The 2026 listing of leading New South Wales Parenting & Children’s Matters barristers details counsel practising within the areas of parenting, custody and matters relating to the children of a relationship in the NSW legal market who have been identified by the state’s family law solicitors for their expertise and abilities in these areas.
Senior Counsel
Preeminent
Martha Barnett SC, Culwulla Chambers
Melissa Gillies SC, Culwulla Chambers
Michael Kearney SC, Waratah Chambers
Leading
Peter Cummings SC, Waratah Chambers
David Dura SC, Waratah Chambers
Chrisopher Othen SC, Waratah Chambers
Recommended
Donna Ward SC, Frederick Jordan Chambers
Junior Counsel
Market Leader
Claire Cantrall, Waratah Chambers
Preeminent
Mary-Clare Kennedy, Waratah Chambers
Karen Shea, Fredrick Jordan Chambers
Leading
Rachel Dart, Culwulla Chambers
Esther Lawson, Waratah Chambers
John Longworth, Frederick Jordan Chambers
Shanna Mahony, Lachlan Macquarie Chambers
Kiel Roberts, Family Law Chambers
Catherine Spain, Waratah Chambers
Recommended
Craig Brickwood, Waratah Chambers
Mary-Anne Clifford, Culwulla Chambers
Roger Harper, Culwulla Chambers
Thomas Matthews, Family Chambers
Liam O’Reilly, Family Law Chambers
Angela Petrie, Wardell Chambers
Leah Reid, Greenway Chambers
Tereza Seric, Culwulla Chambers
Janai Tabbernor, Waratah Chambers
Michael Todd, Family Law Chambers
Matthew Wong, Waratah Chambers
Previous editions
2025 edition published November 2024
Senior Counsel – Preeminent
Martha Barnett SC, Culwulla Chambers
Melissa Gillies SC, Culwulla Chambers
Michael Kearney SC, Waratah Chambers
Senior Counsel – Leading
Peter Cummings SC, Waratah Chambers
David Dura SC, Waratah Chambers
Senior Counsel – Recommended
Chrisopher Othen SC, Waratah Chambers
Paul Sansom SC, Waratah Chambers
Junior Counsel – Market Leader
Claire Cantrall, Waratah Chambers
Junior Counsel – Preeminent
Mary-Clare Kennedy, Waratah Chambers
Esther Lawson, Waratah Chambers
Karen Shea, Fredrick Jordan Chambers
Junior Counsel – Leading
Mary-Anne Clifford, Culwulla Chambers
Rachel Dart, Culwulla Chambers
Shanna Mahony, Lachlan Macquarie Chambers
Kiel Roberts, Family Law Chambers
Catherine Spain, Waratah Chambers
Junior Counsel – Recommended
Craig Brickwood, Waratah Chambers
Roger Harper, Culwulla Chambers
Greg Kenny, Lachlan Macquarie Chambers
John Longworth, Frederick Jordan Chambers
Thomas Matthews, Family Chambers
Liam O'Reilly, Family Law Chambers
Angela Petrie, Wardell Chambers
Leah Reid, Greenway Chambers
Tereza Seric, Culwulla Chambers
Janai Tabbernor, Waratah Chambers
Michael Todd, Family Law Chambers
Michael Weightman, Newcastle Chambers
Matthew Wong, Waratah Chambers
2024 edition published December 2023
Senior Counsel – Preeminent
Martha Barnett SC, Culwulla Chambers
Melissa Gillies SC, Culwulla Chambers
Senior Counsel – Leading
David Dura SC, Waratah Chambers
Senior Counsel – Recommended
Peter Cummings SC, Waratah Chambers
Paul Sansom SC, Waratah Chambers
Junior Counsel – Preeminent
Claire Cantrall, Waratah Chambers
Esther Lawson, Waratah Chambers
Junior Counsel – Leading
Mary-Clare Kennedy, Waratah Chambers
Shanna Mahony, Lachlan Macquarie Chambers
Christopher Othen, Waratah Chambers
Karen Shea, Fredrick Jordan Chambers
