The 2026 listing of leading New South Wales Family & Divorce Senior Counsel details Senior Counsel and Kingss Counsel practising within the areas of family law, matrimonial and custody matters within the NSW legal market who have been identified by the state’s family law solicitors for their expertise and abilities in these areas.
Preeminent
Michael Kearney SC, Waratah Chambers
Grahame Richardson SC, Family Law Chambers
Leading
Martha Barnett SC, Culwulla Chambers
Peter Cummings SC, Waratah Chambers
Melissa Gillies SC, Culwulla Chambers
Christopher Othen SC, Waratah Chambers
Recommended
David Dura SC, Waratah Chambers
Robert Lethbridge SC, Culwulla Chambers
Paul Sansom SC, Waratah Chambers
Previous editions
2025 edition published November 2024
Preeminent
Michael Kearney SC, Waratah Chambers
Grahame Richardson SC, Family Law Chambers
Leading
Martha Barnett SC, Culwulla Chambers
Peter Cummings SC, Waratah Chambers
Melissa Gillies SC, Culwulla Chambers
Christopher Othen SC, Waratah Chambers
Recommended
David Dura SC, Waratah Chambers
Robert Lethbridge SC, Culwulla Chambers
Paul Sansom SC, Waratah Chambers
2024 edition published December 2023
Preeminent
Michael Kearney SC, Waratah Chambers
Grahame Richardson SC, Family Law Chambers
Leading
Peter Cummings SC, Waratah Chambers
Melissa Gillies SC, Culwulla Chambers
Recommended
Martha Barnett SC, Culwulla Chambers
David Dura SC, Waratah Chambers
Paul Sansom SC, Waratah Chambers
2023 edition published December 2022
Preeminent
Michael Kearney SC, Waratah Chambers
Grahame Richardson SC, Family Law Chambers
Leading
Peter Cummings SC, Waratah Chambers
Melissa Gillies SC, Culwulla Chambers
Recommended
Martha Barnett SC, Culwulla Chambers
Ian Coleman SC, Culwulla Chambers
Paul Sansom SC, Waratah Chambers
2022 edition published November 2021
Preeminent
Michael Kearney SC, Waratah Chambers
Grahame Richardson SC, Family Law Chambers
Leading
Melissa Gillies SC, Culwulla Chambers
Peter Cummings SC, Waratah Chambers
Richard Schonell SC, Family Law Chambers
Recommended
Ian Coleman SC, Culwulla Chambers
Stephen O'Ryan QC, Family Law Chambers
Paul Sansom SC, Waratah Chambers
2021 edition published December 2020
Preeminent
Michael Kearney SC, Waratah Chambers
Grahame Richardson SC, Family Law Chambers
Leading
Peter Campton SC, Waratah Chambers
Peter Cummings SC, Waratah Chambers
Richard Schonell SC, Family Law Chambers
Recommended
Ian Coleman SC, Culwulla Chambers
Melissa Gillies SC, Culwulla Chambers
Stephen O'Ryan QC, Family Law Chambers
Paul Sansom SC, Waratah Chambers
2020 edition published November 2019
Preeminent
Michael Kearney SC, Waratah Chambers
Grahame Richardson SC, Family Law Chambers
Leading
Peter Campton SC, Waratah Chambers
Peter Cummings SC, Waratah Chambers
Richard Schonell SC, Family Law Chambers
Recommended
Suzanne Christie SC, Culwulla Chambers
Ian Coleman SC, Culwulla Chambers
Melissa Gillies SC, Culwulla Chambers
Robert Lethbridge SC, Culwulla Chambers
Stephen O'Ryan QC, Family Law Chambers
Paul Sansom SC, Waratah Chambers
2019 edition published November 2018
Preeminent
Michael Kearney SC, Waratah Chambers
Grahame Richardson SC, Family Law Chambers
Leading
Peter Campton SC, Waratah Chambers
Peter Cummings SC, Waratah Chambers
Melissa Gillies SC, Culwulla Chambers
Recommended
Suzanne Christie SC, Culwulla Chambers
Robert Lethbridge SC, Culwulla Chambers
John Lloyd SC, Chalfont Chambers
Stephen O'Ryan SC, Greenway Chambers
Paul Sansom SC, Waratah Chambers
Richard Schonell SC, Family Law Chambers
2018 edition published December 2017
Preeminent
Michael Kearney SC, Waratah Chambers
Grahame Richardson SC, Family Law Chambers
Leading
Peter Campton SC, Waratach Chambers
Peter Cummings SC, Newcastle Chambers
Melissa Gillies SC, Culwulla Chambers
Robert Lethbridge SC, Culwulla Chambers
Paul Sansom SC, Waratah Chambers
Richard Schonell SC, Family Law Chambers
Recommended
Ian Coleman SC, Culwulla Chambers
Michael Elliott SC, Eighth Floor Selborne Chambers