Our Founder

Melanie Vairawanathan is the Founder and Principal Lawyer of Melmark Law and a multi award winning family lawyer known for getting results in matters that most people would rather avoid entirely.

She holds a Master of Laws with a specialisation in family law and is admitted to practise in Victoria. She is also one of a small number of qualified collaborative family lawyers in Melbourne, which means she will absolutely try to resolve things calmly and sensibly first. But if that does not work, she is very comfortable switching gears.

Melanie works almost exclusively in family law, including complex parenting disputes, high conflict property matters, and family violence cases. In other words, the kinds of matters where emotions are high, stakes are significant, and things can go sideways very quickly. She is known for cutting through the noise, saying what actually needs to be said, and getting things moving.

Her work has been widely recognised across the profession and at this point, even she would admit there have been a few awards. Her team, however, has stronger views. There is an ongoing joke in the office that if there is an award going, Melanie has probably already written the acceptance speech. The real issue now is not the awards, it is where to put them.

Beyond that, Melanie has built a reputation as a modern voice in family law. She combines a trauma informed approach with clear, strategic advice and is regularly featured across media, podcasts, and professional platforms speaking about what actually happens behind the scenes in these matters.

At her core, Melanie understands that family law is never just legal. It is personal, emotional, and often life changing. Her role is to guide clients through it with clarity, strength, and a strategy that actually works… while making sure things do not completely unravel along the way.