Lakey Family Law and Mediation

05/08/2026

Last week, the team had a little celebration to mark the start of Ramya's maternity leave and wish her and her husband, Kobe, all the best as they prepare for the arrival of their first child.

22/07/2026

Like all lawyers, we now need to verify our clients’ identity.

To make it simple and secure, we are using InfoTrack, an independent, purpose-built platform that encrypts and protects your documents.

It’s quick, it’s easy, and its only purpose is confirming you are who you say you are 😊.

This new requirement came into effect on 1 July 2026, as part of the amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Terrorism Financing Act.

As such, some of our current clients may need to complete the process, along with all new clients moving forward (but only once we're formally engaged to advise and represent you).

01/07/2026

Eleven years ago, armed with a laptop and a mobile phone, Annette started Lakey Family Law from her lounge room with a vision of building a firm that would do family law differently.

Today, that vision and commitment to helping clients achieve the best possible outcome as amicably as possible is shared by 14 passionate and driven women.

Together, we advise, represent and guide clients through what is often one of the most difficult periods in their lives, from our Hawthorn, Mornington and Preston offices.

Thank you to everyone who has helped bring Annette’s vision to life, in particular our clients, past and present team members, and the many partners and professionals who have been part of the journey so far.

Thank you 💙

25/06/2026

We're well on the way to smashing our target of collecting 30 Coats by 30 June for our Charity Partner, Big Group Hug, to distribute to Melbourne families in need.

But we're not about to stop! Because there are thousands of children and families in our community facing winter without the most basic necessities – a warm coat or jacket.

So please, take a few minutes over the weekend to go through your closets, pull out any coats or jackets your kids have outgrown, or that you no longer wear, and drop them at one of our offices next week:

🩵 Hawthorn – Level 1, 32-36 Camberwell Road, Hawthorn East VIC 3123

🩵 Mornington – Level 1, 61A/1140 Nepean Highway, Mornington VIC 3931

🩵 Preston – Suite 12C, 215 Bell Street, Preston VIC 3072

26/05/2026

Everyone deserves to be warm. But the reality is, many children and families in our community are facing winter without the most basic of necessities – a warm coat or jacket.

We’re helping our Charity Partner, Big Group Hug, collect warm coats and jackets to distribute to Melbourne families in need and have set ourselves the goal of 30 Coats by 30 June.

Help us get there – bring your new or preloved children's and adult's coats or jackets to one of our offices to donate to the Big Group Hug Winter Warmers appeal.

🩵 Hawthorn – Level 1, 32-36 Camberwell Road, Hawthorn East VIC 3123

🩵 Mornington – Level 1, 61A/1140 Nepean Highway, Mornington VIC 3931

🩵 Preston – Suite 12C, 215 Bell Street, Preston VIC 3072

20/05/2026

We’re delighted to welcome Bonnie Esposito to the team as Special Counsel. Bonnie and Annette first crossed paths over a decade ago, when they were both establishing their own practices.

Their shared values, philosophy and approach to family law formed the foundation of a professional relationship – and friendship – built on mutual respect and trust, which has continued ever since.

As a sole practitioner who has specialised in family law for more than a decade, Bonnie brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the team. She is also a Collaborative Law Practitioner, Parent Co‑ordinator and panel lawyer with Relationships Australia, and has a background in psychology and neuroscience.

But, most importantly, she shares our values, focus and commitment to achieving the best possible outcome for every client, as quickly and amicably as possible.

12/05/2026

The friendly voice on the other end of the line when you call, and the smiling face that welcomes you when you visit, belong to our receptionist, Tania.

As someone who loves order and structure, she is incredibly efficient, methodical and proactive and does an excellent job of keeping us all organised.

She loves meeting new people, hearing their stories, travelling, and dancing, even though she describes herself as an introvert.

And, from what we can tell, her dancing talents extend far beyond the dance floor... Whether it's Ballet, Street Latin or any other genre, Tania is always ready to take to the floor and enjoys watching and performing in musical theatre productions.

28/04/2026

Last week, the team came together to officially welcome Tania, our new receptionist, into the fold.

With so many of us these days, working flexible hours across two locations, we’re not all in the same room nearly as often as we’d like – which is why nights like this matter.

A good meal, a few laughs and a chance to enjoy one another's company outside of the office strengthen the bonds and connections that make us such a great team.

12/04/2026

When it comes to your family law matter, there's a really good reason why you should never chat with AI about it – and it's not what you think!

These days, we’re all using AI for all sorts of things in our professional and personal lives. But, most of us know we can’t necessarily rely on what it tells us to be accurate or factual.