The 2026 listing of leading Canberra Parenting & Child Custody 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.
Preeminent
Jacquelyn Curtis, Parker Coles Curtis
Jessica Kennedy, Farrar Gesini Dunn
Kevin Robinson, Robinson + McGuinness
Leading
Ana Anzani, Nicholls Anzani
Stuart Cameron, HCC Lawyers
Catherine Coles, Parker Coles Curtis
Claudia Maclean, Yellow Legal
Sally McGuinness, Robinson + McGuinness
Kirsty McLeod, Farrar Gesini Dunn
Courtney Mullen, Fulcrum Family Law
Anna Neilan, Neilan Stramandinoli Family Law
Lucy Stramandinoli, Neilan Stramandinoli Family Law
Recommended
Lois Clifford, DDCS Lawyers
Jessica Cruise, Legal Aid
Chloe Curran, HCC Lawyers
Averil Foster, Foster Johnson
Kasey Fox, Farrar Gesini Dunn
Brooke Johnson, Foster Johnson
Tina Lee, DDCS Lawyers
Tim Nicholls, Nicholls Anzani
Julia Shavaiz, Infinity Legal
Emily Tighe, DDCS Lawyers
Previous editions
2025 edition published November 2024
Preeminent
Jacquelyn Curtis, Parker Coles Curtis
Kevin Robinson, Robinson + McGuinness
Di Simpson, DDCS Lawyers
Leading
Stuart Cameron, HCC Lawyers
Catherine Coles, Parker Coles Curtis
Jessica Kennedy, Farrar Gesini Dunn
Sally McGuinness, Robinson + McGuinness
Kirsty McLeod, Farrar Gesini Dunn
Courtney Mullen, Foster Johnson
Anna Neilan, Neilan Stramandinoli Family Law
Lucy Stramandinoli, Neilan Stramandinoli Family Law
Recommended
Lois Clifford, DDCS Lawyers
Chloe Curran, HCC Lawyers
Averil Foster, Foster Johnson
Kasey Fox, Farrar Gesini Dunn
Brooke Johnson, Foster Johnson
Claudia Maclean, Yellow Legal
Tim Nicholls, DDCS Lawyers
Maggie Orczkowski, Boland Legal
Emily Tighe, DDCS Lawyers
2024 edition published November 2023
Preeminent
Kevin Robinson, Robinson + McGuinness
Di Simpson, DDCS Lawyers
Leading
Stuart Cameron, HCC Lawyers
Catherine Coles, Parker Coles Curtis
Chloe Curran, HCC Lawyers
Jacquelyn Curtis, Parker Coles Curtis
Jessica Kennedy, Farrar Gesini Dunn
Sally McGuinness, Robinson + McGuinness
Courtney Mullen, Foster Johnson
Lucy Stramandinoli, Neilan Stramandinoli Family Law
Recommended
Lois Clifford, DDCS Lawyers
Averil Foster, Foster Johnson
Brooke Johnson, Foster Johnson
Kirsty McLeod, Farrar Gesini Dunn
Anna Neilan, Neilan Stramandinoli Family Law
Tim Nicholls, DDCS Lawyers
Maggie Orczkowski, Boland Legal
2023 edition published December 2022
Preeminent
Kevin Robinson, Robinson + McGuinness
Di Simpson, DDCS Lawyers
Leading
Stuart Cameron, HCC Lawyers
Chloe Curran, HCC Lawyers
Jacquelyn Curtis, Parker Coles Curtis
Averil Foster, Foster Johnson
Brooke Johnson, Foster Johnson
Jessica Kennedy, Farrar Gesini Dunn
Kirsty McLeod, Farrar Gesini Dunn
Lucy Stramandinoli, Neilan Stramandinoli Family Law
Recommended
Lois Clifford, DDCS Lawyers
Catherine Coles, Parker Coles Curtis
Kasey Fox, Farrar Gesini Dunn
Sally McGuinness, Robinson + McGuinness
Courtney Mullen, Foster Johnson
Anna Neilan, Neilan Stramandinoli Family Law
Maggie Orczkowski, Boland Legal
Emily Tighe, DDCS Lawyers
2022 edition published November 2021
Preeminent
Stuart Cameron, HCC Lawyers
Kevin Robinson, Robinson + McGuinness
Di Simpson, DDCS Lawyers
Leading
Chloe Curran, HCC Lawyers
Jacquelyn Curtis, Parker Coles Curtis
Brooke Johnson, Phelps Reid Foster Johnson
Jessica Kennedy, Farrar Gesini Dunn
Sally McGuinness, Robinson + McGuinness
Alison Osmand, DDCS Lawyers
Lucy Stramandinoli, Neilan Stramandinoli Family Law
Recommended
Ramya Balachrandren, Farrar Gesini Dunn
Lois Clifford, DDCS Lawyers
