James Steel

James Steel is a principal in our Family Law team and is based in the Brisbane office. He is a Queensland Law Society Accredited Family Law Specialist, and a nationally accredited mediator.

As a collaboratively trained family lawyer, James is passionate about working with both married and de facto couples to help them shape the outcome of their separation. His experience includes handling complex financial cases involving corporate entities and trusts, drafting financial agreements (including prenuptial agreements), resolving parenting disputes, and addressing spouse maintenance and child support issues.

‘One of my greatest strengths is my ability to actively listen to clients and provide personalised legal advice. My approach is to offer practical guidance and work collaboratively with clients to develop tailored strategies that address their specific needs and help them move forward. Whenever possible, I advocate for early, favourable settlements to minimise stress and achieve the best possible outcomes.

With a focus on communication and cooperation, my goal is for clients to feel informed and confident at the end of each meeting. By providing clear guidance and a well-designed plan, I help alleviate the stress often associated with family law matters and ensure clients understand the next steps in their case.’

James has a deep understanding of family law and enjoys a strong professional reputation and is widely respected by his peers for his technical skills and knowledge. James is recognised by Doyle's Guide as one of the Leading Family & Divorce Lawyers in Australia 2025. He has been recognised in the 2016 to 2025 editions of Doyle's Guide as a Preeminent and Leading Family and Divorce Lawyer in Queensland and a Leading Family Lawyer for high-value and complex property matters in Queensland in 2021 to 2025. James is also listed in 2022 to 2025 editions of Doyle's Guide as a Recommended Parenting & Children's Matters Lawyer in Queensland. James has also been listed in Best Lawyers for Family Law since 2018.

James is a dedicated advocate for advancing family law education and has played a key role in creating and implementing innovative and challenging programs at the state and national levels. He is a long-standing member of the Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia. After completing his collaborative law training, James became a member of the Australian Association of Collaborative Professionals. He is a former Chair of the Queensland Family Law Specialist Accreditation Committee, and a Past President of the Queensland Family Law Practitioners Association (FLPA), having served as Vice President from 2016, and Secretary from 2012.

‘At Barry Nilsson, our Family Law team sets itself apart by offering personalised legal services. We believe that effective legal representation goes beyond knowing the law; it requires innovative thinking. Our team is trained to approach each case with a unique perspective, ensuring our clients receive the highest quality advice and representation.’

‘Very professional and pleasant to work with’ – Client Feedback, 2024