Who are the leading family lawyers in Sydney for 2025?

Being a lawyer is something Katrina always aspired to be. She enjoyed complex problem solving from a very young age, and found that pursuing a career in law gave her endless opportunities to explore different issues and engage in endless learning, while simultaneously helping the community and the legal system.

Katrina’s interest in law first started in high school, where she completed Legal Studies for my HSC. Katrina had an inspiring teacher who always put me to the challenge of justifying my views and answers to legal problems or questions.

In 2012, Katrina commenced her undergraduate Bachelor of Law Degree with Honours at University of Technology Sydney, where she was further inspired by her lecturers and peers to contribute to the legal profession. Some of the lecturers who taught Katrina in university are Counsel she briefs today, and some have become Judges who she appears before.

Upon completing her law degree with Honours, Katrina commenced practical legal training in a boutique criminal defence law firm in the Sydney CBD. As a full time paralegal, Katrina was tasked with not only a support role for the lawyers and principal, but also appearing at Court mentions and assisting Counsel in trials and appeals. Katrina then transitioned into a support role for a renowned barrister at Forbes Chambers who taught her valuable skills to analyse briefs of evidence, draft submissions, prepare for cross-examination of witnesses, and negotiating with the Crown.

Following her role as a barrister’s assistant, Katrina was admitted as a solicitor in the Supreme Court of NSW on 27 May 2016 and commenced a full time role as a lawyer with a general practice law firm. While working at this firm, Katrina’s former principal entrusted her with several ticking time bombs of family law cases, which meant she was tasked with learning family law at a fast pace. Katrina remained with this firm for four years and primarily practised in family law, criminal defence law and care and protection law. Katrina was regularly appearing at various Courts and representing clients in mediations throughout this time.

In May 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 Pandemic, Katrina decided to open her own law firm, KF Lawyers Australia. Given the uncertainty in the economy, she was worried her firm would not flourish and the business would fail, but luckily that was not the case. With the support of many colleagues, family, friends and clients, Katrina’s firm has continued to grow since it was opened.

Katrina is admitted to practise as an Australian Lawyer in the Supreme Court of NSW and in the High Court of Australia. As such, Katrina appears in both State and Commonwealth Courts throughout Australia to represent clients. Katrina is a member of the Law Society of NSW and also a Committee Member of the Defence Lawyers NSW association. She is a Nationally Accredited Mediator, and completed her studies to become an accredited Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner.

Katrina has assisted several clients charged with complex criminal offences, some of which had simultaneous or forthcoming Family Court proceedings for parenting and property disputes. She has represented clients in drug-related matters, domestic violence-related matters, taxation offences, proceeds of crime, traffic matters, fraud, robberies, sexual and indecent assaults, murders and manslaughter, and firearms offences, amongst other matters. Katrina also appears in the Court of Criminal Appeal in NSW for defence appeals and defending clients in Crown appeals.

Katrina equally spends time in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia for family law disputes through various States and Territories in Australia. She has appeared for parties involved in litigation between States, blended families, and complex asset pools. Katrina is also involved in complex international family law parenting and financial disputes including Texas, Hawaii, New York, Dubai, the Philippines, China, Lebanon, Italy and Brazil.

Being an experienced advocate in litigation, Katrina appreciates the value of collaboration and mediation to try resolve disputes in a just and efficient manner. With a view to seeking to achieve the best possible outcome in as little time as possible, Katrina is quick to identify areas of dispute and develop a strategy that assists clients in achieving the best possible outcome.

Katrina has been a finalist in the Lawyers Weekly Partner of the Year Awards for 2021, 2022 and 2023 in both criminal and family law categories, the Lawyers Weekly 30 Under 30 Awards for 2021 and 2022 for both criminal and family law, the Lawyers Weekly Women in Law Awards 2021 and 2022 .

Mark Kryakos, has earned a reputation as a tenacious lawyer with a special interest in fierce advocacy and skilful negotiation. He is confident, charismatic and understanding, with a wealth of expertise in fighting for and achieving results in both general and complex matters.

Mark appears in Criminal and Family Law Courts around Australia on a daily basis, and regularly volunteers his time to causes which he is passionate about. He is a regular presenter at the SAVE Traffic Offenders Program and has also volunteered at the former Nepean Hawkesbury Family Law Service.

Christina Lam, the Principal Lawyer, is a Law Society Accredited Specialist. Christina was admitted as a lawyer in December 2009 after completing a Bachelor of Economics (Social Sciences) and Bachelor of Laws degree at the University of Sydney.

As a Solicitor/Advocate, Christina often conducts hearings on both an Interim and Final basis in the Federal Circuit Court and Family Court in Parramatta, Sydney, and Wollongong.

Since her admission, Christina has worked primarily in Family Law, both in private firms and at Legal Aid. This included successfully representing clients in the Family Court of Australia, the Federal Circuit Court of Australia, Local Courts, and the Supreme Court of New South Wales.

Christina has significant experience in a wide range of family law issues including but not limited to parenting matters, property matters, child support, divorce, financial settlements, and de-facto relationships.

Christina spent considerable time at the Legal Aid Commission of NSW where she found her passion assisting clients with complex parenting and child support matter surrounding family violence, relocation, paternity, child support assessments and arrears, and child support agreements.

Christina has been appointed on the Legal Aid Commission of NSW's Panel of Independent Children's Lawyer and regularly appointed to represent the best interests of children in parenting disputes.