Insight

Presenting The Best Lawyers in Australia™ 2025

Best Lawyers is proud to present The Best Lawyers in Australia for 2025, marking the 17th consecutive year of Best Lawyers awards in Australia.

Written by Best Lawyers

Published: April 17, 2024

The Best Lawyers in Australia Awards 2025

Each year, a meticulous process of nominations, outreach, voting and research culminates in these prestigious The Best Lawyers in Australia™ awards, recognizing lawyers and their exemplary professionalism through our esteemed Purely Peer Review^® methodology. This year also marks the 3^rd edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in Australia™ awards, acknowledging exceptional lawyers in the earlier stages of their careers.

The 17^thedition of The Best Lawyers in Australia for 2025 shines a spotlight on 4,513 distinguished lawyers across nine major metropolitan area. Sydney is the top metropolitan area with the most recognized lawyers. Spanning across 95 practice areas, the top ten practices boasting the most honorees include Litigation, Insurance Law, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Corporate Law, Commercial Law, Construction/Infrastructure Law, Real Property Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Labor and Employment Law and Government Practice.

In Australia, individuals seeking legal guidance frequently turned to the Best Lawyers website, with Litigation, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Insurance Law, Commercial Law, Trusts and Estates, Planning and Environmental Law, Intellectual Property Law, Personal Injury Litigation and Immigration Law emerging as the most sought-after practice areas.

Gold symbols with black text showing the 2025 Australia Best Lawyers stats

Recognizing Excellence: "Lawyer of the Year" Awards

This year's awards also feature the esteemed "Lawyer of the Year" accolades, honoring one outstanding lawyer per practice area in each metropolitan region. In 2025, we proudly acknowledged 323 lawyers across Australia with this prestigious title.

Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in Australia

Since 2020, Best Lawyers has expanded its recognition to include promising lawyers in the early stages of their careers, practicing for less than ten years. Employing the same rigorous methodology as The Best Lawyers in Australia, our Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in Australia awards highlight top emerging talent through a comprehensive process of nominations, peer voting and meticulous evaluation.

For the 3^rd edition, we celebrate 582 lawyers across 48 practice areas, representing 119 firms in seven metropolitan areas. The top ten practice areas with the most honorees include Litigation, Insurance Law, Labor and Employment, Real Property Law, Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Construction/Infrastructure Law, Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Planning and Environmental Law and Alternative Dispute Resolution.

Blue symbols with black text highlighting OTW Australia 2025 stats

Showcasing Your Award

Best Lawyers provides several avenues to showcase awards through impactful marketing strategies.

For more information on how to highlight individual lawyer and firm awards via your website, social media platforms, Best Lawyers Profile Suite packages, and commemorative items, please contact sales@bestlawyers.com.

Interested in exploring Best Lawyers honorees in Australia? Utilize our Find a Lawyer tool to discover legal professionals by location and specialty.

Stay updated with the full report of Best Lawyers international releases, continually refreshed for your convenience.

The arrival of The Best Lawyers in Australia™ 2025 celebrates the outstanding legal talent across Australia for an impressive 17th year.

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Resources For Lawyers

Lawyers in Columbus, Ohio

Lloyd Pierre-Louis

Dickinson Wright PLLC

Columbus, OH

Practice Areas

Administrative / Regulatory Law

Cannabis Law

Government Relations Practice

Recognized since 2021 by

Lloyd Pierre-Louis

Lloyd Pierre-Louis is a member of Dickinson Wright’s Cannabis Practice Group. His practice focuses on government affairs and administrative law, and particularly the legal cannabis and hemp industries. He represents clients providing the industry with equity and debt capital, equipment, devices, and other services. He also assists entities and individuals through every aspect of licensure, business operation, regulatory compliance, employment, and transactions with related businesses. L...

 
Lloyd Pierre-Louis
  Website    Email    Address    Phone Number

View Profile 614.591.5490

Stephanie T. Greene Duffy

Barnes & Thornburg LLP

Columbus, OH

Practice Areas

Real Estate Law

Recognized since 2025 by

Stephanie T. Greene Duffy

Stephanie T. Greene Duffy is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Real Estate Law. Stephanie T. practices law in Columbus, Ohio Best Lawyers has recognized Stephanie T. Greene Duffy since 2025. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Stephanie T. Greene Duffy is held by other lawyers.

Stephanie T. Greene Duffy

View Profile 614.628.0096

Shawn R. Dominy

Dominy Law Firm LLC

Columbus, OH

Practice Areas

Criminal Defense: General Practice

DUI / DWI Defense

Recognized since 2021 by

Shawn R. Dominy

Shawn Dominy is a criminal defense attorney, and the primary focus of his practice is representing clients charged with OVI/DUI and serious vehicular crimes like Vehicular Homicide and Vehicular Assault. Shawn is a leader in professional organizations. He is the past President of the Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (OACDL), the state delegate for the National College for DUI Defense (NCDD), and the recipient of the NCDD Leadership Award. Shawn is a founding member of the national...

