The members of 6 St. James' Hall Chambers are pleased to welcome new member Tim D. Castle. Tim will join chambers from the end of the 2015 Law Term.
Comparative Constitutional Law - 2015 Roundup on today
High Court reinstates agreed penalty submissions in civil matters
Michael Rennie reports on today's High Court decision upholding the appeal from the Full Federal Court that applied the prohibition on sentencing submissions in criminal matters in Barbaro v R (2014) 253 CLR 58 to civil penalty regimes: see Commonwealth of Australia v Director, Fair Work Building Industry Inspectorate [2015] HCA 46.
Swearing-in ceremony for his Honour Judge Philip Dowdy
6 St. James' Hall's Philip Dowdy will be sworn-in as a judge of the Federal Circuit Court of Australia in Courtroom 13.1, Floor 13, 80 William Street, Sydney, at 1.00pm on Monday, 7 December 2015. Arthur Moses SC will speak on behalf of the New South Wales Bar.
2016 Constitutional Law Conference
6 St James' Hall's Louise Clegg will present at the 2016 G&T Centre's Constitutional Law Conference on the topic "ICAC v Cunneen: The Principle of Legality". Registrations are now open.
Jane Seymour appointed Chair of Stewards Inquiries Greyhound Racing NSW
6 St. James' Hall Chambers congratulates Jane Seymour on her appointment as Chair of Stewards Inquiries for Greyhound Racing NSW.
Director Tools: the Deed of Access, Indemnity & Insurance
Increased personal liability risks arising from modern corporate governance regimes have prompted renewed focus on director protection devices. Dominique Hogan-Doran SC examines best practice for directors.
Wrong Place, Wrong Time: Compensating Victims of Terror
Dr Stephen Tully's article "Wrong Place, Wrong Time: Compensating Victims of Terror" published in the October 2015 edition of the Law Society Journal is now available online.
Proportionality and Purposive Constitutional Powers
Dr Stephen Tully's article "Proportionality and Purposive Constitutional Powers" published in the November 2015 edition of the Law Society Journal is now available online.
Doyle's Guide Updates
Several 6 St James' Hall members have been named in recent editions of Doyle's Guide to the Australian Legal Profession.
6 St James Hall's Philip Dowdy Appointed to the Federal Circuit Court
6 St James' Hall is delighted to note today's announcement by the Commonwealth Attorney-General Sen. the Hon. George Brandis of our long-standing member Mr Philip Dowdy to the Federal Circuit Court of Australia, commencing in the Sydney registry on 7 December 2015.
The Court is an independent federal court under the Australian Constitution. It is a federal court of record and a court of law and equity.
Mr Dowdy graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1973 and a Bachelor of Laws in 1975 from the University of Sydney. He was admitted to practice as a barrister and solicitor in the Supreme Court of New South Wales in 1978. Mr Dowdy was an Articled Clerk for Clayton Utz from 1976 to 1978, prior to being called to the New South Wales bar in 1978. He has practiced at the Bar for over thirty years and his primary areas of practice are banking, equity and commercial law.
Congratulations Philip!
Dominique Hogan-Doran and Dr Christopher Ward appointed Senior Counsel
6 St James' Hall is delighted to announce that Dominique Hogan-Doran and Dr. Christopher Ward have both been appointed Senior Counsel this year. Congratulations to you both! 6 St James' Hall is now the only Barristers Chambers in Sydney with an equal number of female and male Senior Counsel.
Law Council Client Legal Privilege Update
6 St. James' Hall's Dr Stephen Tully and Alexandra Rose review recent cases concerning client legal privilege in the Chapter III Newsletter (Winter 2015) edition recently published by the Law Council of Australia's Federal Litigation and Dispute Resolution Section.
Dr James Stellios' new edition of Zines' The High Court and the Constitution
The members of 6 St James' Hall Chambers are delighted to congratulate Dr James Stellios on the publication of the 6th edition of Zines' The High Court and the Constitution, to be launched by Sir Anthony Mason AC KBE GBE on 4 August 2015.
Women Barristers Forum AGM – Michelle McMahon elected
On 4 June 2015, floor member Michelle McMahon, was elected co-Vice Chair of the Women Barristers Forum.
Congratulations Michelle!
A win for “Diesel” (and animal lovers) in NCAT
Our strata, property and animal law specialist, Amy Douglas-Baker, recently appeared in the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal for “Diesel” Thomas, a 4 year old Rhodesian Ridgeback. Ms Douglas-Baker was able to persuade the Tribunal that it was unreasonable to withhold permission for Diesel to live in a strata scheme on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. As a result of Ms Douglas-Baker’s advocacy, Diesel will be able to enjoy living in strata with his young family. Welcome home Diesel!
A copy of the decision is available online for download.
A summary of the decision is available here.
ABA pays tribute to lawyers who defended Chan & Sukumaran
From the New South Wales Bar Association's InBrief:
Australian Bar Association President Fiona McLeod SC today endorsed the remarks of Victorian Bar President Jim Peters QC and New South Wales Bar Association President Jane Needham SC in paying tribute to the team of Indonesian and Australian lawyers who had worked so tirelessly, pro bono, over many years to prevent the execution of Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran.
Dr. Christopher Ward was amongst those honoured for their efforts.
Significant amendments to Home Building Act 1989 (NSW) - A Deconstruction
Our building specialist counsel, Michelle McMahon's recent paper to the Salvos Legal Series - Women in the Law on significant amendments to the Home Building Act 1989 (NSW), is now available online for download.
Where the rubber hits the road
For a person to claim the benefit of equitable estoppel, what must they have been induced by the defendant to believe? Robert Angyal SC explores this important topic in the April 2015 issue of The Australian Law Journal.
The paper is available to read here.
Administrative Law: Role of Decision Maker as Contradictor in Judicial Review
Michael Rennie's paper on The Hardiman Principle: The role of Decision Maker as Contradictor in Judicial Review, delivered to the NSW State Legal Conference on 27 March 2015, is now online available for download.