Daniel Keserovic

Profile

Daniel was called to the bar in 2022. Since then he has practised primarily in family law, having appeared at hearings at first instance and on appeal in both property and parenting disputes. In parenting matters he has appeared for parents, grandparents, and Independent Children’s Lawyers.

Prior to being called to the bar, Daniel commenced practice as a solicitor in 2015. As a solicitor he worked in a busy general litigation practice, predominately in family law but also in the areas of probate and estate disputes, commercial disputes, real property, and defending ADVO’s and summary criminal charges.

Since he was called to the bar Daniel has appeared in Sydney, Parramatta, Newcastle, Dubbo, Tamworth, and Canberra, and he accepts briefs in all locations, including regional and interstate registries.

Daniel accepts briefs to appear in all areas of family law, as well as contested Probate and Family Provision claims, and summary criminal or ADVO matters.

Christopher Othen SC

Profile

Chris Othen commenced practice as a solicitor in England in 1999. Chris migrated to Australia permanently in 2005 when he joined a leading Sydney family law firm. He was accredited as a specialist in family law by the Law Society of NSW shortly after that.

Chris was admitted to the Bar in 2011 and joined Waratah Chambers as a reader with Mr Peter Campton SC and Mr John Levy.

Chris was appointed Senior Counsel in 2024.

Chris has built a reputation as specialist junior Counsel in family law. He has been recognised in Doyles Guide as one of the preeminent Family Law Junior Counsel within Australia.

His practice is predominantly in appearances as advocate, and in the preparation of legal submissions and written and oral opinions.

Chris is an experienced and highly regarded arbitrator of family law property disputes, and has conducted numerous mediations of property and parenting matters. He is accredited as both mediator and arbitrator by the Australian Institute of Family Law Arbitrators and Mediators.

He is experienced in the following areas:

Appellate work at the Full Court of the Family Court of Australia;
Property adjustment and maintenance proceedings under the Family Law Act;
Claims by or against third parties including in equity, bankruptcy and debt in family law proceedings;
Proceedings to set aside or enforce Financial Agreements;
De facto relationship disputes, including declarations about the existence and/or length of de facto relationships;
Complex parenting cases including those involving allegations of sexual abuse, parental neglect, and relocation;
Family law practice and procedure;
Child Support including child support reviews and appeals;
Real property disputes and caveats
Family provision claims and contested will disputes under the Succession Act (NSW) 2006

Chris presents papers to professional associations in Sydney and in regional cities and towns, and he is one of the authors of CCH’s Master Family Law Guide.

Chris Othen prefers to receive electronic briefs wherever possible, which will not be printed. He accepts them via any service his instructing solicitors like to use including Dropbox and LawConnect. Please contact his clerk for more details if required.

Matthew Wong

Profile

Matthew was called to the Bar in 2004 and is a foundation member of Waratah Chambers.

In addition to being a barrister, Matthew is an accredited Family Law Mediator (AIFLAM) and an accredited Family Law Arbitrator (AIFLAM).

Matthew’s practice sees him retained nationwide in a wide variety of matters, including but not limited to complex matrimonial disputes. He is renowned for his methodical and strategic approach to litigation. In that regard, Matthew has been successively recognised by the “Doyle’s Guide to Australian Legal Practitioners” as “leading” in this field of his primary endeavour.

Prior to being called to the Bar, Matthew was employed in various in-house roles within the Office of the C.E.O. of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. Subsequent to the Bank, Matthew accepted an invitation extended by former colleagues to be appointed the company secretary and external counsel to an international but Australian based currency brokerage and market advisory firm.

Matthew continues to be retained by financial institutions and government authorities, both for advice and to appear on their behalf. As such, Matthew has longstanding and broad experience in legal, corporate and commercial concerns. Matthew thus has experience in matters involving bankruptcy, insolvency, guardianship and commercial disputes.
In the Family Law context, Matthew’s experience is of particular utility given the increasingly complex interactions with corporations, trusts, income, taxation, capital and debt. This, combined with his extensive trial experience, uniquely places Matthew to advise your client. Matthew also appears on behalf of litigation guardians, where the litigant is incapacitated. Further, he appears on behalf of estates.

Matthew also practises in the area of succession, having advised and appeared in the Supreme Court of New South Wales both as to disputes regarding the provenance of wills and family provision.

It is noted that Matthew is also widely recognised and retained in parenting matters. Over the course of his career he has appeared in countless trials and interim hearings involving the welfare and parenting of children. He has variously represented parents, grandparents and children (as counsel for the Independent Children’s Lawyer). Further, he has cross-examined almost all of the regularly appointed Court experts in the field of Child and Family psychiatry. Matthew adopts a strategic approach to parenting matters, such that the best interests of children can be identified and advocated for.

Stephen Gardiner

Profile

Mr Gardiner was called to the Bar in 2003. Since then he has developed an extensive practice in family law and related areas. He regularly conducts property matters in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia. His experience includes acting in proceedings for adjustment of interests in property for high wealth individuals. He has acted in matters concerning disputed disclosure and contested valuations and cases involving financial disputes between de facto and marital couples.

Mr Gardiner has also developed considerable experience in parenting and child welfare matters. He has appeared for parents, family members, carers, as counsel for independent representatives and for the state of NSW. He has extensive experience at both trial and appellate levels. Mr Gardiner has appeared in complex and urgent cases in the Supreme Court when it has invoked its parens patriae jurisdiction.

While Mr Gardiner’s primary area of practice is family law, he also practices in administrative and commercial law. He represents clients at mediations, informal settlement conferences, in courts and tribunals (both State and Federal) and on country circuits.

Before coming to the Bar, Mr Gardiner obtained degrees in Arts and Law at the Australian National University. He then worked for a Supreme Court Justice for a year then practiced at a national law firm for five years conducting litigation.

Mr Gardiner is a member of the NSW Bar Association and the Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia.

David Dura SC

Profile

David Dura is a barrister at Waratah Chambers focusing predominantly in Family Law, including both parenting and property matters, following the breakdown of a marriage or de facto relationship.

David was admitted as a Solicitor in 1998 after completing the SAB whilst working as a Clerk in Family Law.

Following his admission as a Solicitor, David spent 4½ years practicing in a suburban Family Law firm before making the leap to join the Bar.

Admitted to the Bar in 2002, David first commenced practicing at Edmund Barton Chambers before joining Waratah Chambers as one its founding members in 2008.

David was appointed Senior Counsel in 2023.

David also has experience in ADVO matters and proceedings commenced under the Succession Act.

David was recently named by the Doyle’s Guide as one of the preeminent Family & Divorce Law Junior Counsel in Australia.

Peter Batey

Profile

Peter was called to the Bar in 1981. Since admission he has practiced predominantly in the area of family law, throughout NSW, interstate and overseas. He is a founding member of Waratah Chambers.

Peter’s experience is vast in all areas of Family Law from parenting to complex financial matters, and he is a revered member of the NSW Bar taking many Readers under his wing during his time in practice including several of the current members of Waratah Chambers.

Peter’s areas of practice include the Family Court, Federal Circuit Court, Full Court of the Family Court (Appeals) and CTTT Building and Engineering disputes.

Peter is a member of the Australian Institute of Family Law Arbitrators and Mediators and holds AIFLAM accreditation as both a mediator and arbitrator. He is also a member of the Family Law Section of The Law Council of Australia and Chairperson and founding member of the Family Court Observation Watch.

Peter was recently named by the Doyle’s Guide as one of the preeminent Family Law Junior Counsel in Australia.