The 2026 listing of leading New South Wales Parenting & Children’s Matters Lawyers details individuals who have been specifically highlighted for their expertise, abilities and experience in complex parenting/child custody issues and disputes. These rankings also include individuals with experience acting as an Independent Children’s Lawyer in relation to matters that may include, but are not limited to, family violence, physical, sexual and emotional abuse of children. Individuals included in our broader Family Law rankings may also possess significant skill with respect to parenting matters however have not been identified for such.
Preeminent
Elizabeth Bedford, Pearson Emerson
Alicia Elliott, Broun Abrahams Burreket
Karen Hardy, Rubin Blight Hardy
Carly Middleton, Barkus Doolan Winning
Melanie Rubin, Rubin Blight Hardy
Leading
Sue Abrams, ATW Family Law
Cathie Blanchfield, Blanchfield Nicholls
Gabrielle Gathercole, ATW Family Law
Collette McFawn, Lander & Rogers
Tash Nolan, Nolan Lawyers
Rosemary Norgate, Pigdon Norgate
Margie O’Neill, De Saxe O’Neill
Melinda Winning, Barkus Doolan Winning
Recommended
Fadiya Ali, Ali Family Lawyers
David Barry, Gordon & Barry
Josie Blight, Rubin Blight Hardy
Belinda Burgess, Burgess Hughes Family Law
Katie Burreket, Broun Abrahams Burrket
Christine Clarke, Broun Abrahams Burreket
Jacqueline Dawson, Sexton Family Law
Laura Donnelly, Holmes Donnelly & Co
Michelle Down, ATW Family Law
Joanna Elliott, Walter & Elliott Family Lawyers
Nicole Evans, Barker Evans
Rebecca Gilbert, Pearson Emerson
Eloise Horrobin, York Law
Madeleine Joel, Gordon & Barry
Carly Mirza-Price, Mills Oakley
Genevieve Morgan, Barry Nilsson
Irene Morozov, York Law
Julie Nessworthy, Farrar Gesini Dunn
Kate O’Grady, Orbell Family Lawyers
Skye Owen, Lander & Rogers
Tijana Petkovic, Blanchfield Nicholls Partners
Fiona Reid, Reid Family Lawyers
Aileen Slattery, ATW Family Law
Susana Staka, Broun Abrahams Burreket
Michael Tiyce, Tiyce & Lawyers
Susan Warda, Mills Oakley
Previous editions
2025 edition published November 2024
Preeminent
Alicia Elliott, Broun Abrahams Burreket
Karen Hardy, Rubin Blight Hardy
Melanie Rubin, Rubin Blight Hardy
Leading
Sue Abrams, ATW Family Law
Cathie Blanchfield, Blanchfield Nicholls
Elizabeth Bedford, Pearson Emerson
Josie Blight, Rubin Blight Hardy
Gabrielle Gathercole, ATW Family Law
Collette McFawn, Lander & Rogers
Carly Middleton, Barkus Doolan Winning
Genevieve Morgan, Barry Nilsson
Tash Nolan, Nolan Lawyers
Rosemary Norgate, Pigdon Norgate
Margie O'Neill, De Saxe O'Neill
Melinda Winning, Barkus Doolan Winning
Recommended
David Barry, Gordon & Barry
Tahlia Bleier, Bleier Family Law
Belinda Burgess, Burgess Hughes Family Law
Katie Burreket, Broun Abrahams Burrket
Jacqueline Dawson, Sexton Family Law
Laura Donnelly, Holmes Donnelly & Co
Michelle Down, ATW Family Law
Joanna Elliott, Walter & Elliott
Rebecca Gilbert, Pearson Emerson
Madeleine Joel, Gordon & Barry
Kate Kensell, Farrar Gesini Dunn
Eleanor Lau, Lander & Rogers
Carly Mirza-Price, Mills Oakley
Julie Nessworthy, Farrar Gesini Dunn
Kate O'Grady, Orbell Family Lawyers
Skye Owen, Lander & Rogers
Annelise Pedersen, Broun Abrahams Burreket
Tijana Petkovic, Blanchfield Nicholls Partners
