Janine Wald

Janine Wald is a member of the Bar who has more than 20 years of legal experience. She practises primarily in the Commercial and Family Law jurisdictions.

Commercial Law

Janine was originally admitted to practice in South Africa.  There, she held the position of partner in a top tier medium sized law firm in Johannesburg. Janine managed a sophisticated litigation practice and represented publicly listed companies, major financial institutions, property developers, industrial enterprises and major commercial banks.

Janine and her family immigrated to Australia in 2001.  Janine’s legal studies in pursuit of attaining admission to practice in Australia saw her achieving a pass with distinction for the Law of Property and a First Class Pass for professional ethics and practice.  In 2002, Janine was admitted as Solicitor & Barrister of the Supreme Court of New South Wales.  In 2005, she was admitted as Solicitor & Barrister of the Supreme Court of Victoria.

Janine was called to the Bar in 2006. She is a long standing member of Lonsdale Chambers, which was established by the then Michael Sifris SC, now the Honourable Justice Sifris. Lonsdale Chambers is one of the first private barristers’ chambers established in Melbourne. Its members practise in all areas of commercial law, with experience in various specialist areas including Insolvency and Bankruptcy, Banking and Finance, Corporations, Contract and Equity. 

Janine has represented a range of clients during her time at the Bar. She has advised and appeared in proceedings in the following areas of the law:

• Insolvency
• Contract
• Banking and Finance
• Shareholder disputes
• Competition and Consumer Law
• Directors Duties
• Corporations Law
• Wills and Estates (TFM Claims)

 Janine has appeared in the Magistrates, County and Supreme Courts of Victoria.

Prior to joining the Bar, Janine held the position of Research Solicitor for the Commercial Law Section of the Law Institute of Victoria.  In this capacity, Janine’s role included the management and supervision of various committees in areas covering business and company law, state and federal taxes, intellectual property law and trade practices.

Family Law

Janine’s solid background in commercial law was a springboard to briefs in property and financial matters within the Family Law Jurisdiction. Over the years, Janine’s practice in family law has developed to include parenting matters – an area in which she now has a particular interest.

Janine has advised and appeared in the following areas in family law:

• making and opposing applications for injunctive relief;
• spousal maintenance, division of property and financial resources following relationship breakdown;
• disputes arising out of De Facto Relationships;
• disputes in relation to Binding Financial Agreements;
• guardianship;
• parental responsibility;
• children’s residence/ spend-time arrangements;
• parental relocation;
• recovery and relocation of children;
• family violence;
• paternity disputes;
•  contravention proceedings;
• International child abduction.

Janine appears in interim and final family law proceedings. She appears in the Federal Circuit Court and the Family Court of Australia. She has appeared regularly on family law circuit (Federal Circuit Court of Australia) where she has appeared within Victoria and interstate.

She has been briefed by the Independent Children’s Lawyer in complex parenting matters.  Janine appears in contested Intervention Order proceedings and Applications prosecuted and defended under the Stalking Legislation. She has appeared in Family Law Mediations and encourages options for dispute resolution outside of the Court process.

Janine is an experienced professional development presenter. She has und