The 2026 listing of leading Victorian 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 Victorian legal market who have been identified by the state’s family law solicitors for their expertise and abilities in these areas.
Senior Counsel
Market Leader
Preeminent
Helen Dellidis SC, Holmes List
Tim Puckey KC, Dever’s List
Leading
Geoff Dickson KC, Foley’s List
Chris Nehmy SC, Holmes List
Recommended
Martin Bartfeld KC, Holmes List
Eleanor Mallett SC, Svenson Barristers
Junior Counsel
Preeminent
Chris Dunlop, Holmes List
Anna Goldthorp, Foley’s List
Laura Johnston, Holmes List
Jeff Stanley, Holmes List
Leading
Andrew Barbayannis, Holmes List
Sarah Hession, Holmes List
Belle Lane, Foley’s List
Caroline Paterson, Holmes List
Holly Renwick, Foley’s List
Dan Sweeney, Holmes List
Recommended
Mary Agresta, Holmes List
Sally Bastick, Holmes List
Hilary Bonney, Holmes List
Therese Borger, Holmes List
Jenny Brennan, Holmes List
Patricia Byrnes, Holmes List
Cath Devine, Foley’s List
Nick Ellis, Foley’s List
Harriet Geddes, Foley’s List
George Glezakos, Holmes List
Soren Heggie, Foley’s List
Bridgette Kildea, Holmes List
Sophie Mariole, Foley’s List
Lyndell McCreadie, Foley’s List
Rory McIvor, Holmes List
Alexandra Metherell, Foley’s List
Nonni Sdraulig, Foley’s List
Stacey Taylor, Holmes List
Previous editions
2025 edition published November 2024
Senior Counsel – Market Leader
Minal Vohra SC, Holmes List
Senior Counsel – Preeminent
Helen Dellidis SC, Holmes List
Marylyn Smallwood SC, Holmes List
Senior Counsel – Leading
Martin Bartfeld KC, Holmes List
Geoff Dickson KC, Foley's List
Tim Puckey KC, Dever's List
Senior Counsel – Recommended
Eleanor Mallett SC, Svenson Barristers
Chris Nehmy SC, Holmes List
Rosetta Stoikovska SC, Patterson's List
Junior Counsel – Market Leader
Laura Johnston, Holmes List
Junior Counsel – Preeminent
Sarah Fisken, Foley's List
Anna Goldthorp, Foley's List
Belle Lane, Foley's List
Holly Renwick, Foley's List
Dan Sweeney, Holmes List
Junior Counsel – Leading
Mary Agresta, Holmes List
Andrew Barbayannis, Holmes List
Chris Dunlop, Holmes List
Sarah Hession, Holmes List
Caroline Paterson, Holmes List
Jeff Stanley, Holmes List
Junior Counsel – Recommended
Sally Bastick, Holmes List
Hilary Bonney, Holmes List
Therese Borger, Holmes List
Jenny Brennan, Holmes List
Patricia Byrnes, Holmes List
Cath Devine, Foley's List
Nick Ellis, Foley's List
Harriet Geddes, Foley's List
George Glezakos, Svenson Barristers
Soren Heggie, Foley's List
Bridgette Kildea, Holmes List
Sarah Mansfield, Foley's List
Lyndell McCreadie, Foley's List
Rory McIvor, Holmes List
Alexandra Metherell, Foley's List
Andrew Robinson, Dever's List
Nonni Sdraulig, Foley's List
Stacey Taylor, Holmes List
2024 edition published November 2023
Senior Counsel – Market Leader
Minal Vohra SC, Holmes List
Senior Counsel – Preeminent
Helen Dellidis SC, Holmes List
Marylyn Smallwood SC, Holmes List
Senior Counsel – Leading
Martin Bartfeld KC, Holmes List
Geoff Dickson KC, Foley's List
Tim Puckey KC, Dever's List
Rosetta Stoikovska SC, Patterson's List
Senior Counsel – Recommended
Eleanor Mallett SC, Svenson Barristers
Tim North SC, Holmes List
Junior Counsel – Preeminent
Mary Agresta, Holmes List
Anna Goldthorp, Foley's List
Laura Johnston, Holmes List
Belle Lane, Foley's List
Dan Sweeney, Holmes List
Junior Counsel – Leading
Andrew Barbayannis, Holmes List
