Editorial guide · Doyle’s Guide ranked
35 Victorian barristers recognised in Doyle’s Guide’s 2026 rankings for parenting, custody and children’s matters, grouped by seniority and tier.
Doyle’s Guide’s 2026 peer rankings recognise 35 Victorian barristers for Parenting, Custody & Children’s Matters. Minal Vohra SC holds the Market Leader ranking. The Preeminent senior counsel are Tim Puckey KC, Helen Dellidis SC; the Preeminent junior counsel are Christopher Dunlop, Anna Goldthorp, Laura Johnston, Jeffrey Stanley. Every barrister below links to a profile listing their exact rankings with sources, plus verification details and client reviews.
Family law barristers appear in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia in parenting disputes, relocation and change-of-residence applications, matters involving family violence, Independent Children’s Lawyer appointments, and appeals. They are briefed by an instructing solicitor — if you are choosing representation yourself, start with a family law solicitor, who will recommend and brief counsel suited to the matter.
Senior and King’s Counsel ranked by Doyle’s Guide 2026 for parenting and children’s matters in Victoria.
Junior counsel ranked by Doyle’s Guide 2026 for parenting and children’s matters in Victoria, ordered by tier.
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Barristers are engaged through an instructing solicitor, who prepares the brief and coordinates with the barrister’s clerk or list. Members of the public do not usually approach counsel directly — direct access is available only in limited circumstances under Victorian Bar rules.
Fees are set by each barrister and disclosed in writing before work commences, as required by the Legal Profession Uniform Law (Victoria). Your solicitor can advise whether the matter warrants junior counsel, senior counsel, or both.
Doyle's Guide's 2026 rankings recognise 35 Victorian barristers for Parenting, Custody & Children's Matters. Minal Vohra SC is ranked Market Leader. The Preeminent senior counsel are Tim Puckey KC, Helen Dellidis SC, and the Preeminent junior counsel are Christopher Dunlop, Anna Goldthorp, Laura Johnston, Jeffrey Stanley. The full list, including the Leading and Recommended tiers, is on this page with a profile for each barrister.
Barristers in Australia are typically briefed by an instructing solicitor on behalf of a client. If you are a member of the public, your first step is to engage a family law solicitor, who will then brief the appropriate barrister through the barrister's clerk or list. Direct access by clients is available only in limited circumstances under Victorian Bar rules.
Doyle's Guide surveys peers, clients and industry stakeholders each year and publishes tier rankings: Market Leader and Preeminent for the most highly regarded counsel, then Leading and Recommended. The tiers on this page are published by Doyle's Guide, not by Lawyer Reviews Australia; we aggregate them with attribution.
Brief fees and conference rates are set by each barrister and arranged through their clerk. Under the Legal Profession Uniform Law (Victoria), a written costs disclosure must be provided before work commences. Senior counsel (SC/KC) generally command materially higher daily rates than junior counsel; your instructing solicitor can advise what seniority the matter warrants.
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