Meet the Team
Perpetua Kish (Pepe)
Principal Lawyer
Hello and welcome! I’m Pepe and I am the Director and Co-Founder of Balance Family Law.
My goal is for kindness to be considered a strength and not a weakness in the practice of law.
I am committed to improving the way couples and families experience divorce and separation. While the law offers legal solutions, most family law issues really need a human solution. At Balance, we strive to create solutions that consider both.
Over the years, I have come to realise that many of my friends and family would struggle with legal fees if they ever had to engage a family lawyer. Family law should definitely be more accessible. So, with this in mind, my team and I have created a service that allows separating couples to swiftly and affordably resolve their family law matters, with as much (or as little) help from us as they need.
I have practiced exclusively in family law since mid-2010. Before private practice, I worked as a case worker and legal officer for the ACT statutory child protection agency, receiving consecutive Chief Minister’s Awards for Excellence for my work with families and children on the frontline. I also gained unique insights as an Associate to a Magistrate in the ACT Children’s Court while in the final years of my law degree.
I am trained in conflict management coaching, advanced collaborative law and I have obtained post-graduate qualifications in Human Services. I also am Balance’s Social Media and P.R go-to. My super power is creative problem solving and thinking outside the box.
I am an active member the Canberra Collaborative Family Lawyers Association and I volunteer at the ACT Women’s Legal Service.
When I am not lawyering… (read more)
I am passionate environmentalist and animal lover. I advocate for kinder lawyering and living through my instablog, The Kind Lawyer and through my volunteer work at local sanctuaries and community organisations. Once upon a time I was an actor and performer, but these days I am happy being a dance mum to my two lively daughters and wife to my firefighting husband.
My team and I are excited to help you create balance harmony during and after your divorce.
Jonathon Naef (Jono)
Lawyer
Hi, I’m Jono and I am a lawyer and Co-founder of Balance Family Law. My goal is to make the law and legal solutions more accessible (and affordable) through technology.
I have a keen interest in superannuation and complex property settlements which involve companies, trusts and taxation issues. I am also experienced in the preparation of divorce applications and binding agreements. I enjoy maths and am good with numbers, (which is pretty rare for a lawyer!) As well as lawyering, I am Balance’s financial officer and bring my enthusiasm for numbers to all areas of the business to improve our clients’ experience.
I strive to improve the delivery of legal services through the creative use of technology and I am proud to have been instrumental in the creation of our online settlement solution, Forward>> .
I am also a volunteer with The Legal Forecast, a not-for-profit run by early-career professionals and students who are passionate about disruptive thinking and access to justice. My super power is GSD (getting sh*t done!)
When I am not lawyering… (read more)
I love to travel and have already made it to 18 countries across Europe and Asia. My personal goal is to travel to every continent, including Antarctica. My favourite destination so far are Lauterbrunnen in Switzerland, where I skydived over the Swiss Alps!
Outside of the law and travel, I am a qualified lifeguard and swimming instructor, teaching kids from as young as six months to adults.
You can follow me on social media through my Instagram alter-ego, The Numbers Lawyer.
Clare Jobson
Consultant
Clare joined the Balance family as a consultant in June 2020
Clare runs her own practice CJ Legal, which opened in Adelaide in 2015. CJ Legal is now based in Brisbane where Clare resides with her Defence partner Jason. It’s Clare’s goal to assist families with navigating their way through various legal issues.
As a Defence spouse herself, Clare has a special interest in assisting Defence families with all the unique associated challenges that military life brings. Clare’s legal career includes employment with the Department of Justice in the Northern Territory; and for Public Trustee in South Australian; in Private Practice; and in the Community Legal Sector.
A passion for social justice means Clare has worked as a volunteer solicitor for various Community Legal Services, in every state she has lived in. Clare is currently a volunteer solicitor at Women’s Legal Service in QLD.
In July 2015 Clare completed her Independent Children’s Lawyer course, which in combination with her 24+ years of nursing and other experience brings a unique perspective to her legal practice.
Clare has appeared on the Happy Lawyer Happy Life (episode 121) and the Military Wife Military Life (episode 49) Podcasts and in Lawyers Weekly publications.
Clare’s superpower is empathy, and she is passionate about ensuring her client’s have all the information that they need to make informed choices about their future and the future of their families.
When Clare is not lawyering… (read more)
Clare enjoys spending time with her partner, family, friends and furbabies. After the passing of her own Great Dane Tas, Clare now assists Adopt a Dane in QLD, as a foster carer, helping Great Dane’s transition to their “fur-ever” homes.
Clare loves all the Good “C’s”… you know Coffee, Chocolate, Cheese and Bubbles 😊
Clare enjoys Music, Dancing and any creative outlet. Baking for fun and family reminds Clare of her Dad, who was a cake decorator and baker.
You’ll also find Marilyn Munroe hanging in Clare’s closet (among other things) as she has been part of the Marilyn Jetty Swim team in South Australia for many years now (yes that’s a real thing, you can check them out online). These amazing ladies fundraise every year for Cancer Council SA.
