Inside Family Law AWARDS
INSIDE
FAMILY
LAW
AWARDS
Sydney · October 2026 · Date & venue to be announced

Celebrating the people behind the work.

Family law is technical, emotional and deeply human. Every day, practitioners across Australia guide people through some of the most difficult chapters of their lives.

The Inside Family Law Awards recognise the lawyers, firms, barristers, mediators, experts and support teams whose work deserves to be seen.

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Nominations opening now
The Inside Family Law ecosystem

A profession learning from itself.

The awards grew out of the Inside Family Law book, podcast and interview series, which have always been about candid conversations from the coalface of family law.

They continue that same work by creating a platform for the profession to hear from itself. A nominee shares a story. Someone watches. Someone reflects. A conversation starts. Ideas travel. The profession learns.

Through nominations, finalist stories and short videos, the awards shine a light on client care, social justice, mentoring, wellbeing, innovation, education, reform, community contribution and professional excellence.

iThe BookWhere the conversation began
iiThe PodcastVoices from across the profession
iiiThe InterviewsConversations from the conference floor
ivThe AwardsRecognition by peers, in 2026
Why these awards are different

Most awards ask what you have done.
We also ask who you are.

The short video process lets finalists speak directly to the profession. It creates connection, encourages reflection, and gives the community a chance to hear stories that might otherwise remain unseen.

Community-powered

Momentum comes because finalists, colleagues, firms, sponsors, judges and voters all become part of the story.

Story-led

The focus stays on the person, purpose and contribution behind the professional title, not the marketing budget.

Video-based

Finalists submit a short, honest video so the profession can hear directly from the people doing the work.

A point of differenceNo smoke and mirrors.

These awards are built differently. The judges are known. The categories are clear. The finalist stories are shared. The same material the judges see is made visible to the community, including selected words from the application and the 60 second video. Just real people, real stories and a profession recognising its own.

Known judges
Respected names from the family law community
Clear categories
No vague areas of law you do not practise in
Public stories
Finalist videos shared, not hidden in files
Open process
The community gets to see, hear and vote
Award categories

Recognition across the whole of family law.

Fifteen awards recognising the breadth of family law practice. Nominate yourself, a colleague, a mentor or a firm whose work deserves to be seen.

01

Excellence Award

Recognising sustained excellence in family law practice.

02

Purpose Award

Celebrating practitioners driven by a deep sense of purpose.

03

Rising Star Award

Recognising emerging leaders shaping the future of family law.

04

Client Care Award

Celebrating exceptional, thoughtful and client-centred practice.

05

Mentor of the Year Award

Recognising those who inspire, guide and develop others.

06

Mediator of the Year Award

Celebrating excellence in facilitating resolution through conversation.

07

Arbitrator of the Year Award

Recognising outstanding judgment, fairness and decision-making.

08

Innovation Award

Celebrating creative ideas transforming family law practice.

09

Legal Technology & AI Award

Recognising ethical and innovative use of technology and AI.

10

Diversity & Inclusion Award

Celebrating those advancing inclusion, representation and belonging.

11

Social Justice Award

Recognising commitment to access to justice and vulnerable communities.

12

Education & Knowledge Leadership Award

Celebrating those generously sharing knowledge to advance the profession.

13

Sole Practitioner of the Year

Recognising exceptional leadership, resilience and impact in sole practice.

14

Boutique Family Law Firm of the Year

Celebrating firms distinguished by excellence, culture and vision.

15

Leading Family Law Firm of the Year

Recognising firms delivering outstanding service, leadership and impact.

How to nominate

Simple to start. The story comes later.

Nominate first, then finalists are invited to submit a video. There is no video required at this first stage, just tell us whose contribution deserves to be recognised.

Choose a category

Pick the category that best fits the person, firm or contribution you have in mind.

Nominate

Nominate yourself, a colleague, a mentor, a firm, an expert, a mediator or another eligible contributor.

Complete the short form

Tell us who they are and why their work deserves to be seen. It takes a few minutes.

We review eligibility

After the closing date we check nominations and confirm details with nominees where needed.

Finalists submit a video

Finalists are invited to record a 60 second video answering one simple prompt in their own voice.

Stories shared, winners announced

Finalist stories are released, voting and judging take place, and winners are announced in Sydney.

Why nominate first? We keep the first stage deliberately simple so good people are not put off by a long process. The video is part of the finalist stage, not the nomination. A nomination is an act of recognition, not an administrative task.
The finalist video

"Your video is not an advertisement. It is a conversation."

We are not looking for perfect lighting, expensive editing or a polished marketing reel. We are looking for a genuine story. Finalists explain who they are, why the work matters to them and what they are trying to contribute to family law.

  • 60 seconds Recommended length, subject to final confirmation
  • Phone is fine Professional videography is not required
  • Your voice Answer one prompt, or have a colleague speak for you
  • In confidence No client names or identifying details without consent
From the 2025 awards

Meet the 2025 winners.

