Jewish trio appointed as silks

The NSW Bar Association appointed 20 new Senior Counsel (silks) earlier this month – out of 104 applicants who had applied in 2026 – and three of them are Jewish.

Tamara Phillips, Zoe Hillman and Daniel Krochmalik were all successful, following the rigorous selection process.

During the appointment ceremony, held at the NSW Supreme Court, the new silks wore their robes made of black silk and full-bottomed wigs.

Women make up one in four of this year’s appointments, but two-thirds of the Jewish contingent.

Phillips – the granddaughter of the late philanthropist Millie Phillips – joined the Bar in 2013, and is most recently known for serving as a junior Counsel Assisting the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion.

Currently working at Sixth Floor Selborne Wentworth Chambers, she has been recognised in Doyle’s Guide in the areas of administrative and public law and taxation, by Legal 500 in the commercial disputes category, and by Chambers Asia & Pacific ‘Tax: The Bar’.

Hillman has practised law since 2013, was listed in Best Lawyers Australia for litigation, and was ranked by The Legal 500 as a leading junior (tier 1) of the Australian Bar in commercial disputes.

She received a Rising Star award in 2022 from The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific.

Currently working for Omnia Chambers, she is committed to fostering fairness, equity and diversity in the law.

Krochmalik was called to the Bar in 2013, and that year was awarded the Con Varnavas Award for the highest aggregate score in the NSW Bar Examinations.

He has a general commercial dispute practice, but specialises in corporations law and corporate insolvency and appears regularly in the Court of Appeal, Supreme Court and Federal Court.

Prior to becoming a barrister, Krochmalik was employed for five years as a litigation solicitor at Freehills, and also practised criminal law during that period for the Shopfront Youth Legal Centre – a pro bono legal service for homeless and disadvantaged young people.

He has also lectured in law at his alma mater, the University of NSW.

If the Jewish trio attend The Great Synagogue’s 2027 service to bless the start of the new legal year, they will be able to do so wearing black silk robes for the first time.

Senior Counsel status is awarded on the basis of integrity, independence, learning, skill, honesty, diligence and experience as a practising advocate.