Chris Dunlop, Holmes List
Sarah Fisken, Foley's List
Soren Heggie, Foley's List
Sarah Hession, Holmes List
Chris Nehmy, Holmes List
Holly Renwick, Foley's List
Jeff Stanley, Holmes List
Junior Counsel – Recommended
Sally Bastick, Holmes List
Therese Borger, Holmes List
Jenny Brennan, Holmes List
Patricia Byrnes, Holmes List
Cath Devine, Foley's List
Noah Eidelson, Holmes List
Harriet Geddes, Foley's List
George Glezakos, Svenson Barristers
Sarah Mansfield, Foley's List
Lyndell McCreadie, Foley's List
Rory McIvor, Holmes List
Alexandra Metherell, Foley's List
Caroline Paterson, Holmes List
Nonni Sdraulig, Foley's List
Stacey Taylor, Holmes List
2023 edition published December 2022
Senior Counsel – Market Leader
Minal Vohra SC, Holmes List
Senior Counsel – Preeminent
Marylyn Smallwood SC, Holmes List
Senior Counsel – Leading
Martin Bartfeld KC, Holmes List
Geoff Dickson KC, Foley's List
Tim Puckey KC, Dever's List
Rosetta Stoikovska SC, Patterson's List
Senior Counsel – Recommended
Eleanor Mallett SC, Svenson Barristers
Tim North SC, Holmes List
Junior Counsel – Preeminent
Laura Johnston, Holmes List
Belle Lane, Foley's List
Dan Sweeney, Holmes List
Junior Counsel – Leading
Mary Agresta, Holmes List
Andrew Barbayannis, Holmes List
Helen Dellidis, Holmes List
Chris Dunlop, Holmes List
Anna Goldthorp, Foley's List
Sarah Hession, Holmes List
Chris Nehmy, Holmes List
Holly Renwick, Foley's List
Junior Counsel – Recommended
Hilary Bonney, Holmes List
Chiara Bryan, Foley's List
Patricia Byrnes, Holmes List
Cath Devine, Foley's List
Sarah Fisken, Foley's List
George Glezakos, Svenson Barristers
Soren Heggie, Foley's List
Lyndell McCreadie, Foley's List
Rory McIvor, Holmes List
Alexandra Metherell, Foley's List
Caroline Paterson, Holmes List
Andrew Robinson, Dever's List
Jeff Stanley, Holmes List
Our 2023 Victorian Family Law Rankings are proudly sponsored by Hall Chadwick Forensics.
2022 edition published November 2021
Senior Counsel – Market Leader
Minal Vohra SC, Holmes List
Senior Counsel – Preeminent
Marylyn Smallwood SC, Holmes List
Senior Counsel – Leading
Geoff Dickson QC, Foley's List
Tim Puckey SC, Dever's List
Rosetta Stoikovska SC, Patterson's List
Senior Counsel – Recommended
Martin Bartfeld QC, Holmes List
Andrew Strum QC, Foley's List
Junior Counsel – Preeminent
Alison Burt, Foley's List
Laura Johnston, Holmes List
Belle Lane, Foley's List
Dan Sweeney, Holmes List
Junior Counsel – Leading
Andrew Barbayannis, Holmes List
Helen Delledis, Holmes List
Sarah Hession, Holmes List
Rory McIvor, Holmes List
Chris Nehmy, Holmes List
Holly Renwick, Foley's List
Junior Counsel – Recommended
Mary Agresta, Holmes List
Patricia Byrnes, Holmes List
Cath Devine, Foley's List
Chris Dunlop, Holmes List
Sarah Fisken, Foley's List
Anna Goldthorp, Foley's List
Soren Heggie, Foley's List
Bridgette Kildea, Holmes List
Caroline Paterson, Holmes List
Robin Smith, Holmes List
Jeff Stanley, Holmes List
Mark Wilson, Holmes List
2021 edition published December 2020
Senior Counsel – Market Leader
Minal Vohra SC, Holmes List
Senior Counsel – Preeminent
Marylynn Smallwood SC, Holmes List
Senior Counsel – Leading
Geoff Dickson QC, Foley's List
Tim Puckey SC, Dever's List
Rosetta Stoikovska SC, Patterson's List
Senior Counsel – Recommended
Martin Bartfeld QC, Holmes List
Andrew Strum QC, Foley's List
Junior Counsel – Preeminent
Alison Burt, Foley's List
