The 2016 listing of leading Australian Family & Divorce Senior Counsel details counsel practising within the areas of family law, matrimonial and custody matters in the Australian legal market who have been identified by family law solicitors across Australia for their expertise and abilities in these areas.
Preeminent
Geoff Dickson QC, Henry Winneke Chambers – Melbourne
Michael Kearney SC, Waratah Chambers – Sydney
Grahame Richardson SC, Family Law Chambers – Sydney
Leading
Bruce Geddes QC, Owen Dixon Chambers East – Melbourne
Tom Kirk QC, Level 14 Quay Central – Brisbane
Tim North SC, Chancery Chambers – Melbourne
Recommended
Martin Bartfeld QC, Owen Dixon Chambers East – Melbourne
Jacoba Brasch QC, Inns of Court – Brisbane
Peter Campton SC, Waratah Chambers – Sydney
Catherine Carew QC, Inns of Court – Brisbane
Peter Cummings SC, Newcastle Chambers – Newcastle
Rod Hooper SC, John Toohey Chambers – Perth
Paul Sansom SC, Waratah Chambers – Sydney
Richard Schonell SC, Family Law Chambers – Sydney
Andrew Strum SC, Owen Dixon Chambers East – Melbourne
Editorial Commentary
While the above listing outlines the cities in which each of the individuals typically practices/resides in it should be noted that many of these individuals regularly appear in other states. The likes of Tim North SC and Grahame Richardson SC have a strong following the Queensland market, Tom Kirk QC has supporters in New South Wales while larger matters in South Australia and Western Australia regularly see interstate Senior Counsel appearing.
That said, there’s far less of this interstate movement of Senior Counsel between NSW and Victoria with both states generally less willing to accept Senior Counsel from the other.
At the top of our rankings there’s a breadth of options from the experience of Bruce Geddes QC and Tom Kirk QC, the juridical mind of Michael Kearney SC, the commercial nous of Grahame Richardson SC and sometimes sublime advocacy skills of Tim North SC or the all-round skills and hard-working nature of Geoff Dickson SC.
Those seeking to retain stronger Senior/Queens Counsel in the area of family law should typically expect to pay at least $7,000 to $9,000 per day for their services (this can be alternatively viewed as an hourly rate of between $700-$900 per hour).