offer a fast and affordable way to formalise a separation agreement, so that our clients can keep an amicable relationship with their ex-partner. I’m quite passionate about helping local families through their stressful times, and as a mum myself, aim to be very child focused. I believe that separation is stressful enough and so I try to help take the stress out of the divorce. 102 COFFS COAST
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BWN is a great
There’s a warm able to hold many events place to meet welcoming feel in I stepped up into the other like minded our office, which is President role and I’m really women in business in located at Shop 1/ 45 excited about where BWN is Coffs Harbour. We Grafton Street, Coffs heading in 2021. catch up regularly and Harbour, which helps It’s a great place to get to know other local our clients to relax. A meet other like minded women in business. solicitor’s office doesn’t women in business in Coffs need to look boring or Harbour. We catch up intimidating. I’ve tried to regularly and get to know make our office’s atmosphere friendly, cosy and other local women in business. BWN hosts welcoming – a bit like at home. events where speakers present great content Have you always called the Coffs Coast tailored for women who want to make their home? way in business in Coffs Harbour. It is all about I was born and raised in Germany and networking and getting to know other women decided to move to Coffs Harbour after and their businesses and supporting each other. meeting my husband who grew up here on the What piece of advice would you give Coffs Coast. women making their way in the business Even though I liked living in Germany, I love world? it here in Coffs Harbour. I love the lifestyle and My advice is: “go for your goal.” I always the beaches and the nature surroundings. It is wanted to run my own business and I worked like being on holidays all year around. hard to do it. Coming from a different country It’s a great place to live and raise my children, and having to start all over again, after being as well as be part of the community and grow a lawyer in Germany, was not easy. But I was my business. determined and have now achieved my goal You have recently stepped up as President to run my own law firm in a very competitive of the Business Women’s Network (BWN). industry. Can you let us know a little bit about why As a woman in business I believe it’s you got involved? important to stop comparing yourself to others I’ve been coming to BWN events for a and to focus on your own strengths, your number of years now and a few years ago uniqueness, and the value you can bring to joined the committee. In what has been a those around you. challenging year for us in terms of not being Thanks Kerstin.