Jana van Breda

Jana van Breda is a Director at Clarks Attorneys. She holds a BA in Law and Politics and an LLB from the University of the Witwatersrand. Jana joined the firm in 2012 and was admitted as an attorney in 2014.

Jana is both a skilled litigator and an experienced mediator. She completed her mediation training in 2015 and has since facilitated the resolution of numerous family law disputes. Her dual expertise allows her to bring valuable perspective to both disciplines: her litigation background strengthens her mediation work, while her mediation training has refined her negotiation skills in litigious matters.

She has pioneered the co-mediation model at Clarks Attorneys alongside a clinical psychologist. This approach – combining legal and psychological expertise from the outset – provides families with a supportive and balanced way of navigating conflict. Jana views mediation as an opportunity for families to restructure in a constructive way, enabling parents and partners to write the next chapter of their lives with dignity and respect.

Jana juggles her legal career and her role as coordinator of the Johannesburg Annual Family Law Conference with being a parent to three young children. Becoming a parent herself has given Jana deeper insight into the emotional challenges her clients face, particularly in matters involving children. She brings warmth, empathy, and excellent listening skills to her work, ensuring clients feel understood and supported throughout their journey, whilst at the same time being a formidable opponent.