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25 NSW barristers appointed senior counsel

The NSW Bar Association has announced that 18 men and seven women have been appointed senior counsel.

user iconNaomi Neilson 06 October 2023 Big Law
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Bar president Gabrielle Bashir SC issued a statement confirming 25 Barristers were given the SC title, including counsel assisting the Kumanjayi Walker inquest Dr Peggy Dwyer and acting deputy director of public prosecutions Brett Hatfield.

In order of seniority, the new SC are:

Richard O’Keefe, Maurice Byers Chambers

Mr O’Keefe commenced at the Bar in 1999 and practises almost exclusively in common law, principally in personal injuries litigation. He also has a special interest in medical negligence litigation.

David Dura, Waratah Chambers

Mr Dura commenced at the Bar in 2002 and focuses in family law jurisdiction, predominantly in complex proceedings within the Federal Circuit and Family Court divisions one and two.

Avni Djemal, Forbes Chambers

Mr Djemal commenced at the Bar in 2003. His practice areas include criminal law, appellate criminal law and commissions of inquiry.

Simon Meehan, State Chambers

Mr Meehan commenced at the Bar in 2003. His practice includes workplace relations, employment, work health and safety, and commercial law.

Mark Seymour, Martin Place Chambers

Mr Seymour commenced at the Bar in 2002. He practices in environmental and planning law and in administrative law.

Sean Docker, University Chambers

Mr Docker commenced at the Bar in 2004 and primarily practises in property law, contracts, building and construction, equity and trusts, and succession law.

Maria Gerace, Maurice Byers Chambers

Ms Gerace commenced at the Bar in 2005 and has practised in common law and medical negligence.

Nicholas Eastman, Martin Place Chambers

Mr Eastman commenced at the Bar in 2006. He practices in environmental, planning and administrative law.

Benjamin Kremer, Banco Chambers

Mr Kremer commenced at the Bar in 2006. His practice spans across commercial law, intellectual property, building and construction, and administrative law.

Gillian Mahony, 8 Wentworth Chambers

Ms Mahony commenced at the Bar in 2006. Her practice includes administrative law, estate and family, child protection matters, and coronial inquests and inquiries.

Jamie Darams, Greenway Chambers

Mr Darams commenced at the Bar in 2007 and practises in employment and industrial law, anti-discrimination law and disciplinary matters.

Gerald Ng, 7 Wentworth Selborne Chambers

Mr Ng commenced at the Bar in 2008. He has a broad general practice that includes constitutional law, administrative law, electoral law, equity, and competition law.

Angela Cook, Forbes Chambers

Ms Cook commenced at the Bar in 2008. She practises primarily in criminal law, with an extensive trial and appellate practice.

Kirsten Edwards, Forbes Chambers

Ms Edwards commenced at the Bar in 2009 and has a diverse criminal law practice where she specialises in complex matters such as environmental crime, occupational health and safety, and corporate crime.

Henry El-Hage, 12 Wentworth Selborne Chambers

Mr El-Hage commenced at the Bar in 2003. His practice is in public and administrative law, which includes planning and environmental law matters and native title matters.

Declan Roche, Banco Chambers

Mr Roche commenced at the Bar in 2009 and practises in competition law, commercial law, and consumer law. He also has experience in class actions, defamation and regulatory proceedings.

David Barrow, Forbes Chambers

Mr Barrow commenced at the Bar in 2009 and practises in criminal law, appellate criminal law and commissions of inquiry and inquests.

Catherine Gleeson, New Chambers

Ms Gleeson commenced at the Bar in 2009. She has established a generalist practice that focuses on commercial law, criminal law, appellate, public and administrative law, and more.

Imtiaz Ahmed, Sixth Floor Selborne/Wentworth Chambers

Mr Ahmed commenced at the Bar in 2010. He has a “wide-ranging commercial practice”, with a focus in corporations and competition law and class action proceedings.

Dr Peggy Dwyer, Forbes Chambers

Dr Dwyer commenced at the Bar in 2010 and practises mostly in inquests and commissions of inquiry, disciplinary matters and criminal law. Her work in coronial inquests has led to instrumental reforms addressing cultural and language barriers to allow for the participation of Aboriginal witnesses and families.

Brett Hatfield, Crown Prosecutors Chambers – Sydney

Mr Hatfield commenced at the Bar in 2010. He has been a Crown prosecutor since 2014, and in 2023, he was appointed as acting deputy director of public prosecutions.

Simon Chapple, 13th Floor St James Hall

Mr Chapple commenced at the Bar in 2010. He has a general equity practice with a focus on succession, real property and protective law.

Robert Yezerski, Banco Chambers

Mr Yezerski commenced practice at the Bar in 2010. He has a large commercial practice that includes competition law, class actions, corporations law matters and insolvency matters.

Dr Fiona Roughley, Banco Chambers

Dr Roughley commenced at the Bar in 2011. Her practice is predominantly in commercial law.

David Scully, Crown Prosecutors Chambers – Sydney

Mr Scully commenced at the Bar in September 2011. He is a deputy senior Crown prosecutor at the NSW DPP and acts as deputy director at times.

Naomi Neilson

Naomi Neilson

Naomi Neilson is a senior journalist with a focus on court reporting for Lawyers Weekly. 

You can email Naomi at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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