Dan Sweeney, Holmes List
Junior Counsel – Leading
Andrew Barbayannis, Holmes List
Laura Johnston, Holmes List
Belle Lane, Foley's List
Chris Nehmy, Holmes List
Junior Counsel – Recommended
Mary Agresta, Holmes List
Patricia Byrnes, Holmes List
Helen Delledis, Holmes List
Sarah Fisken, Foley's List
Anna Goldthorp, Foley's List
Emma Heggie, Foley's List
Sarah Hession, Holmes List
Rory McIvor, Holmes List
Andrew Robinson, Dever's List
Mark Wilson, Holmes List
2020 edition published November 2019
Senior Counsel – Leading
Martin Bartfeld QC, Holmes List
Andrew Strum QC, Foley's List
Minal Vohra SC, Holmes List
Senior Counsel – Recommended
Geoff Dickson QC, Foley's List
Bruce Geddes QC, Lennon's List
Tim North QC, Holmes List
Patrick O'Shannessy SC, Holmes List
Marylynn Smallwood SC, Holmes List
Rosetta Stoikovska QC, Patterson's List
Junior Counsel – Leading
Mary Agresta, Holmes List
Andrew Barbayannis, Holmes List
Alison Burt, Foley's List
Helen Delledis, Holmes List
Sarah Hession, Holmes List
Laura Johnston, Holmes List
Belle Lane, Foley's List
Chris Nehmy, Holmes List
Anna Parker, Patterson's List
Tim Puckey, Dever's List
Dan Sweeney, Holmes List
Mark Wilson, Holmes List
Junior Counsel – Recommended
Renata Alexander, Holmes List
Tricia Byrnes, Holmes List
Catherine Devine, Foley's List
Noah Eidelson, Holmes List
Anna Goldthorp, Foley's List
Rohan Hoult, Holmes List
Jennifer Howe, Foley's List
Caroline Jenkins, Foley's List
Rory McIvor, Holmes List
Jim Mellas, Foley's List
Joe Mellili, Holmes List
Caroline Paterson, Holmes List
Andrew Robinson, Dever's List
2019 edition published November 2018
Senior Counsel – Leading
Martin Bartfeld QC, Holmes List
Tim North SC, Holmes List
Andrew Strum QC, Foley's List
Senior Counsel – Recommended
Bruce Geddes QC, Lennon's List
Rosetta Stoikovska QC, Patterson's List
Minal Vohra SC, Holmes List
Junior Counsel – Leading
Alison Burt, Foley's List
Alice Carter, Holmes List
Helen Delledis, Holmes List
Laura Johnston, Holmes List
Belle Lane, Foley's List
Joe Mellili, Holmes List
Chris Nehmy, Holmes List
Pat O'Shannessy, Holmes List
Anna Parker, Patterson's List
Tim Puckey, Dever's List
Marylyn Smallwood, Holmes List
Dan Sweeney, Holmes List
Junior Counsel – Recommended
Mary Agresta, Holmes List
Andrew Barbayannis, Holmes List
Anna Boymal, Holmes List
Christopher Dunlop, Patterson's List
Noah Eidelson, Holmes List
Sarah Fisken, Foley's List
Anna Goldthorp, Foley's List
Debra Harris, Foley's List
Sarah Hession, Holmes List
Rohan Hoult, Holmes List
Caroline Jenkins, Foley's List
Bridgette Kildea, Patterson's List
Rory McIvor, Holmes List
Vicki Sweet, Holmes List
Mark Wilson, Holmes List
2018 edition published December 2017
Leading
Mary Agresta, Holmes List
Alison Burt, Foley's List
Alice Carter, Holmes List
Helen Delledis, Holmes List
Noah Eidelson, Holmes List
Chris Nehmy, Holmes List
Tim North SC, Holmes List
Anna Parker, Patterson's List
Tim Puckey, Dever's List
Minal Vohra SC, Holmes List
Recommended
Andrew Barbayannis, Holmes List
Jenny Brennan, Holmes List
Cath Devine, Foley's List
Paul Glass, Svenson Barristers
Deb Harris, Foley's List
Sarah Hession, Holmes List
Richard Ingleby, Patterson's List
Caroline Jenkins, Foley's List
Laura Johnston, Holmes List
Belle Lane, Foley's List
Rory McIvor, Holmes List
Pat O'Shannessy, Holmes List
Holly Renwick, Foley's List
Marylyn Smallwood, Holmes List