Fiona Reid, Reid Family Lawyers
Aileen Slattery, ATW Family Law
Susana Staka, Broun Abrahams Burreket
Glenn Thompson Newnhams
Michael Tiyce, Tiyce & Lawyers
Susan Warda, Mills Oakley
Alexandra Wearne, Reid Family Lawyers
Michele Worner, Karras Partners
2024 edition published December 2023
Preeminent
Sue Abrams, ATW Family Law
Collette McFawn, Lander & Rogers
Melanie Rubin, Rubin Blight Hardy
Leading
Cathie Blanchfield, Blanchfield Nicholls
Alicia Elliott, Broun Abrahams Burreket
Gabrielle Gathercole, ATW Family Law
Karen Hardy, Rubin Blight Hardy
Eleanor Lau, Lander & Rogers
Carly Middleton, Barkus Doolan Winning
Genevieve Morgan, Barry Nilsson
Rosemary Norgate, Pigdon Norgate
Melinda Winning, Barkus Doolan Winning
Michele Worner, Karras Partners
Recommended
David Barry, Gordon & Barry
Elizabeth Bedford, Pearson Emerson
Josie Blight, Rubin Blight Hardy
Katie Burreket, Broun Abrahams Burrket
Cathleen Coleman, Pearson Emerson
Jacqueline Dawson, Sexton Family Law
Laura Donnelly, Holmes Donnelly & Co
Joanna Elliott, Walter & Elliott
Rebecca Gilbert, Pearson Emerson
Christopher Hughes, Christopher Hughes & Associates
Olivia Koorey, Broun Abrams Burreket
Carly Mirza-Price, Mills Oakley
Carolyn Munk, Matthews Folbigg
Nigel Nicholls, Blanchfield Nicholls
Tash Nolan, Nolan Lawyers
Kate O'Grady, Orbell Family Lawyers
Margie O'Neill, De Saxe O'Neill
Greg Parker, Swaab
Suzanne Pigdon, Pigdon Norgate
Fiona Reid, Reid Family Lawyers
Aileen Slattery, Abrams Turner Whelan
Susana Staka, Broun Abrahams Burreket
Glenn Thompson Newnhams
Michael Tiyce, Tiyce & Lawyers
Nabil Wahhab, York Law Family Law Specialists
2023 edition published December 2022
Preeminent
Sue Abrams, ATW Family Law
Cynthia Bluett, Pearson Emerson
Collette McFawn, Lander & Rogers
Melanie Rubin, Barry.Nilsson.
Leading
Cathie Blanchfield, Blanchfield Nicholls
Alicia Elliott, Broun Abrahams Burreket
Gai Gathercole, ATW Family Law
Eleanor Lau, Lander & Rogers
Carly Middleton, Barkus Doolan Winning
Nigel Nicholls, Blanchfield Nicholls
Rosemary Norgate, Pigdon Norgate
Margie O'Neill, De Saxe O'Neill
Annelise Pedersen, Broun Abrahams Burreket
Melinda Winning, Barkus Doolan Winning
Michele Worner, Karras Partners
Recommended
David Barry, Gordon & Barry
Josie Blight, Pearson Emerson
Katie Burreket, Broun Abrahams Burrket
Zippy Chan, Gordon & Barry
Jacqueline Dawson, Sexton Family Law
Janine de Saxe, De Saxe O'Neill
Laura Donnelly, Holmes Donnelly & Co
Kate Escobar, Clayhills Escobar
Karen Hardy, Pearson Emerson
Christopher Hughes, Christopher Hughes & Associates
Heidi Menkes, Pearson Emerson
Carly Mirza-Price, Mills Oakley
Carolyn Munk, Matthews Folbigg
Kate O'Grady, Aubrey Brown Lawyers
Greg Parker, Swaab
Catherine Parks, Parks Family Law
Suzanne Pigdon, Pigdon Norgate
Fiona Reid, Reid Family Lawyers
Jane Saltoon, ATW Family Law
Antonella Sanderson, Family Law Matters
Maya Sen, Broun Abrahams Burreket
Rachel Slat, Slat Family Law
Susana Staka, Broun Abrahams Burreket
Michael Tiyce, Tiyce & Lawyers
Nabil Wahhab, York Law Family Law Specialists
2022 edition published November 2021
Preeminent
Sue Abrams, ATW Family Law
Cynthia Bluett, Pearson Emerson
Collette McFawn, Lander & Rogers
Melanie Rubin, Barry.Nilsson.
