L-R: Julie Dobinson, Alison Osmand and Di Simpson from DDCS Lawyers. Photo: Supplied.
Searching for a lawyer is a delicate process because legal matters are often especially personal. You want to know that the law firm and lawyer you choose will take the time to understand your situation, and has the expertise to help you. For an individual or someone with a small business, that’s not necessarily an easy task given the complexities of specialist practise.
This was the core idea behind “The Doyle’s Guide”, an annual ranking site that uses an entirely objective process to review lawyers and law firms nationally and internationally. The rankings are separated by state or territory and are determined by a review process that includes in-depth surveys of peers and other industry professionals.
Doyle’s Guide releases rankings for different categories every few months, listing the best lawyers, law firms, mediators, and barristers in the ACT for multiple categories including family and divorce law, wills estates and succession planning, property and real estate matters, criminal law, and injury and compensation among others.
The strength of the process lies in the peer review mechanisms. Each category includes market leaders or pre-eminent practitioners: Alfonso del Rio at Clayton Utz was listed earlier this year for property and real estate law for example, while for commercial litigation you might look at Dan Kynaston at King & Wood Mallesons on recent results.
Firms can be recommended across multiple categories, but the intention is to match clients with a practise that meets their specific needs, rather than relying on the same firm you’ve always used which may not have the necessary skill-set for a particular matter.
This month, Doyle’s released their family-related law rankings for the ACT and nationally, looking at how family law firms rate overall, and with rankings for individual practitioners. The guide also identifies family law barristers and mediators in its comprehensive assessment of expertise and ability in the field.
Di Simpson, Partner at DDCS Lawyers, was named the overall Market Leader in the family and divorce lawyer category in the ACT. She says the firm has been part of the Doyle’s Guide assessment process for seven years and is proud of their consistently high rankings.
“The guide is intended for consumers, to help them determine who to call to ensure they are in safe hands,” says Di. “It’s peer-assessed, so lawyers and law firms are rated by other lawyers in the community, and this year also included input from accountants and interstate legal practitioners.
“This is the second year in a row that we’ve been recognised as a first-tier firm, and it is very reassuring that our colleagues regard us so highly. It’s also an endorsement that what we do – the care we take for our clients and the hard work we put in to be good lawyers – is understood and respected both in Canberra and nationally.”
All of the family law partners at DDCS Lawyers achieved rankings across multiple categories – Lois Clifford (Pre-eminent), Julie Dobinson and Alison Osmand (Leading) and Phil Davey (Recommended). In parenting, custody and children’s matters, Alison Osmand, Di Simpson and Lois Clifford are again recognised and Julie Dobinson is also recognised as a recommended family law mediator.
Di Simpson nominates with particular pride the recognition for Emily Tighe, who was named in the Family Law Rising Star category.
“Emily recently made Senior Associate, and her inclusion in Doyle’s Guide is a wonderful recognition of her great skills and how well she’s regarded in the community. She’s a delightful practitioner.
“Our ability to receive this recognition depends on the support we give each other. The nomination and recognition of the family lawyers that were named in the Guide is only possible because of the support from the whole team.
“It’s a recognition of the achievement, effort and high standards of everyone here at DDCS.”
To chat with a lawyer from DDCS Lawyers about family law, wills and estates or business succession, call them on (02) 6212 7600.
To see the full rankings, visit Doyle’s Guide.
Original Article published by Rachel Ziv on The RiotACT.
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These people are not nice lawyers. They play the game of being kind and helpful but will leave you high and dry if you question their fees. Julie Dobinson is exceptionally aggressive regarding fees. They will charge you happily for your misery and disappointments. In my opinion – Leave them alone and never contact them again.