History

5 Wentworth is a leading set of barristers chambers in Sydney. It is known for its collegiality and the range and depth of its members’ practices.

It was founded by Sir Garfield Barwick in 1932, and is the longest established chambers in Sydney.

Today, 5 Wentworth has particular strength in banking and finance, commercial, corporations, defamation, employment, intellectual property, media, public and securities law.

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Senior Counsel

29

Junior Counsel

5 Wentworth has its origins in Fifth Floor Chalfont Chambers. Established in 1932, led by Sir Garfield Barwick and Sir Cyril Walsh, and clerked by Edgar Marks, the chambers was a close-knit group of barristers that became an institution on Phillip Street.

It was Sir Garfield who promoted the foundation of Wentworth and Selborne Chambers as a permanent home for the New South Wales Bar. When he and his colleagues moved to the fifth floor of Wentworth Chambers in 1957, they were the first group of barristers to do so.

Since then, many of 5 Wentworth’s members have been appointed to judicial and executive office.

Today, 5 Wentworth maintains the same traditions of collegiality and excellence as when it was formed more than 90 years ago.

Alumni

High Court of Australia

Sir Garfield Barwick AK GCMG QC

Sir Cyril Walsh PC KBE

Federal Court of Australia

The Hon Justice Stephen Burley

The Hon Annabelle Bennett AC SC

The Hon Michael L Foster

The Hon Douglas McGregor

The Hon Justice Elizabeth Raper

The Hon Ronald Sackville KC

Family Court of Australia

The Hon Justice John Cohen

The Hon Justice Stephen O’Ryan

The Hon Justice Margaret Cleary

The Hon Justice Peter Moss

Commonwealth Solicitor-General

David Bennett AC KC

NSW Court of Appeal

The Hon Justice Anthony Whealy

The Hon Justice Michael L Foster

The Hon Ronald Sackville

NSW Supreme Court

The Hon Justice Peter Johnson

The Hon Justice Michael W Campbell

The Hon Justice Michael M Helsham

The Hon Justice Hugh Maguire KC
(ACT Supreme Court and the Federal Court)

NSW Industrial Relations Commission

The Honourable Justice D Chin (Vice President)

Dust Diseases Tribunal

The Hon Judge John O’Meally (President)

NSW Director of Public Prosecutions

Lloyd Babb SC

NSW District Court

His Honour Judge Richard Cogswell SC

Judge Brian Knox SC

Judge Alistair Cameron Smith

Judge William H Knight

Other Appointments include:

John McCarthy KC appointed as the Australian Ambassador to the Holy See 2012 to 2016.