Gilchrist Connell recognised in the Best Lawyers in Australia 2026 edition
Gilchrist Connell is proud to announce that the firm has been recognised in the Best Lawyers in Australia.
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review and feedback. The 2026 edition has named 45 professionals, including 36 principals, special counsel, and consultants from all five offices, across multiple practice areas. Additionally, eight senior associates and one special counsel have been recognised in the Best Lawyers Ones to Watch in Australia.
We are also proud to highlight that four of our principals have been named Best Lawyer of the Year 2026 in their respective practice areas: Justine Siavelis for Insurance Law in Perth; Jonathan Cutler for Product Liability Litigation in Melbourne; Alison Townend for Personal Injury Litigation; and Fiona Errington for Insurance Law in Adelaide.
Best Lawyers in Australia 2026:
Adelaide
- Zoe Dempster - Insurance Law and Personal Injury Litigation
- Melissa Eaton - Insurance Law, Litigation and Personal Injury Litigation
- Fiona Errington - Insurance Law, Legal Malpractice Litigation and Personal Injury Litigation
- Samantha Hocking- Insurance Law and Personal Injury Litigation
- John Homburg- Health and Aged Care Law and Insurance Law
- Jamie Ling - Personal Injury Litigation
- Joe Parisi - Insurance Law, Occupational Health and Safety Law and Personal Injury Litigation
- Alison Townend - Insurance Law, Litigation and Personal Injury Litigation
- Richard Wood - Construction / Infrastructure Law, Insurance Law, Legal Malpractice Litigation and Personal Injury Litigation
Brisbane
- - Employee Benefits Law, Labour and Employment Law and Occupational Health and Safety Law
- David Flint - Insurance Law and Personal Injury Litigation
- Mitchell Hauser - Personal Injury Litigation and Professional Malpractice Litigation
- Brett Solomon - Alternative Dispute Resolution, Insurance Law, Personal Injury Litigation, Product Liability Litigation and Professional Malpractice Litigation
Melbourne
- Jonathan Cutler - Insurance Law, Personal Injury Litigation and Product Liability Litigation
- Philip Duffy - Labour and Employment Law
- Jason Newman - Insurance Law, Product Liability Litigation
- Nicole Norris - Insurance Law, Personal Injury Litigation and Product Liability Litigation
- Emily Payne - Personal Injury Litigation
- Joel Zyngier - Labour and Employment Law and Occupational Health and Safety Law
Perth
- Erica Dobson - Insurance Law
- James Duffy - Insurance Law
- Justine Siavelis - Insurance Law, Product Liability Litigation and Professional Malpractice Litigation
- Deborah Templeman - Insurance Law, Legal Malpractice Litigation and Professional Malpractice Litigation
- John-Paul Wilson - Insurance Law and Personal Injury Litigation
Sydney
- Stephen Connell - Insurance Law, Personal Injury Litigation, Product Liability Litigation and Professional Malpractice Litigation
- Katherine Czoch - Insurance Law, Professional Malpractice and Litigation
- John Edmond - Class Action Litigation, Insurance Law and Litigation
- Melissa Fenton - Health and Aged Care Law, Insurance Law and Professional Malpractice Litigation
- Alex Haslam - Insurance Law, Legal Malpractice Litigation and Professional Malpractice Litigation
- Paul Kozub - Insurance Law, Personal Injury Litigation, Product Liability Litigation and Professional Malpractice Litigation
- Tiarn Pauletto - Insurance Law
- Julian Peake - Professional Malpractice Litigation
- Daniel Robinson - Insurance Law
- Helen Tieu - Insurance Law and Professional Malpractice Litigation
- Sarah Wood - Insurance Law and Labour and Employment Law
- Malcolm Wood - Insurance Law
Ones to Watch 2026:
Adelaide
- Ashleigh Allen - Personal Injury Litigation
- James Spartalis - Insurance Law and Labour and Employment Law
Brisbane
- Abbey Stockley - Personal Injury Litigation
Melbourne
- Tegan Consderdyne - Insurance Law
- Isabella Fyfe - Insurance Law and Personal Injury Litigation
- Arthur Hambas - Labour and Employment Law
- Maddison Harrington - Labour and Employment Law
- James Kyrios - Insurance Law and Personal Injury Litigation
Perth
- Ellie McGrory - Insurance Law and Litigation
Stay updated with Gilchrist Connell’s news and insights, zero spam, promise.
We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians throughout Australia and their connection to land, culture, waters and skies. We pay our respect to the communities, the people, and Elders past, present and emerging.
Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation. Legal Practitioners employed by and the directors of Gilchrist Connell Pty Ltd are members of the scheme.