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