Perpetua Kish (Pepe)
Principal Lawyer
Hello and welcome! I’m Pepe and I am the
Director & Co-Founder of Balance Family Law.
My goal is for kindness to be considered a strength and not a weakness in the practice of family law.
Pepe's Awards
As a young lawyer, I saw first-hand how fighting over property and parenting arrangements at Court completely destroyed families, often accruing legal bills in the hundreds of thousands.
If you want a hired gun lawyer who will fight for you all the way to Court, I am not your lawyer. I have not had a matter progress to a final hearing at court in over 7 years. Instead, my team and I have helped countless clients resolve matters, even the really tough matters, with purpose, accountability, and good sense.
What’s our secret? Kindness and a commitment to finding peaceful, “outside the box” solutions that work for separating couples. My clients never feel like they’re just a number. I draw from my unique and varied skill set and experience to provide holistic family law advice and guidance. I have also worked as a case worker and legal officer for the ACT statutory child protection agency, and I have found that my social work background helps me navigate family law matters with insight and clarity. I am also trained in conflict management coaching, mediation, parenting coordination, collaborative coaching, and advanced collaborative law, and I have postgraduate qualifications in Human Services.
My innovative approach to law has seen me, and Balance Family Law recognised with over 23 national and international awards and accolades since 2020 including the prestigious ACT Law Society’s President Medal 2023, Lawyer’s Weekly Family Law Partner of the Year 2021, Australian Law Awards Sole Practitioner of the Year 2021, Australian Law Awards Boutique Law Firm of the Year 2020, and the Gold Ausmumpreneur Award for a Service Business in 2020 and 2021.
I have also received consecutive Chief Minister’s Awards for Excellence for my work with families and children on the frontline during my time working in child protection. Since 2022, I have been invited to join an esteemed panel of judges for various industry awards.
In 2020, I created The Kind Lawyers, and with 8 other family law professionals, have founded a movement that is all about changing the conversation about divorce from one of combat to kindness.
I am a Director of Pacifica Congress, and the The Australian Association of Collaborative Professionals (AACP) with both organisations championing a more holistic, multi-disciplinary and child-focused approach to family law. I am also on the Australasian Taskforce of the International Association of Collaborative Professionals, and work with Connecting Lawyer Mums, a support group dedicated to boosting the well-being, confidence and careers of lawyer parents and related professionals around Australia, as a consultant and leader (and past Chair).
As one of Australia’s most respected family lawyers and a game-changer in the lawyer space, I look forward to working with you to navigate this challenging time in your life.
Outside of Balance, I enjoy spending time with my family, going for bike rides and long walks, working out at the gym and volunteering at animal sanctuaries. I love all animals, (especially cats!) and I am an advocate for animal rights.
“I have followed Pepe for 11 years of family law assistance I have needed. She has been a calm beacon of light through some really difficult times in my life. Pepe provided measured balanced advice which allowed me to feel well supported and able to navigate what is a confusing and mentally tough road”.
– Happy Family Law Client
