About Us

About Maleys Barristers & Solicitors in Darwin

The Maleys Barristers & Solicitors Legal Team

As one of the Northern Territory's top criminal and family law firms, we have the resources that your case requires to achieve the optimal outcome.

Our team of dedicated criminal lawyers has the depth of skills and experience to meet the special needs of your defence, no matter what type of matter. We undertake work in all family, traffic, criminal, migration and conveyancing law matters.

Why Choose Maleys Barristers & Solicitors?

Your legal defence is too important to risk with just anyone. Expertise is easily claimed by marketing folks. But in the real world, the reputations of lawyers are hard-earned over many years in the courtroom.

Please take the time to read the profiles of our team of lawyers who are ready to defend your interests. Read on to learn about the team.

Peter Maley

Peter Maley has been practising criminal law in the Northern Territory for almost 20 years and has significant experience in dealing with serious crime, white-collar offences and traffic law.

Peter is a proud Territorian who grew up in Darwin’s rural area and has built a reputation in the community as a strong leader, an excellent communicator and resolute tactician.

Well-respected for his expertise and local knowledge, Peter has built an extensive client base across the Northern Territory from Alice Springs to Darwin and into Western Australian from Kununurra to Broome. His criminal defence practice now extends to Southeast Asia where his skills are growing in demand.

In his spare time, Peter spends time with his family following his passion for fishing, hunting and the great outdoors

Brooke Houen

Brooke graduated with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and a Bachelor of Business (with Distinction) from the Queensland University of Technology and then completed her Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice at the College of Law. She completed part of her degree at University College Dublin. Brooke moved to the Territory to take up a position with the Northern Territory Legal Aid Commission in Alice Springs before relocating to Darwin to assist with a complex criminal jury trial. She then worked briefly at the Domestic Violence Legal Service and had a brief period of practice with the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia in their Kununurra office, before returning to Darwin as Associate to The Honourable Justice Jenny Blokland in the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory.

Outside of the law, Brooke is an eager polocrosse player and enjoys exploring all the Territory has to offer.

Brooke is based at Maleys Barristers & Solicitors Darwin office as a General Practitioner, specialising in Criminal and Civil Law. Brooke regularly appears in the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory, the Darwin Local Court and the Youth Justice Court, as well as NTCAT. Brooke is available to travel to any Northern Territory court or interstate to assist with your legal matters.

Sephyr Cooper

Sephyr is a lawyer providing advice to individuals and businesses, in a variety of complex and sensitive matters. Sephyr is a long term Territorian and has developed a reputation for giving her client's well-considered and thorough advice.

Sephyr regularly appears in the Federal Circuit Court of Australia, Family Court of Australia, Supreme Court of the Northern Territory and the Darwin Local Court. Sephyr has worked on several interesting and unusual Territory cases and enjoys a varied practice. Sephyr has previously worked in private practice in the areas of commercial litigation, employment law and workers compensation, particularly acting for insurers in multi-faceted matters. Sephyr now continues to have a practice in commercial litigation as well as family law and estate matters.

Sephyr is an active member of her community and volunteers with not-for-profit Christian agency, the Gathering Inc, which provides food, accommodation and other emergency services to those in need in Darwin's rural area.

Sephyr Cooper

Natasha Clayton

Natasha is a proud lifelong Territorian, born in Katherine and raised in the rural areas she is a committed member of the local community.

Natasha completed her Law Degree here at Charles Darwin University and then completed her Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice at the College of Law.

Natasha practices as a General Practitioner, specialising in Commercial and Family Law. Natasha appears in the Federal Circuit Court of Australia, Family Court of Australia, Supreme Court of the Northern Territory, Darwin Local Court and the Youth Justice Court.

Natasha enjoys travelling and spends her weekends playing polocrosse or AFL, chasing the elusive million-dollar barra or volunteering her time as a Pony Club coach.