We are pleased to announce that 22 Cowell Clarke lawyers have been recognised in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in Australia™ across 20 areas of law.
Richard McNeil has been recognised as the 2026 "Lawyer of the Year" for Leasing Law in Adelaide. Only a single lawyer in each practice area and designated metropolitan area is honoured with this award making this a significant accolade.
In addition to the "Lawyer of the Year" award, Richard McNeil was also listed in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in Australia™ in the following practice areas:
Commercial Law
Real Property Law
The Best Lawyers in Australia list is compiled from a comprehensive survey of Australia’s leading lawyers evaluating their professional peers and the awards are published in leading local, regional and national publications across the globe.
Cowell Clarke would like to congratulate the following lawyers named in the 2026 The Best Lawyers in Australia list:
Natalie Abela
Litigation
Richard Beissel
Banking and Finance Law, Equity Capital Markets Law, Investment Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Michael Bracken
Commercial Law and Insurance Law
Amanda Brady
Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution
Andrew Bullock
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Cassie Burfoot
Labour and Employment Law and Occupational Health and Safety Law
Kieren Chester
Commercia Law, Leasing Law and Real Property Law
Robert Comazzetto
Alternative Dispute Resolution, Insolvency and Reorganisation Law and Litigation
Julian Courtney-Stubbs
Telecommunications Law
Brett Cowell
Commercial Law, Corporate / Governance Practice, Corporate Law and Equity Capital Markets Law
Matthew Hawke
Construction / Infrastructure Law
Megan Jongebloed
Commercial Law and Franchise Law
Peter Leech
Insolvency and Reorganisation Law and Litigation
Digby Luckhurst-Smith
Litigation
Sam McGrath
Occupational Health and Safety Law
Richard McNeil
Commercial Law, Leasing Law and Real Property Law
Sam McNeil
Leasing Law and Real Property Law
Symoane Mercurio
Alternative Dispute Resolution, Insolvency and Reorganisation Law & Litigation
Joe Murphy
Labour and Employment Law and Occupational and Safety Law
Sam Richardson
Agricultural and Rural Affairs, Leasing Law and Real Property Law
Peter Slegers
Agriculture & Rural Affairs, Superannuation, Tax Law and Wealth Management / Succession Planning Practice
Jamie Watts
Commercial Law, Construction / Infrastructure Law, and Litigation
Cowell Clarke would also like to congratulate the following lawyers named in the 2026 The Best Lawyers in Australia – Ones to Watch list:
Maddie Donovan
Alternative Dispute Resolution, Insolvency and Reorganisation Law and Litigation
Thomas Hill
Corporate Law
Anna Young
Corporate Law
Media contact:
Georgina Murray
Head of Business Development & Marketing
gmurray@cowellclarke.com.au