Catherine Spain, Waratah Chambers
Matthew Wong, Waratah Chambers
Junior Counsel – Recommended
Karen Beck, Waratah Chambers
Louise Carter, Waratah Chambers
Mary-Anne Clifford, Culwulla Chambers
Rachel Dart, Culwulla Chambers
Greg Kenny, Lachlan Macquarie Chambers
Liam O'Reilly, Family Law Chambers
Angela Petrie, Culwulla Chambers
Kiel Roberts, Family Law Chambers
Janai Tabbernor, Waratah Chambers
Lauren Ticehurst, Newcastle Chambers
2023 edition published December 2022
Senior Counsel – Preeminent
Melissa Gillies SC, Culwulla Chambers
Senior Counsel – Leading
Martha Barnett SC, Culwulla Chambers
Senior Counsel – Recommended
Peter Cummings SC, Waratah Chambers
Paul Sansom SC, Waratah Chambers
Donna Ward SC, Frederick Jordan Chambers
Junior Counsel – Preeminent
Claire Cantrall, Waratah Chambers
David Dura, Waratah Chambers
Mary-Clare Kennedy, Waratah Chambers
Esther Lawson, Waratah Chambers
Dina Lioumis, Waratah Chambers
Junior Counsel – Leading
Mary-Anne Clifford, Culwulla Chambers
Greg Kenny, Lachlan Macquarie Chambers
Shanna Mahony, Lachlan Macquarie Chambers
Christopher Othen, Waratah Chambers
Karen Shea, Fredrick Jordan Chambers
Matthew Wong, Waratah Chambers
Junior Counsel – Recommended
Rachel Dart, Culwulla Chambers
Roger Harper, Culwulla Chambers
Liam O'Reilly, Family Law Chambers
Angela Petrie, Culwulla Chambers
Kiel Roberts, Family Law Chambers
Catherine Spain, Waratah Chambers
Janai Tabbernor, Waratah Chambers
2022 edition published November 2021
Senior Counsel – Leading
Melissa Gillies SC, Culwulla Chambers
Richard Schonell SC, Family Law Chambers
Senior Counsel – Recommended
Peter Cummings SC, Waratah Chambers
Paul Sansom SC, Waratah Chambers
Donna Ward SC, Frederick Jordan Chambers
Junior Counsel – Preeminent
Martha Barnett, Culwulla Chambers
David Dura, Waratah Chambers
Mary-Clare Kennedy, Waratah Chambers
Esther Lawson, Waratah Chambers
Junior Counsel – Leading
Claire Cantrall, Waratah Chambers
Mary-Anne Clifford, Culwulla Chambers
Dina Lioumis, Waratah Chambers
Christopher Othen, Waratah Chambers
Matthew Wong, Waratah Chambers
Junior Counsel – Recommended
Rachel Dart, Culwulla Chambers
Gillian Eldershaw, Waratah Chambers
Roger Harper, Culwulla Chambers
Greg Kenny, Lachlan Macquarie Chambers
John Levy, Waratah Chambers
John Longworth, Frederick Jordan Chambers
Shanna Mahony, Lachlan Macquarie Chambers
Liam O'Reilly, Family Law Chambers
Karen Shea, Fredrick Jordan Chambers
Catherine Spain, Waratah Chambers
2021 edition published December 2020
Senior Counsel – Leading
Peter Campton SC, Waratah Chambers
Suzanne Christie SC, Culwulla Chambers
Peter Cummings SC, Waratah Chambers
Melissa Gillies SC, Culwulla Chambers
Richard Schonell SC, Family Law Chambers
Senior Counsel – Recommended
Robert Lethbridge SC, Culwulla Chambers
Paul Sansom SC, Waratah Chambers
Junior Counsel – Preeminent
Martha Barnett, Culwulla Chambers
Mary-Clare Kennedy, Waratah Chambers
Junior Counsel – Leading
Claire Cantrall, Waratah Chambers
Mary-Anne Clifford, Culwulla Chambers
David Dura, Waratah Chambers
Greg Kenny, Lachlan Macquarie Chambers
Esther Lawson, Waratah Chambers
John Levy, Waratah Chambers
Dina Lioumis, Waratah Chambers
Christopher Othen, Waratah Chambers