The same stories the judges saw, shared with the whole profession. Watch last year's winners speak in their own words, and hear the winning podcast interview.

Winner Sandra Soden, Safe Space Salons winner video
Innovation
Sandra Soden
Watch the video
Winner Nadine Udorovic and Nicole Evans winner video
Purpose
Nadine Udorovic & Nicole Evans
Watch the video
Winner Louise Craker winner video
Rising Star
Louise Craker
Watch the video
Winner Sharda Ramjas winner video
Social Justice
Sharda Ramjas
Watch the video
Winner Sarwa Abdelraheem winner video
Colleague
Sarwa Abdelraheem
Watch the video
Winner Geovanna Jamo winner video
Client Care
Geovanna Jamo
Watch the video
Winner Debra Parker winner video
Excellence Award
Debra Parker
Watch the video
Winner
Best Podcast Interview
Vincent Papaleo
Listen on Podbean
From the 2025 awards

Worthy finalists.

Every finalist earned their place. They did not all take home an award, but their work stood out and deserves to be seen. Here are the practitioners and firms recognised as 2025 finalists. Tap a name to view their profile.

Glenn Thompson OAMNewnhams Solicitors Graeme HearlAbbott Delaney Lawyers Jacqueline DawsonSexton Family Lawyers Sally NicholesNicholes Family Lawyers Alicia O’SullivanYork Family Law Specialists James SkinnerDorter Family Lawyers & Mediators Raween AlbaroukiVizzone Ruggero Twigg Lawyers Les StubbsHarris Freidman Lawyers Martina Thornton StorgatoMills Oakley Susana StakaBroun Abrahams Burreket Sandy NaiduMarsdens Law Group Lara MenonRafton Family Lawyers Antonella SandersonFamily Law Matters Samantha LewisLewis Family Lawyers Carolina SotoBlack Chambers Eva HuangMelrose Keys Lawyers Nora MichaelNora Michael Family Lawyers Andrew LanderLander Solicitors Maggie OrmanOrman Solicitors Ashley LovelockHarris Freidman Lawyers Stephanie AzziMyra Aris & Co Hayder ShkaraJustice Family Lawyers Erica Henson-HattonJustFund Jeremy BallJustFund Talya FaigenbaumNest Legal Darren Mort, OAMThe Wiltshire Chambers Daniel RodChamberlains Alexandra DuckettRafton Family Lawyers
Key dates

Working back from October.

Dates are indicative and will be confirmed alongside the event date and venue.

Now
Nominations open. Categories, rules and the sponsor pathway are live.
7 Aug 2026
Nominations close.
21 Aug 2026
Finalists announced.
Aug to early Sep
Finalist video submissions collected.
14 Sep 2026
Finalist stories released and voting opens.
9 Oct 2026
Voting closes, subject to the confirmed event date.
October 2026
Final judging and the awards celebration in Sydney.
The judging panel

Judged by people who know the work.

Known and respected members of the family law community. Finalists know who is assessing the work, and the community can see the stories being shared.

DD
David Dura SC
TP
Tijana Petkovic
LW
Lara Wentworth
KH
Katrene Halteh

The panel is shown as confirmed for 2026 and will be updated immediately if it changes before publication.

Sponsor Stories

A short written profile, a quote about why you're supporting the awards, and an optional 60 second video explaining why you're proud to stand behind the family law community.

Category alignment

Put your support behind the parts of family law that matter most to you, from client care and social justice to innovation, mentoring and legal technology.

Real presence, not a logo wall

Visibility through finalist stories, public voting and the Sydney event itself, woven into the conversation rather than sitting behind it.

Founding Circle status

If your organisation supported the awards in 2025, returning in 2026 carries a lasting acknowledgement of those who helped shape the beginning of the awards.

2025 Founding Circle

The organisations who backed us first.

Every one of these sponsors supported the Inside Family Law Awards in its very first year, before there was a track record to point to. That's what Founding Circle status recognises.

Patron Sponsor
The Relationspace logo
Gold Sponsor
LEAP logo
Silver Sponsors
Le Moigne logo InfoTrack logo
2025 Sponsors
Saba Valuations logo Kerswell Valuation logo Operations X logo OurFamilyWizard logo Portrait of Dixie Coulton Dixie CoultonFamily Law Chambers Periscope Investigations logo

Every 2025 sponsor above is warmly invited to carry Founding Circle status into 2026, at whichever level suits them this year.

If any of this speaks to you

We'd love to talk.

The full prospectus, partnership levels and category alignments are ready to send. We're happy to work through the options together and shape a partnership that suits, at whatever level feels right.

Read the sponsorship invitation
Nominate now

Nominate someone whose work deserves to be seen.

The first stage is short. Finalists are invited to submit a video later. Tell us whose contribution should be recognised.

Thank you for your nomination.

Your nomination has been received by the Inside Family Law Awards team. We will review nominations after the closing date and contact nominees or nominators if further information is needed.

Finalists will be invited to submit a short video as part of the next stage.

Any questions? Email hello@insidefamilylawawards.com.au