Melbourne Services & Moving Here Law Firms

The 9 Best Law Firms in Melbourne (2026)

Updated November 2026 · 9 picks

The best law firms in Melbourne in 2026 include Arnold Bloch Leibler and Corrs Chambers Westgarth for major commercial work, Hall & Wilcox and Lander & Rogers for businesses and private clients, Forte Family Lawyers for separation and divorce, Moores for wills and estates, and Maurice Blackburn for personal injury claims.

How we chose

These are law firms, so this list is held to a higher bar than a restaurant round-up. Every firm here is an established, currently operating practice with a Melbourne office, its own website and a clear, stated focus. We mixed leading commercial firms with specialists that suit individuals, and described each from what it says it does. Nobody paid to be included and there are no affiliate links.

We do not rank lawyers by outcome or fee, and this page is not legal advice. Before you hire a Victorian lawyer, check they hold a current practising certificate on the register kept by the Victorian Legal Services Board + Commissioner, which also handles complaints. A "specialist" should be a Law Institute of Victoria Accredited Specialist. A first consultation is still the only way to know whether a firm fits your matter.

In Victoria most people deal with a solicitor, who advises you and briefs a barrister if the matter goes to court. Pick the firm by the type of matter: the big commercial firms are built for companies and wealthy families, while family law, wills and injury claims are often best handled by firms that do that work every day.

1. Arnold Bloch Leibler — CBD (Collins Street)

A Melbourne-founded independent firm with a formidable commercial, litigation and private client practice.

Specialty Corporate, litigation, tax, property, private clients and family businessBest for Companies, wealthy families, family businesses and investors

Arnold Bloch Leibler is an independent Australian firm founded in Melbourne, with offices in Melbourne and Sydney. It is known for high-stakes commercial litigation, corporate and M&A, tax and property work, and for advising wealthy families and family businesses.

It suits businesses and families with significant, complex matters who want partner-led attention from a firm outside the global networks.

Good to know: Family business succession is a stated strength — ask for the private client team.

Level 21, 333 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000

Google Maps Website

2. Corrs Chambers Westgarth — CBD (Collins Street)

One of Australia's leading independent law firms, with a large Melbourne office.

Specialty Corporate, disputes, construction, property, workplace, competitionBest for Large companies, government and investors

Corrs Chambers Westgarth is one of Australia's top-tier independent law firms, with its Melbourne office at 120 Collins Street. It covers major transactions, disputes and class actions, construction and infrastructure, real estate, employment and competition law.

It is a firm for large organisations and major projects rather than personal legal problems.

Good to know: Overseas companies: as an independent firm it works with foreign firms of your choosing on cross-border deals.

Level 41, 120 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000

Google Maps Website

3. Hall & Wilcox — CBD (Collins Street)

An independent national firm serving businesses and private clients.

Specialty Corporate, property, tax, workplace, disputes, private clientsBest for Mid-sized businesses, entrepreneurs, families and not-for-profits

Hall & Wilcox is an independent national law firm with its Melbourne office in the Queen & Collins Tower. It works across corporate and commercial law, property, tax, workplace relations and disputes, and has a private client practice for business owners and families.

It suits mid-sized businesses and their owners who want a full-service firm with a less formal style than the very largest practices.

Good to know: Enter its building via 100 Queen Street, not Collins Street.

Level 31, Queen & Collins Tower, 376-390 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000

Google Maps Website

4. Lander & Rogers — CBD (Collins Street)

An independent firm with large family law and workplace practices.

Specialty Family law, workplace relations, insurance, commercial, property, disputesBest for Separating couples, employers, insurers and businesses

Lander & Rogers is an independent Australian law firm with its Melbourne office in the Olderfleet building on Collins Street. Alongside commercial, insurance and workplace work, it has one of the larger family law practices in Australia, handling separation, property and parenting matters.

It suits separating couples with significant assets who want a full-service firm, and businesses with employment or insurance matters.

Good to know: For separation matters, ask about its family law team's mediation and collaborative options.

Level 15 Olderfleet, 477 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000

Google Maps Website

5. Forte Family Lawyers — CBD (Bourke Street)

A specialist family law firm with several Accredited Family Law Specialists among its partners.

Specialty Family law: divorce, property, parenting, financial agreementsBest for Separating couples and parents

Forte Family Lawyers is a specialist family law firm on Bourke Street. Several of its partners, including Jacky Campbell and Wendy Kayler-Thomson, are Accredited Specialists in Family Law, and it also acts in bankruptcy matters that overlap with separation.

A specialist firm is usually the right choice for a separation: it knows the Federal Circuit and Family Court's procedures and realistic outcomes.

Good to know: Ask for a fee estimate at the first appointment — family matters are usually billed on time.

