Lam & Ho

In the matter of *Lam & Ho*, heard before O'Shannessy J, the applicant wife, Ms Lam, and the respondent husband, Mr Ho, were involved in proceedings concerning their property interests. The immediate dispute before the court on 16 November 2020 concerned the scheduling of a final hearing and interim financial arrangements.

The court was required to determine the appropriate orders regarding the vacation and relisting of the final hearing, the filing and service of further affidavits by the parties, and the immediate distribution of funds from the parties' offset account. Additionally, the court noted the existence of parallel proceedings in China concerning the parties' property interests, which had a bearing on the adjournment of the final hearing. The court also provided directions concerning potential family violence allegations and the implications of section 102NA of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth) on cross-examination, including information about the Commonwealth Family Violence and Cross-Examination of Parties Scheme.

O'Shannessy J ordered that the final hearing be vacated and relisted for 7 June 2021, with specific deadlines for the filing of further affidavits by each party. The court also directed that $30,000 be paid to the wife and $20,000 to the husband from their offset account, with the characterisation of these payments to be determined at the final hearing. The costs of the day were reserved, and the matter was adjourned for a compliance hearing on 17 May 2021. The court explicitly noted that the adjournment was influenced by ongoing proceedings in China, but this did not preclude the matter from proceeding before the conclusion of those foreign proceedings. The court also issued a warning regarding the publication of proceedings under section 121 of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth).