InBrief

Members are invited to attend a ceremonial sitting to farewell his Honour Judge David Dunkley as a judge of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2).

The ceremonial sitting will be held on Thursday, 25 June 2026 at 4:30pm in Courtroom 12, Level 3, Garfield Barwick Commonwealth Law Courts Building, 1-3 George Street, Parramatta.

Light refreshments will follow.

Please RSVP here.

The ceremony will be livestreamed at this link.

Anthony John Bartley SC, formerly of Elizabeth Street Chambers, Burley Griffin Chambers and Garfield Barwick Chambers has passed away. He was called to the Bar in 1972 and took silk in 1998.

He had a wide practice, specialising in insurance, medical and professional negligence, personal injury, dust diseases and cases involving institutional child sex abuse.

A private funeral will be held, to be followed be a larger gathering at a date to be advised.

Sponsored

A natural light-filled, spacious and well-appointed room of 18 square metres is available for sale or licence at the 11th Floor Garfield Barwick Chambers.

Furnished with a large built-in desk, generous bookshelves and cabinets, it would suit a barrister with an established practice. The sunlit outlook over Martin Place offers a well-positioned location on the corner of Phillip St in the legal precinct of the Sydney CBD.

The floor consists of 5 Senior Counsel and 30 Junior Barristers and is a busy, harmonious and well-established floor of barristers practising in a wide range of areas.

Practice on the floor covers a wide range of jurisdictions including personal injury, medical negligence, insurance, workers compensation, commercial, corporate, equity, family, wills & probate, building and construction and criminal law. The floor has a large conference room with AVL facilities, an extensive hard copy and online library, two kitchens with bar facilities and is connected to the BarNet network.

Please contact Jonathan Martin on 0422 056 471 or jmartin@chambers.net.au. All enquiries will be treated in the strictest confidence.

A Bar Classifieds link is available here.

Thursday, 30 April – Online via Teams, 5-6pm

The New Barristers Committee and LARS invite barristers to this online session aimed at providing participants in the criminal law Duty Barrister Scheme at the Downing Centre courts with essential knowledge needed to perform that role confidently.

This session will appeal to both existing participants in the Scheme and those who are interested in joining, and will focus on key aspects of law and procedure that duty barristers are likely to encounter in acting for clients, as well as other tips and tricks to make the day go smoothly.

The session will be presented by experienced participants in the scheme, Trish McEniery, Hannah Donaldson and Hugo Atkinson from 7 Garfield Barwick Chambers.

CPD categories:

• Substantive Law
• Practice and Procedure, and Evidence

Please note: Only NSW barristers or members of the NSW Bar Association can register for CPDs or webinars.

To register for this CPD, please click here. This CPD will be run by registration only. Numbers are limited.

Please provide any written questions in advance to cpd@nswbar.asn.au.

Members are invited to a ceremonial sitting on Thursday, 23 April 2026 at 4:00pm to welcome Her Honour Judge Frances Neilson as a judge of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2). The ceremony will be followed by light refreshments.

Venue: Courtroom 12, Level 3, Garfield Barwick Commonwealth Law Courts, Building 1-3 George Street, Parramatta

Please register here by Thursday, 16 April.

A livestream of the ceremonial sitting can be viewed here.

Sponsored

Expressions of interest are sought for a modern, sunlit room available on 8th Floor Garfield Barwick Chambers, 53 Martin Place. The floor has been recently completely renovated, and includes large conference room with AVL facilities, break out rooms and an extensive physical library. The floor comprises 15 members, two of whom are Senior Counsel. The practices are predominately equity, probate, commercial, construction, family law and crime.

The room has generous shelving, cupboards and extensive internet facilities. Rooms are not for sale; the floor operates on a model requiring no buy in.

For further information, please contact Chambers directly on (02) 8239 3200. All inquiries will be treated with complete confidentially.

Sponsored

A natural light-filled, spacious and well-appointed room of 18 square metres is available for sale or licence at the 11th Floor Garfield Barwick Chambers.

Furnished with a large built-in desk, generous bookshelves and cabinets, it would suit a barrister with an established practice. The sunlit outlook over Martin Place offers a well-positioned location on the corner of Phillip St in the legal precinct of the Sydney CBD.

11GBC consists of 5 Senior Counsel and 30 Junior Barristers and is a busy, harmonious, well-established floor of barristers practising in a wide range of areas.

Practice on the floor covers a wide range of jurisdictions including personal injury, medical negligence, insurance, workers compensation, commercial, corporate, equity, family, wills and probate, building and construction and criminal law. The floor has a large conference room with AVL facilities, an extensive hard copy and online library, two kitchens with bar facilities and is connected to the BarNet network.

Please contact Jonathan Martin on 0422 056 471 or jmartin@chambers.net.au. All enquiries will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Images are available here, here and here.

Sponsored

11 Garfield Barwick has a large room available for sale, suitable for a practitioner with an established practice.

The room is 27sq metres and overlooks Martin Place with plenty of natural light. 11GBC consists of 5 Senior Counsel and 30 Junior Barristers.

A busy, harmonious, well-established floor of barristers practising in a wide range of areas in a well-positioned area of the legal precinct in the Sydney CBD. Practice on the floor covers a wide range of jurisdictions including commercial, corporate, equity, wills & probate, insurance, medical negligence, personal injury, building and construction, criminal, family and workers compensation. The floor has an extensive hard copy and online library and is connected to the BarNet network.

Enquiries may be directed to the clerk Michael Watson mwatson@chambers.net.au. All enquiries will be treated in the strictest confidence.

The Hon Chief Justice William Alstergren AO invites members to a ceremonial sitting to welcome her Honour Judge Amy McGowan to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2). The ceremonial sitting will be held on Tuesday, 11 November 2025 at 4:00pm at Courtroom 12, Level 3, Garfield Barwick Commonwealth Law Courts, Building 1/3 George Street, Parramatta and will be followed by light refreshments. For those who are unable to attend, the event will be livestreamed here.

The Sir Garfield Barwick Dinner will take place on Wednesday, 29 October, at the Castlereagh Boutique Hotel (169 Castlereagh Street). Dr Annabelle Bennett AC SC will deliver this year’s address, and tickets are $120 per person.

There are still spots available, so if you’d like to attend, please see the attached booking form for details on how to book.

Click here for more information about the address.

A western facing, light-filled room is available for licence in the renovated 8th Floor Garfield Barwick Chambers at 53 Martin Place. This opportunity is available from June through September 2025 due to a barrister taking parental leave. The Floor is a professional environment and offers full services and an extensive library. Other barristers on the Floor practise in a wide range of areas including family law, criminal law, construction, equity and probate.

Inquiries are welcome from barristers looking for short-term accommodation in full-service chambers. For further information, please contact Chambers directly on (02) 8239 3202. All inquiries will be handled confidentially.

His Honour Judge Mark Cleary, formerly of 8th Floor Selborne Chambers, will be welcomed with a ceremonial sitting of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2) on Wednesday, 30 April 2025 at 10:30am. The ceremonial sitting will be held in Courtroom 12, Level 3, Garfield Barwick Commonwealth Law Courts, Building 1/3 George Street, Parramatta. The court asks that members wear robes.

Please RSVP your attendance here.

The ceremonial sitting will be livestreamed here.

Vale

David Burwood passed away around 16 March 2025.

David came to Australia in 1973 from the UK. Before he left England he worked as a volunteer teacher in Uganda prior to gaining a degree in Social Science. Upon arriving in Australia he worked in many different roles, including helping to launch the Sydney Festival.

He did not take his law degree until he was 40 years old and was called to the Bar in 1999. He practised at Seventh Floor Garfield Barwick Chambers from 2001-2008. In 2010 he joined Trust Chambers where he remained a member for 15 years.

He was a charming and civilised man with a laconic sense of humour and a deep commitment to social justice that saw him often doing the important work of representing less fortunate members of our society. He was much loved and respected by his colleagues and will be sorely missed.

Saturday, 29 March 2025 at the Hyatt Regency

The NSW Bar Association invites barristers to attend the 2025 CPD Conference in Sydney, a full-day event designed to enhance professional skills, gain expert insights, and connect with colleagues while supporting regional CPD events.

Why Attend?

• Earn 6 CPD points for full attendance.

• Covers all four mandatory CPD strands required for the CPD year: Ethics & Professional Responsibility, Practice Management & Business Skills, Substantive Law, and Barristers’ Skills.

• Engage with judicial officers and colleagues.

Speakers Include:

• The Honourable Justice Stern, Supreme Court of NSW

• The Honourable Justice Dina Yehia, Supreme Court of NSW

• The Honourable Justice Sarah Huggett, Chief Justice of the District Court of NSW

• The Honourable Justice David Chin, Vice President of the Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales and judge of the Industrial Court of New South Wales

• The Hon John Sackar AM KC, Former Justice of the Supreme Court of NSW

• The Hon. Stephen Robb KC, Former Justice of the Supreme Court of NSW

• Kirsten Edwards SC, Forbes Chambers

• Catherine Gleeson SC, New Chambers

• Nicholas Broadbent SC, Public Defenders Chambers

• Michelle England SC, Seventh Floor Garfield Barwick Chambers

• Arthur Moses SC, New Chambers

• Michael Green SC, Level 22 Chambers

• Thomas Bagley, Ninth Floor Selborne Chambers

• Rose Khalilizadeh, Public Defenders Chambers

• Clint Newtown, CEO of Rugby League Players Association

• Sam Skinner, Legal Counsel of the RLPA

• Joe Connellan, Deputy CEO and General Counsel of the Australian Cricketers Association

• Benjamin Di Marco Cyber and Technology Industry Leader, WTW

Link to Program - Sydney Program 2025.

Registration Fees;

• NSW Barristers: $290

• Non-NSW Barristers: $330

• Solicitors/ Others: $350

• Virtual Attendee Only: $270

Register Now

To secure your place, register via the registration portal.

For further information, please contact the NSW Bar Association CPD team at CPD@nswbar.asn.au

On behalf of the Hon Chief Justice Alstergren AO, the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2) invites members of the Bar to attend a ceremonial sitting on Tuesday, 12 November 2024 at 4:30pm in Courtroom 9, Level 3, Garfield Barwick Commonwealth Law Courts, Building 1/3 George Street, Parramatta to welcome her Honour Judge Skaros and his Honour Judge Zipser.

The Court also invites members of the Bar to stay for refreshments afterwards.

For those unable to attend the sitting in person, the sitting will be livestreamed here.

The Sir Garfield Barwick Address Foundation invites members to the second Sir Garfield Barwick Address for 2024.

The address will be delivered by Mr Michael Sexton SC, on the theme 'Sir Garfield Barwick: A 20th Century Saga of Law and Politics.'

Date: Wednesday, 30 October 2024

Time: 6:00 pm for 6.30 pm start

Venue: The Castlereagh Boutique Hotel, 169 Castlereagh Street, Sydney

Cost: $115 per person, includes 3-course dinner and drinks. Additional drinks are available via cash bar.

For more information and to reserve a seat, please click here. Registration closes 28 October 2024.

In person at UNSW Law Building, Room 276 - Thursday, 24 October 2024, 6pm to 8pm

The NSWBA Association has teamed up with the UNSW Law Society to host a Careers at the Bar night.

The panelists will be discussing their journeys to the Bar, what undertaking the Bar exam was like and their unique experiences as barristers in various practice areas.

We welcome members to join and stay for the networking session after, along with our panelists, to help answer any questions and give your take on your experiences as a Barrister.