 
Shawn R. Dominy
  Website    Address    Phone Number

View Profile 614.717.1177

Brent D. Rosenthal

Carlile Patchen & Murphy LLP

Columbus, OH

Practice Areas

Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)

Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law

Real Estate Law

Specific Focus

Commercial

Recognized since 2020 by

Brent D. Rosenthal

Brent Rosenthal joined Carlile Patchen & Murphy LLP in July 2007. Brent focuses on representing closely-held businesses and their owners in a broad scope of their legal needs including – business formation and structuring, finance, transactions (including acquisitions and contract preparation and analysis), employment and general business and legal counseling. Brent’s commercial real estate practice includes representing buyers, sellers, landlords, tenants and developers in th...

 
Brent D. Rosenthal
  Website    Email    Address    Phone Number

View Profile 614.628.0772

Terrence O'Donnell

Dickinson Wright PLLC

Columbus, OH

Practice Areas

Energy Law

Government Relations Practice

Recognized since 2020 by

Terrence O'Donnell

Terrence O'Donnell leads Dickinson Wright’s firmwide government relations team. His focus is public policy advocacy at the Ohio statehouse, administrative law, and regulatory compliance. Terrence represents dozens of companies, trade groups, and nonprofits before the State General Assembly and executive agencies. He also collaborates with lawyers in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office to lobby the United States Congress. Terrence brings eighteen years of experience to his practice....

 
Terrence O'Donnell
  Website    Email    Address    Phone Number

View Profile 614.744.2583

Matthew S. Bailey

JRW Esquire LTD

Columbus, OH

Practice Areas

Corporate Law

Mergers and Acquisitions Law

Recognized since 2023 by

Matthew S. Bailey

Matthew S. Bailey is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Corporate Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law. Matthew S. practices law in Columbus, Ohio Best Lawyers has recognized Matthew S. Bailey since 2023. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Matthew S. Bailey is held by other lawyers.

Matthew S. Bailey

View Profile 380.239.8500

Mary Barley-McBride

Dickie, McCamey & Chilcote PC

Columbus, OH

Practice Areas

Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants

Recognized since 2007 by

Mary Barley-McBride

Mary Barley-McBride is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants. Mary practices law in Columbus, Ohio Best Lawyers has recognized Mary Barley-McBride since 2007. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Mary Barley-McBride is held by other lawyers.

Mary Barley-McBride

View Profile 614.258.6000

William A. Nolan

Barnes & Thornburg LLP

Columbus, OH

Practice Areas

Education Law

Employment Law - Management

Labor Law - Management

Specific Focus

Covenants Not to Compete

Recognized since 2006 by

William A. Nolan

Bill Nolan serves as managing partner of the firm’s Ohio office, which he opened in 2009. Bill works to bring attentiveness and clarity to bear on employment, contract and other disputes, but is most passionate about helping clients build teams, policies and processes to minimize the frequency, cost and severity of disputes. Bill's litigation and trial work includes covenant not to compete and trade secret cases in many states. He regularly represents employers in discrimination and dis...

William A. Nolan

View Profile 614.628.0096

Misty H. Aldrich

Carlile Patchen & Murphy LLP

Columbus, OH

Practice Areas

Trusts and Estates

Recognized since 2024 by

Misty H. Aldrich

Misty Aldrich concentrates her entire practice on trust and estate planning law, including the formation, implementation, and administration. She has more than 30 years of experience, and before entering private practice, Misty spent six years at the Huntington National Bank as Trust Counsel in the personal trust department. At CPM, she steers her clients through all aspects of trust and estate planning. Misty assists clients in drafting all appropriate legal documents and structuring financi...

Misty H. Aldrich

View Profile 614.228.6135

David B. Barnhart

Philip J. Fulton Law Office

Columbus, OH

Practice Areas

Workers' Compensation Law - Claimants

Recognized since 1995 by

David B. Barnhart

David B. Barnhart is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Workers' Compensation Law - Claimants. David B. practices law in Columbus, Ohio Best Lawyers has recognized David B. Barnhart since 1995. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which David B. Barnhart is held by other lawyers.

 DB
David B. Barnhart
  Website    Email    Address    Phone Number 
 

View Profile 614.224.3838

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Presenting The Best Lawyers in Australia™ 2025

The Best Lawyers in Australia Awards 2025

Recognizing Excellence: "Lawyer of the Year" Awards

Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in Australia

Showcasing Your Award

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