Junior Counsel – Recommended
Rachel Dart, Culwulla Chambers
Gillian Eldershaw, Culwulla Chambers
Roger Harper, Culwulla Chambers
Shanna Mahony, Lachlan Macquarie Chambers
Karen Shea, Fredrick Jordan Chambers
Matthew Wong, Waratah Chambers
2020 edition published November 2019
Senior Counsel – Leading
Suzanne Christie SC, Culwulla Chambers
Melissa Gillies SC, Culwulla Chambers
Richard Schonell SC, Family Law Chambers
Senior Counsel – Recommended
Peter Campton SC, Waratah Chambers
Peter Cummings SC, Waratah Chambers
Robert Lethbridge SC, Culwulla Chambers
Paul Sansom SC, Waratah Chambers
Junior Counsel – Preeminent
Martha Barnett, Culwulla Chambers
Esther Lawson, Waratah Chambers
Junior Counsel – Leading
Claire Cantrall, Waratah Chambers
Mary-Anne Clifford, Culwulla Chambers
Rachel Dart, Culwulla Chambers
David Dura, Waratah Chambers
Mary-Clare Kennedy, Waratah Chambers
John Levy, Waratah Chambers
Christopher Othen, Waratah Chambers
Junior Counsel – Recommended
Peter Batey, Waratah Chambers
Robyn Druitt, Lachlan Macquarie Chambers
Roger Harper, Culwulla Chambers
Greg Kenny, Lachlan Macquarie Chambers
Constantina Lioumis, Waratah Chambers
John Longworth, Frederick Jordan Chambers
Shanna Mahony, Lachlan Macquarie Chambers
Richard Maurice, Edmund Barton Chambers
Angela Petrie, Culwulla Chambers
Catherine Spain, Waratah Chambers
Lorna Sproston, Culwulla Chambers
Matthew Wong, Waratah Chambers
2019 edition published November 2018
Senior Counsel – Leading
Suzanne Christie SC, Culwulla Chambers
Melissa Gillies SC, Culwulla Chambers
Senior Counsel – Recommended
Peter Campton SC, Waratah Chambers
Robert Lethbridge SC, Culwulla Chambers
Paul Sansom SC, Waratah Chambers
Richard Schonell SC, Family Law Chambers
Junior Counsel – Leading
Martha Barnett, Culwulla Chambers
Claire Cantrall, Waratah Chambers
David Dura, Waratah Chambers
Mary-Clare Kennedy, Waratah Chambers
Esther Lawson, Waratah Chambers
John Levy, Waratah Chambers
Junior Counsel – Recommended
Peter Batey, Waratah Chambers
Dixie Coulton, Family Law Chambers
Maureen de Vere, Lachlan Macquarie Chambers
Roger Harper, Culwulla Chambers
Greg Kenny, Lachlan Macquarie Chambers
John Longworth, Frederick Jordan Chambers
Shanna Mahony, Lachlan Macquarie Chambers
Richard Maurice, Edmund Barton Chambers
Terese Messner, Family Law Chambers
Rhys O'Brien, Culwulla Chambers
Christopher Othen, Waratah Chambers
Catherine Spain, Waratah Chambers
Lorna Sproston, Culwulla Chambers
2018 edition published December 2017
Leading
Claire Cantrall, Waratah Chambers
Suzanne Christie, Culwulla Chambers
Mary-Anne Clifford, Culwulla Chambers
Melissa Gillies SC, Culwulla Chambers
Mary-Clare Kennedy, Waratah Chambers
Recommended
Martha Barnett, Culwulla Chambers
Peter Campton SC, Waratah Chambers
Maureen de Vere, Lachlan Macquarie Chambers
David Dura, Waratah Chambers
Esther Lawson, Waratah Chambers
John Levy, Waratah Chambers
John Longwoth, Frederick Jordan Chambers
Rick Maurice, Edmund Barton Chambers
Terese Messner, Family Law Chambers
Julian Millar, Fourth Floor Wentworth Chambers
Rhys O'Brien, Culwulla Chambers
Paul Sansom SC, Waratah Chambers
Richard Schonell SC, Family Law Chambers
Catherine Spain, Waratah Chambers
Lorna Sproston, Culwulla Chambers