Leading
Cathie Blanchfield, Blanchfield Nicholls
Gai Gathercole, ATW Family Law
Margaret Linden, Linden Legal
Carly Middleton, Barkus Doolan
Nigel Nicholls, Blanchfield Nicholls
Rosemary Norgate, Pigdon Norgate
Annelise Pedersen, Broun Abrahams Burreket
Melinda Winning, Barkus Doolan
Michele Worner, Karras Partners
Recommended
David Barry, Gordon & Barry
Josie Blight, Pearson Emerson
Belinda Burgess, Burgess Family Law
Katie Burreket, Broun Abrahams Burrket
Zippy Chan, Linden Legal
Elaine Clarke, Newnhams
Jacqueline Dawson, Sexton Family Law
Kate Escobar, Clayhills Escobar
Malcolm Gittoes-Ceasar, Coleman Greig
Karen Hardy, Pearson Emerson
Christopher Hughes, Christopher Hughes & Associates
Madeleine Joel, Gordon + Barry
Eleanor Lau, Lander & Rogers
Carly Middleton, Barkus Doolan
Carly Mirza-Price, Mills Oakley
Carolyn Munk, Matthews Folbigg
Kate O'Grady, Aubrey Brown Lawyers
Margie O'Neill, De Saxe O'Neill
Greg Parker, Swaab
Suzanne Pigdon, Pigdon Norgate
Fiona Reid, Reid Family Lawyers
Jane Saltoon, ATW Family Law
Maya Sen, Broun Abrahams Burreket
Rachel Slat, Slat Family Law
Susana Staka, Broun Abrahams Burreket
Bruce Tilley, Tilley Family Law
Michael Tiyce, Tiyce & Lawyers
Nabil Wahhab, York Law Family Law Specialists
Annette Wilson, Swaab
2021 edition published December 2020
Preeminent
Sue Abrams, Abrams Turner Whelan
Collette McFawn, Lander & Rogers
Leading
Cynthia Bluett, Pearson Emerson
Gai Gathercole, Abrams Turner Whelan
Carly Middleton, Barkus Doolan
Carolyn Munk, Matthews Folbigg
Nigel Nicholls, Blanchfield Nicholls
Rosemary Norgate, Pigdon Norgate
Susana Staka, Broun Abrahams Burreket
Melinda Winning, Barkus Doolan
Recommended
David Barry, Gordon & Barry
Josie Blight, Pearson Emerson
Belinda Burgess, Burgess Family Law
Zippy Chan, Linden Legal
Alicia Elliott, Holmes Donnelly & Co
Christopher Hughes, Christopher Hughes & Associates
Olivia Koorey, Broun Abrahams Burreket
Margaret Linden, Linden Legal
Carly Mirza-Price, Mills Oakley
Kate O'Grady, Aubrey Brown Lawyers
Annelise Pedersen, Broun Abrahams Burreket
Suzanne Pigdon, Pigdon Norgate
Fiona Reid, Reid Family Lawyers
Melanie Rubin, Barry.Nilsson.
