Appointment to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 1)

I am pleased to announce that Mr Michael Berry SC has been appointed as a judge of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (FCFC) (Division 1) as a result of his appointment as a judge of the Family Court of Western Australia (FCWA) on 7 June 2022.

Since FCWA commenced in 1976 there has been an increase in the volume and complexity of cases before the court, just as there has across the Family Court nationwide.

Mr Berry's appointment fills a new position created in the FCWA and funded by the Commonwealth to allow more cases to be reviewed and finalised each year ensuring Australian families can resolve disputes in a timely, effective and efficient manner.

Mr Berry was admitted as a legal practitioner in the Supreme Court of Western Australia in 1996. He was called to the Bar in 2005 and appointed Senior Counsel in 2014.

The FCWA is unique in Australia, in being the only state Family Court to be created under the Commonwealth Family Law Act, though it deals with the same issues as the Commonwealth Family Court.

On behalf of the Australian Government, I congratulate Mr Berry on his appointment and thank him for his willingness to serve the people of Australia as a Judge of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 1) and the FCWA.

Mr Michael Berry SC

Mr Berry graduated from the University of Western Australia with a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in 1992 and a Bachelor of Laws in 1995.

Mr Berry commenced his career as a solicitor at Ilbery Barblett. From 1998 to 2005, he worked as a solicitor at Kim Wilson & Co. Since 2005, he has practised as a barrister at John Toohey Chambers, specialising in family law matters.

Mr Berry is an accredited family law specialist in aspects of family law matters, including at the trial and appellate level. He was recently appointed as the Deputy Chair of the WA Legal Profession Complaints Committee.