Melanie Heffernan

Melanie Heffernan is the Director Principal of South East Lawyers, bringing a wealth of experience and a thoughtful approach to her leadership role. Originally from country Victoria, Melanie’s commitment to a legal career began early, inspired by volunteering at her local court at just 11 years old. She completed her Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Hebrew, at the University of Melbourne before commencing her articled clerkship with Ann Gambetta & Associates. Melanie’s career progressed rapidly, becoming a partner at her previous firm by the age of 30, before taking on the role of Director Principal at South East Lawyers in 2016. Her expertise spans a broad range of legal areas, including commercial and business law — covering sales and purchases of businesses, agreements, and shareholder and unitholder matters — as well as litigation across all Victorian courts and the Federal Court. She also handles conveyancing, commercial property and owners’ corporation issues, trusts and asset structuring with a focus on asset protection, retail leasing, deceased estates, succession planning, wills and powers of attorney, including will challenges, self-managed superannuation funds, the Personal Property Securities Register, and employee ownership structures. Known for her practical communication style, Melanie is dedicated to helping clients understand complex legal issues in clear, accessible language. She is a recognised figure in relation to the Personal Property Securities Act 2009 (Cth) and is a current member of the Law Institute of Victoria’s Personal Properties Securities Group. Beyond her legal practice, Melanie is active in media and community engagement. She has appeared on radio programs such as Joy FM and GMTV GotMoney to inform the public on legal topics, contributed to the women-led radio show "What the actual F*** Karen?" addressing social issues like ageism and misogyny, and serves on the board of Cire Services Inc., a not-for-profit supporting education and training in the Yarra Ranges and surrounding communities. Outside of work, Melanie enjoys studying Hebrew, tackling challenging puzzles like the 4×4 Rubik’s Cube, and indulging her passion for baking, especially perfecting tiramisu. Interestingly, Canberra stands out as her favourite holiday destination in Australia.