Lauren Battersby

Lauren joined Forte Family Lawyers in 2023, having previously practised at a specialist family law firm since her admission to practice in 2019.

Lauren holds a Juris Doctor and Bachelor of Arts, majoring in French, from the University of Melbourne, and a Master of Applied Law (Family Law) from College of Law. She has also obtained Specialist Accreditation as a Family Lawyer from the Law Institute of Victoria in 2025.

While studying, Lauren undertook volunteer work at a community legal centre in Cape Town, South Africa and with Victoria Legal Aid, worked as a legal secretary, was an editorial assistant of an international journal and undertook an intensive study program at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem where she completed units in Israeli and International Law.

Lauren has experience in a wide range of family law areas and a particular interest in international property and parenting matters and cases involving complex financial issues. Lauren recognises that each family is unique and works with clients to achieve tailored solutions to meet their individual needs and circumstances. Lauren is committed to helping clients resolve disputes as quickly and cost-effectively as possible via dispute resolution or litigation (where necessary) and is experienced in representing clients’ interests in Court.

Lauren is a member of the Law Institute of Victoria and the Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia. Lauren is a contributing author to Wolters Kluwer/CCH Australian Family Law and Practice to the Child Abduction chapter.

• Cross-border property disputes
• International child abduction and relocation matters
• Complex financial cases involving trusts, companies, partnerships and self-managed superannuation funds
• Parenting disputes
• Dispute resolution and litigation, including representing clients in court

• Master of Applied Law (Family Law), College of Law – 2023
• Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice, College of Law – 2019
• Juris Doctor, University of Melbourne – 2019
• Bachelor of Arts (major in French), University of Melbourne – 2015

• Accredited Family Law Specialist, Law Institute of Victoria

• Best Graduating Student in Family Law, College of Law, 2023
• Wright Prize in Family Law, University of Melbourne, 2018
• Farrar Gesini Dunn Award for Family Law, University of Melbourne, 2018
• Minter Ellison Award for Equality and Discrimination Law, University of Melbourne, 2018
• Ian Malkin Internship Scholarship, University of Melbourne, 2017

• Law Institute of Victoria
• Family Law Section, Law Council of Australia

• Contributing author, Child Abduction chapter, Wolters Kluwer / CCH Australian Family Law and Practice