Stephen Rugendyke
Special Counsel
Stephen has over 40 years’ experience in Family Law. He practised as a solicitor for 30 years before going to the NSW bar in May 2013. Stephen practiced as a barrister until he joined Gillard Family Lawyers in June 2024.
Stephen is a well-respected solicitor and barrister with the legal fraternity in NSW and the Court. Stephen’s knowledge is of a great strategic advantage to our clients. Stephen also assists our director Michelle Gillard in developing and mentoring our solicitors.
Upon graduating from the University of Sydney and being admitted in 1982, Stephen commenced practice in Sydney CBD and over the next 30 years worked in Sydney suburbs, Armidale and Campbelltown and then back to Armidale, where he built a strong and broadly based specialist family law practice. He conducted cases in every state and territory in Australia and represented clients from Townsville to Hobart to Broome, as well as overseas.
Stephen relocated to Newcastle in 2008 and worked for a national firm and was then a family law team leader at a prominent local firm. In May 2013 Stephen joined Newcastle Chambers, where he very quickly developed a busy family law practice as a barrister covering all aspects of family law.
Stephen had many years advocacy experience before going to the bar. For the last 10-12 years prior to going to the bar, Steve was a solicitor-advocate conducting almost all of his own hearings before Local Court, Federal Magistrates Court (as it was), Family Court and Full Court. He was on the legal aid ICL panel for over 20 years. Stephen was a Law Society Accredited Specialist in Family Law prior to going to the bar.