Level 15, 600 Bourke Street, Melbourne VIC 3000

Google Maps Website

6. Moores — Hawthorn

A values-driven Hawthorn firm for wills, estates and not-for-profits.

Specialty Wills and estate planning, estate disputes, family law, not-for-profit and charity lawBest for Individuals, families, charities and community organisations

Moores is a Hawthorn law firm whose private client work covers wills and estate planning, deceased estates, estate and trust disputes, elder financial abuse, family law and residential property. It also advises charities, schools, aged care and faith-based organisations.

It suits families planning their estates — including those with vulnerable beneficiaries — and not-for-profits that want a firm that knows the sector.

Good to know: Ask about its work on vulnerable beneficiaries if you are planning for a family member with a disability.

Level 1, 5 Burwood Road, Hawthorn VIC 3122

Google Maps Website

7. Maurice Blackburn — CBD (La Trobe Street)

Australia's best-known plaintiff firm, founded in Melbourne, for injury claims and class actions.

Specialty Personal injury, workers' compensation, superannuation claims, class actions, employmentBest for Injured people, employees and class action members

Maurice Blackburn began in Melbourne and is now a national plaintiff firm, with its Melbourne office on La Trobe Street and others across Victoria. It handles road accident, work injury, medical negligence, superannuation and insurance claims, and runs many of Australia's largest class actions.

It suits individuals with an injury or employment claim, offering a free first assessment and running many claims on a no-win, no-fee basis.

Good to know: Its suburban and regional offices (Dandenong, Frankston, Geelong and more) save a trip into the city.

Level 21, 380 La Trobe Street, Melbourne VIC 3000

Google Maps Website

8. Mills Oakley — CBD (Collins Street)

A national firm with strong property, planning and commercial practices.

Specialty Property and development, planning, commercial, insurance, workplaceBest for Developers, businesses, insurers and private clients

Mills Oakley is a national law firm with its Melbourne office on Collins Street, known for property, development and planning work alongside commercial, insurance and workplace law.

It suits developers, investors and businesses who want a full-service firm at mid-tier rates.

Good to know: Ask about fixed fees for defined work such as a lease review.

Level 6, 530 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000

Google Maps Website

9. Holding Redlich — CBD (Bourke Street)

A national commercial and government firm with deep construction and workplace practices.

Specialty Commercial, government, construction, planning, property, workplace relationsBest for Businesses, government agencies, developers and not-for-profits

Holding Redlich is a commercial and government law firm with its Melbourne office on Bourke Street. It is known for construction and infrastructure, planning, property, and workplace relations and safety.

It suits mid-sized businesses, developers and public bodies that want partner attention without the scale of the largest firms.

Good to know: Its published updates on construction and planning law are a quick way to gauge its expertise.

Level 23, 500 Bourke Street, Melbourne VIC 3000

Google Maps Website

Frequently asked questions

How much does a lawyer cost in Melbourne?

Hourly rates range from a few hundred dollars for junior lawyers at smaller firms to far more for senior partners at major firms. Many firms quote fixed fees for wills, conveyancing and simple agreements, and injury firms often act on a no-win, no-fee basis. Victorian lawyers must give you a written costs disclosure if fees are likely to exceed $750.

Do I need a lawyer or a conveyancer to buy property in Victoria?

Either a licensed conveyancer or a lawyer can handle the transfer: reviewing the contract and Section 32 vendor statement, running searches and settling with your lender. A lawyer is worth it if the contract needs negotiating, there are building or title issues, or you are buying through a company or trust.

How do I check a lawyer is qualified in Victoria?

Search the Victorian Legal Services Board + Commissioner's register of lawyers to confirm a current practising certificate. For a specialist claim, check the Law Institute of Victoria's list of Accredited Specialists. Complaints about Victorian lawyers also go to the Board + Commissioner.

How does divorce work in Australia?

Divorce is no-fault and handled federally: you apply to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia after 12 months' separation. Property settlement and parenting arrangements are separate, and property claims generally must be made within 12 months of the divorce. Specialist family firms such as Forte, and the family teams at Lander & Rogers, handle both.

Where do I get help with a will or estate in Melbourne?

Most firms prepare wills, but estate planning for blended families, family businesses or trusts is specialist work. Moores and Arnold Bloch Leibler both have strong private client practices; for disputes over a will, look for lawyers who handle estate litigation regularly.

1. Arnold Bloch Leibler — CBD (Collins Street)

2. Corrs Chambers Westgarth — CBD (Collins Street)

3. Hall & Wilcox — CBD (Collins Street)

4. Lander & Rogers — CBD (Collins Street)

5. Forte Family Lawyers — CBD (Bourke Street)

6. Moores — Hawthorn

7. Maurice Blackburn — CBD (La Trobe Street)

8. Mills Oakley — CBD (Collins Street)

9. Holding Redlich — CBD (Bourke Street)

Frequently asked questions

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