Catherine Coles, Parker Coles Curtis
Averil Foster, Phelps Reid Foster Johnson
Holly Gunn, HCC Lawyers
Kirsty McLeod, Farrar Gesini Dunn
Anna Neilan, Neilan Stramandinoli Family Law
Bernadette Smyth, Chapman & Smyth
Annie Visser, Robinson + McGuinness
2021 edition published December 2020
Preeminent
Kevin Robinson, Robinson + McGuinness
Di Simpson, DDCS Lawyers
Leading
Stuart Cameron, HCC Lawyers
Averil Foster, Phelps Reid Foster Johnson
Jessica Kennedy, Farrar Gesini Dunn
Alison Osmand, DDCS Lawyers
Recommended
Lois Clifford, DDCS Lawyers
Catherine Coles, Parker Coles Curtis
Chloe Curran, HCC Lawyers
Jacquelyn Curtis, Parker Coles Curtis
Juliette Ford, Farrar Gesini Dunn
Brooke Johnson, Phelps rRid Foster Johnson
Kirsty McLeod, Farrar Gesini Dunn
Sally McGuinness, Robinson + McGuinness
Courtney Mullen, Australian Family Lawyers
Anna Neilan, Neilan Stramandinoli Family Law
Bernadette Smyth, Chapman & Smyth
Lucy Stramandinoli, Neilan Stramandinoli Family Law
Lessli Strong, Strong Law
Annie Visser, Robinson + McGuinness
2020 edition published June 2020
Leading
Averil Foster, Phelps Reid Foster Johnson
Jessica Kennedy, Farrar Gesini Dunn
Alison Osmand, DDCS Lawyers
Kevin Robinson, Robinson + McGuinness
Di Simpson, DDCS Lawyers
Recommended
Stuart Cameron, HCC Lawyers
Lois Clifford, DDCS Lawyers
Catherine Coles, Watts McCray
Chloe Curran, HCC Lawyers
Jacquelyn Curtis, Phelps Reid Foster Johnson
Kasey Fox, Farrar Gesini Dunn
Sally Hiles, Legal Aid
Ken Hubert, Capon & Hubert
Kirsty McLeod, Farrar Gesini Dunn
Sally McGuinness, Robinson + McGuinness
Courtney Mullen, Australian Family Lawyers
Anna Neilan, Neilan Stramandinoli Family Law
David Ridge, Barker & Barker
Bernadette Smyth, Chapman & Smyth
Lucy Stramandinoli, Neilan Stramandinoli Family Law
Lessli Strong, Strong Law
Annie Visser, Robinson + McGuinness
2019 edition published August 2019
Leading
Mary Burgess, Yeend & Associations
Stuart Cameron, HCC Lawyers
Catherine Coles, Watts McCray
Averil Foster, Phelps Reid Foster Johnson
Jessica Kennedy, Farrar Gesini Dunn
Alison Osmand, DDCS Lawyers
Kevin Robinson, Robinson + McGuinness
Di Simpson, DDCS Lawyers
Recommended
Lois Clifford, DDCS Lawyers
Chloe Curran, HCC Lawyers
Kasey Fox, Farrar Gesini Dunn
Brooke Johnson Phelps Reid Foster Johnson
Kirsty McLeod, Farrar Gesini Dunn
Sally McGuinness, Robinson + McGuinness
Anna Neilan, Neilan Stramandinoli
Ann Northcote, Farrar Gesini Dunn
David Ridge, Barker & Barker
Lucy Stramandinoli, Neilan Stramandinoli
Lesli Strong, Strong Law
2018 edition published October 2018
Leading
Mary Burgess, Yeend & Associations
Alison Osmand, DDCS Lawyers
Kevin Robinson, Robinson + McGuinness
Di Simpson, DDCS Lawyers
Recommended
Adam Bak, Farrar Gesini Dunn
Stuart Cameron, HCC Lawyers
Catherine Coles, Watts McCray
Chloe Curran, HCC Lawyers
Andrea Evans, Evans Family Lawyers
Averil Foster, Phelps Reid Foster Johnson
Kasey Fox, Farrar Gesini Dunn
Brooke Johnson Phelps Reid Foster Johnson
Sally McGuinness, Robinson + McGuinness
Anna Neilan, Neilan Stramandinoli
Ann Northcote, Farrar Gesini Dunn
Lesli Strong, Strong Law
2017 edition published October 2017
Mary Burgess, Yeend & Associations
Andrea Evans, Evans Family Lawyers
Juliette Ford, Farrar Gesini Dunn
Averil Foster, Phelps Reid
Brooke Johnson Phelps Reid
Anna Neilan, Neilan Stramandinoli
Ann Northcote, Farrar Gesini Dunn
Alison Osmand, DDCS Lawyers
Di Simpson, DDCS Lawyers
Kevin Robinson, Robinson + McGuinness