Profile

Esther Lawson was admitted to the NSW Bar in 2005.

Esther is a trained nationally accredited mediator and is a member of the Australian Institute of Family Law Arbitrators and Mediators (AIFLAM). She accepts briefs to appear as a mediator in parenting and property matters.

As a barrister, the majority of Esther’s practice is in the areas of family law, care and protection law and adoption law.

Recognised in 2022 by her peers in the Doyle’s Guide as a ‘preeminent’ barrister in parenting and children’s matters and a ‘leading’ barrister in general family law matters.

Recognised in 2021 by her peers in the Doyle’s Guide as a ‘leading’ barrister in parenting and children’s matters as well as a ‘leading’ barrister in general family law matters.

Recognised in 2020 by her peers in the Doyle’s Guide as a ‘preeminent’ barrister in parenting and children’s matters.

Recognised in 2019 and 2020 by her peers in the Doyle’s Guide as a ‘leading’ family law barrister.

Recognised in 2016, 2017, and 2018 by her peers in the Doyle’s Guide as a ‘recommended’ family law barrister.

Esther has appeared in the Full Court of the Family Court, the Family Court of Australia, the NSW Court of Appeal, the NSW Supreme Court and the NSW District Court. Esther has appeared led in the High Court of Australia in the decision of Masson and Parsons (2019)

Esther has regularly appeared on circuit in country sittings of the Family Court, the Federal Circuit Court and the District Court.

Over the years, Esther has sat on committees such as the Family Law Committee of the NSW Bar, the Children’s Court Advisory Committee, the Expert Working Committee on ADR in Care and Protection Proceedings, the Professional Conduct Committee of the NSW Bar, the Australian Bar Association Family Law Committee, the Legal Aid Committee of the NSW Bar and the Legal Aid Review Committee

Esther has presented a number of papers and lectures to the legal profession. A sample of which can be found below:

• NSW Bar Association, Continuing Professional Development (CPD), Sydney,. ‘Mitigating and Managing Vicarious Trauma’: 2022
• Legalwise Seminars; Expert Evidence in Parenting Proceedings, a comparison; Family Law, Care and Protection Law and Adoption; 2019
• NSW Bar Association Reader’s Course: ‘An Introduction to Family Law’ 2019 (2 x per year)
• NSW Bar Association, Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Parramatta, ‘Expert Evidence in Parenting Proceedings, a comparison: Family Law, Care and Protection Law and Adoption’: 2015
• NSW Bar Association, Continuing Professional Development (CPD), Sydney, ‘Cultural Planning in Care and Protection Proceedings’: 2014
• Crown Solicitors Office Annual Conference ‘Decision of TVK and its implications in Adoption Proceedings’: 2013
• Joint author of ‘Care and Protection Chapter’, Lawyers Practice Manual NSW, Published by Thomsons: 2012
• NSW Bar Association Reader’s Course: ‘Overview of the Care and Protection Jurisdiction’: 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009 (2 x per year)
• Legal Aid NSW Care and Protection Annual Conference, Guest Presenter: ‘Practice Standards in Care and Protection Proceedings’: 2011
• Children’s Law Annual Conference, Guest Presenter: ‘Changes to Care and Protection Law’: 2009
• Legal Aid NSW Care and Protection Annual Conference, Guest Presenter: ‘Changes to Care and Protection Law’: 2009
• Brothers and Sisters In Law (BASIL) Annual Conference, Guest Presenter: ‘De facto Relationships’: 2009
• Northern Beaches Annual Conference, Guest Presenter: ‘Contravention Proceedings’: 2008

Notable cases in which Esther has appeared in include:

•  Masson and Parsons [2019]HCA 21 – concerning who is the parent in artificial insemination procedures
• Seto & Poon [2021] FamCA 288 (11 May 2021) – concerning commercial surrogacy
• Nadkarni & Nadkarni [20210 FamCAFC 160 (9 August 2011) – concerning the grounds for a judge to disqualify themselves
• SB v Parramatta Children’s Court [2007] NSWSC 1297 – concerning the denial of procedural fairness / natural justice and the grounds for making care orders in care and protection proceedings
• KF v Parramatta Children’s Court & Ors [2008] NSWSC 1131 – concerning the meaning of publication in care and protection proceedings