Best Law Firms in Australia

Welcome to the third edition of Best Law Firms - Australia. We rank firms' excellence by local region, practice and country. The geography may vary, but our research process has been vetted and endorsed for almost two decades by the industry.

About the 2027 Edition

Our awards spotlight 600 firms for professional excellence by practice area and jurisdiction. Search Australia’s best law firms today to find an organization to assist you with specific legal needs. The Best Law Firms – Australia awards, announced on May 28, 2026, rank only the very best – 3% of firms in the market are awarded for professional excellence. This makes our awards the most exclusive and prestigious in the country. We have been recognizing top individual lawyers in Australia for almost 20 years. Additionally, we have been awarding firms in the US for 17 years. Through the combination of experience in market with an established research process for firm awards, we are excited to present our third Best Law Firms awards in Australia. Clients use these rankings in their search for firms to meet their specific needs.

Highlights

Our research process begins by analyzing firms by practice area in their geographic locations against local competitors. For Australia, we researched 82 practice areas and 7 geographic jurisdictions: Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney and Tasmania. Through our localized research, we awarded 4,787 regional rankings.

After determining our regional awards, we evaluated firms with a national presence in 25 national practice areas. Of the eligible firms, 135 in Australia are also highlighted for their national coverage, servicing clients in multiple locations. Additionally, we have chosen the winners for our “Law Firm of the Year” designations. These awards recognize one exceptional firm for their professional excellence amongst all others in a specific practice area. Fifteen firms in 20 national practice areas have received this pinnacle of honors.

"I appreciate the work Best Lawyers and Best Law Firms do in recognising high-quality practitioners. As a family law client, it’s very hard to know who to trust when you’re in crisis, and independent rankings backed by client feedback are extremely valuable."
Josh Rumble - Client

Practice Areas

"If I need a lawyer, Best Lawyers is always my starting place. They are reliable and trustworthy."
Luana Melis - General Counsel, Time & Place

Research Methodology

Relying on the industry-vetted Best Law Firms research methodology, established in 2009 and refined over 17 years, we analyzed the feedback of clients, lawyers and firm leaders, along with firmographic details supplied by the firms themselves. Firms are eligible for Best Law Firms consideration after receiving individual professional recognition in The Best Lawyers in Australia. The full details on our research process are available in our Methodology section.

For the third year, we received staggering participation from firms, clients and lawyers in our research process.

Australia Infographic

Legal News from Australia

A Note from Research

With the release of the third edition of Best Law Firms – Australia, we continue to strengthen a trusted benchmark for legal excellence across the region. What began as an ambitious expansion has quickly evolved into a data-driven view of Australia’s top-performing firms.

Engagement from the Australian legal community has continued to grow, with strong participation from clients, lawyers and firm leadership reinforcing the relevance of these rankings

This year’s research provides a more refined perspective on the market, highlighting not only legal expertise but also the increasing importance of client service, innovation and adaptability. As the rankings mature, they serve as a meaningful resource for both clients and firms navigating the Australian legal landscape.

Headshot of Elizabeth Petit
Elizabeth Petit
Senior Vice President of Research and Product Strategy
"I use Best Lawyers to assist me to find a law firm or lawyer with the expertise I am seeking to help me with my work. I have had great success finding lawyers from using this site."
Peter Koutsoukos - Bridgestone Australia Ltd Group Legal Counsel and Company Secretary (BSANZ)

Upcoming Research

We will begin researching for our fourth edition Best Law Firms – Australia awards later this year. Our global research timelines are available online. To receive a research submission packet, contact us at bestlawfirms@bestlawyers.com.

Headshot of Valerie Smith
Valerie Smith
Senior Manager, Best Law Firms Research