Sam Pararajasingham became the first Sri Lankan-born barrister to be appointed Senior Counsel at Forbes Chambers in Australia in 2024, a milestone that not only reflects his individual excellence but also the evolving diversity and inclusivity in the Australian legal profession.
Sam’s accomplishments are deeply rooted in a family legacy defined by public service, education standards and professional excellence. His parents, Prabha Pararajasingham, a Chartered Accountant, and Aruntha Pararajasingham, a finance professional, instilled in him the values of discipline, integrity and service from an early age.
On his paternal side, his grandfather, E.S. Pararajasingham, served as a Senior Municipal Assessor and Valuer in Sri Lanka before migrating to Australia in 1989. His paternal grandmother, Swarnam Pararajasingham, a retired teacher, continues to be a symbol of resilience and wisdom at 103 years of age, residing in Sydney.
On his maternal side, his grandfather, Muthulingasamy, was a pioneering figure in Sri Lanka’s banking sector, playing a key role in shaping its development. His grandmother, Mrs. Muthulingasamy, was a devoted matriarch who raised four accomplished children with grace and strength. Continuing the family’s tradition of excellence in the legal field, Sam’s brother, Haren Pararajasingham, is also a barrister at NSW Chambers, specialising in employment, commercial and administrative law.
Since Sam’s admission to legal practice in 2009 and his call to the Bar in 2011, Pararajasingham has forged a distinguished career grounded in integrity, intellectual rigour and an unyielding commitment to justice. His practice encompasses complex criminal litigation, corporate and white-collar crime, foreign bribery, and public inquiries—earning him well-deserved national recognition.
In addition to his courtroom advocacy, Pararajasingham has made significant contributions to legal education. He has served as a Lecturer in Evidence Law at the University of Sydney and is the author of the widely used legal textbook Navigating Uniform Evidence Lawn.
In 2022, Sam attracted national attention for representing Sri Lankan international cricketer Danushka Gunathilaka in a high-profile suppression hearing involving media reporting restrictions.
Outside the legal realm, he brings the same dedication to the sport he loves. A former first-grade cricketer, he served on the Board of the Western Suburbs District Cricket Club, nurturing the next generation of talent in the NSW Premier Cricket Competition.
