Senior Lawyer
Hi, I’m Jono and I am a lawyer & Co-founder of Balance Family Law.
My goal is to make the law and legal solutions more accessible (and affordable).
Jono's Awards
“Jono was super helpful and efficient in getting my will and estate plan in order. Very knowledgeable and was always willing to make the time to ensure I understood the why’s and how’s of my will. Would definitely recommend Jono and the Balance Team to anyone and everyone!”
– Happy Estate Planning Client
I specialise in simple and complex property and financial settlements, with a keen interest in superannuation, trusts, companies, and taxation issues. My goal is to provide clear and practical advice in simple, plain English.
I am one of the few family lawyers who can undertake Family Law valuations of defined benefit super, and I enjoy working with clients to plan for future relationships and prepare “prenup” and “postnup” agreements.
I also lead our Wills and Estate Planning Team. Did you know that over 75% of people do not have a proper will? This creates uncertainty about who will manage their affairs, including in relation to companies, trusts, and superannuation, and where their assets will end up after their death. I help clients of all ages to see the value of working through a plan for when they pass away or become incapacitated so that any risks can be managed, and their loved ones are taken care of. I can also assist with applying for probate after someone has passed away and help resolve pre- and post-death disputes around wills, estates, and guardianship matters.
I completed a Master of Law (Applied Law), majoring in Estate Planning with the College of Law, where I achieved the highest marks among all students and was awarded “Best Graduating Student” in Estate Planning, in 2021. I have also completed several courses in interdisciplinary collaborative practice, in both Family Law and Wills and Estates.
In 2021, I was recognized as a Finalist at the prestigious Lawyer’s Weekly 30 Under 30 Awards in the Family Law category, and in 2022, I was named the Winner of the 30 Under 30 Awards in the Wills & Estate category. In 2023, I was a Finalist for the ACT Law Society’s New Lawyer of the Year Award.
I am a founding member and treasurer of The Kind Lawyers with Pepe, a movement that advocates for a more insightful way of practising law that considers the actual effects of our actions as lawyers on not only our clients but also the people around them. I am also a member of the Art of Estate Planning, Pacifica Congress, and an affiliate member of STEP (Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners).
Outside of Balance, I am an adjunct lecturer and assessor with the College of Law in the ACT. In this role, I lecture and mentor future lawyers in the ACT and surrounding regions, as they complete their Practical Legal Training (which is the course you are required to complete to be able to practice as a lawyer). When I am not lawyering, I love to travel and have already been to 18 countries across Europe and Asia. My personal goal is to travel to every continent, including Antarctica. My favourite destination so far is Lauterbrunnen in Switzerland, where I skydived over the Swiss Alps!
“I’d just like to say that Jonathan Naef was a spectacular lawyer and our recent divorce settlement went incredibly smoothly and speedily thanks to him and I think he deserves a lot of credit for it. He cared, was prompt, always delivered”
– Happy Family Law Client