Jane Saltoon, Abrams Turner Whelan
Maya Sen, Broun Abrahams Burreket
Rachel Slat, Slat Family Law
Bruce Tilley, Tilley Family Law
Michael Tiyce, Tiyce & Partners
Nabil Wahhab, York Law Family Law Specialists
Annette Wilson, Swaab
Michele Worner, Karras Partners
Annette Wilson, Swaab
2020 edition published November 2019
Leading
Sue Abrams, Abrams Turner Whelan
Gai Gathercole, Abrams Turner Whelan
Margaret Linden, Linden Legal
Collette McFawn, Lander & Rogers
Carly Middleton, Barkus Doolan
Nigel Nicholls, Blanchfield Nicholls
Rosemary Norgate, Pigdon Norgate
Susana Staka, Broun Abrahams Burreket
Melinda Winning, Barkus Doolan
Michele Worner, Karras Partners
Recommended
David Barry, Gordon & Barry
Josie Blight, Pearson Emerson Meyer
Cynthia Bluett, Pearson Emerson Meyer
Belinda Burgess, Burgess Family Law
Zippy Chan, Linden Legal
Jacqueline Dawson, Sexton Family Law
Laura Donnelly, Holmes Donnelly & Co
Michelle Down, Abrams Turner Whelan
Kate Escobar, Clayhills Escobar
Duncan Holmes, Holmes Donnelly & Co
Christopher Hughes, Christopher Hughes & Associates
Olivia Koorey, Broun Abrahams Burreket
Heather McKinnon, Bryant McKinnon
Carolyn Munk, Matthews Folbigg
Julie Nessworthy, Hamish Cumming Family Lawyers
Catherine Parks, York Law Family Law Specialists
Annelise Pedersen, Broun Abrahams Burreket
Suzanne Pigdon, Pigdon Norgate
Fiona Reid, Reid Family Lawyers
Melanie Rubin, Pearson Emerson Meyer
Maya Sen, Broun Abrahams Burreket
Rachel Slat, Slat Family Law
Bruce Tilley, Tilley Family Law
Michael Tiyce, Tiyce & Partnershttp://www.pemfamilylaw.com/people/melanie-rubin/
Nabil Wahhab, York Law Family Law Specialists
2019 edition published November 2018
Leading
Sue Abrams, Abrams Turner Whelan
Gai Gathercole, Abrams Turner Whelan
Margaret Linden, Linden Legal
Collette McFawn, Lander & Rogers
Carly Middleton, Barkus Doolan
Rosemary Norgate, Pigdon Norgate
Melanie Rubin, Pearson Emerson Meyer
Susana Staka, Broun Abrahams Burreket
Melinda Winning, Barkus Doolan
Recommended
David Barry, Gordon & Barry
Elizabeth Bedford, Watts McCray
Cathie Blanchfield, Blanchfield Nicholls
Cynthia Bluett, Pearson Emerson Meyer
Mark Brown, Mark Brown Lawyers
Jacqueline Dawson, Sexton Family Law
Justin Dowd, Watts McCray
Michelle Down, Abrams Turner Whelan
Kate Escobar, Clayhills Escobar
Merridy Gordon, Gordon & Barry
Olivia Koorey, Broun Abrahams Burreket
Eleanor Lau, Lander & Rogers
Mark MacDiarmid, MacDiarmid Legal
Carolyn Munk, Matthews Folbigg
Nigel Nicholls, Blacnhfield Nicholls
Fiona Reid, Reid Family Lawyers
Jane Saltoon, Abrams Turner Whelan
Rachel Slat, Slat Family Law
Bruce Tilley, Tilley Family Law
Glenn Thompson, Newnhams
Michael Tiyce, Tiyce & Partners
Nabil Wahhab, York Law Family Law Specialists
Annette Wilson, Swaab Attorneys
Michele Worner, Karras Partners
2018 edition published December 2017
Leading
Sue Abrams, Abrams Turner Whelan
Justin Dowd, Watts McCray
Eleanor Lau, Lander & Rogers
Carly Middleton, Barkus Doolan
Rosemary Norgate, Pigdon Norgate
Melanie Rubin, Pearson Emerson Meyer
Nabil Wahhab, York Law Family Law Specialists
Melinda Winning, Barkus Doolan
Michele Worner, Karras Partners
Recommended
Cynthia Bluett, Pearson Emerson Meyer
Katie Burreket, Broun Abrahams Burreket
John Chapple, Newnhams
Laura Donnelly, KD Holmes
Kate Escobar, Clayhills Escobar
Duncan Holmes, KD Holmes
Margaret Linden, Linden Legal
Mark MacDiarmid, MacDiarmid Legal
Collette McFawn, Lander & Rogers
Carolyn Munk, Matthews Folbigg
Jane Salton, Abrams Turner Whelan
Susana Staka, Broun Abrahams Burreket
Bruce Tilley, Tilley Family Law
Glenn Thompson, Newnhams
Michael Tiyce, Tiyce & Partners
Annette Wilson, Swaab Attorneys