Date: Thursday, 24th October 2024

Time: 6:00pm to 8:00pm

Location: UNSW Law Building - Room 276

Panelists:

• Vanessa Thomas SC - Wentworth Chambers

• Mark Best - Wentworth Chambers

• Rachel Thampapillai - Garfield Barwick Chambers

• Wen Wu - Level 22 Chambers

To register for this event, please click here. This will be run by registration only. Numbers are limited.

Please provide any written questions in advance to cpd@nswbar.asn.au.

All women barristers are invited to attend the next ordinary general meeting of the WBF on Wednesday 12 June 2024 at 4pm at 11 Garfield Barwick Chambers, Level 11, 53 Martin Place, Sydney. All women members of the NSW Bar are automatically members of the Women Barristers Forum and the WBF Committee invites you to attend next week’s meeting to discuss the WBF’s work in promoting and supporting women at the Bar.

The meeting will be followed by informal drinks from 4:45pm at La Riviera, 170 Phillip St. Please register/buy your ticket for drinks using the following link: May 2024 New Women Barristers Drinks | TryBooking Australia. The drinks are free for women barristers under 2 years’ call. For all other attendees, tickets can be purchased for $22. All attendees should obtain a ticket for catering purposes.

Please advise Co-Secretaries Emily Graham and Sarah Andrews by email to emily.graham@chambers.net.au or sarah.andrews@omniachambers.com if you wish to attend the meeting in person or require the Zoom link. Please purchase your ticket for the drinks using the link above

Barrister Harry Black (7 Garfield Barwick) is seeking interested actors, singers and musicians to join the Bar Revue production. The show will run from 3-5 July 2024. Relaxed open auditions will take place at 6:30pm on Wednesday, 10 April 2024 at 7 Garfield Barwick Chambers. Please email Harry Black (hblack@7gbc.com.au) to register your interest and for more information. The callout is not limited to barristers! Interested judicial officers and chambers support staff are all welcome. Please note the Bar Revue is not a NSW Bar Association production and the invitation is circulated for the interest of members.

In-person - Saturday, 24 February 2024

The 2024 Newcastle Regional Conference will be held on Saturday, 24 February 2024 at the Novotel Newcastle Beach. The event will run from 9.00am to 4.20pm and attribute six CPD points.

Confirmed speakers for the conference include:

• The Honourable Justice Bruce Smith, Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia
• His Honour Judge Peter McGrath SC, District Court of NSW
• His Honour Deputy State Coroner Magistrate Robert Stone, Coroners Court of NSW
• Kate Eastman AM SC, New Chambers
• Pat Griffin SC, Seventh Floor Garfield Barwick Chambers
• Michelle England, Acting Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions
• Carl Young, Crown Prosecutors Newcastle - Mark Sherring Chambers
• Kate Hamilton, Newcastle Chambers
• Catherine Wilkinson, National Practice Group Leader, Sparke Helmore Lawyers

Please click here for the conference program.

The conferences are run by registration only, and places in each conference are strictly limited. To register and pay to secure your place, please click on any of the REGISTER NOW buttons located on the dedicated 2023 Regional Conference Series website.

Registrations for this conference will end at 10.00am on Thursday, 22 February 2024.

For any questions about CPD requirements, conferences or the general CPD program, please contact Professional Development via e-mail cpd@nswbar.asn.au.

---

Registrations are OPEN for the New South Wales Bar Association 2024 Regional CPD Conference Series. As in the past, the conferences will be held across the state to assist barristers in fulfilling their CPD requirements and promote the Bar's ongoing professional development and collegiality.

Conference delegates are offered a range of registration packages, including in-person, virtual and hybrid attendance. Regional attendees will also be offered the opportunity to join the Sydney live stream for a nominal fee.

Confirmed speakers include:

• The Honourable Justice Julie Ward, President, NSW Court of Appeal
• The Honourable Justice Ian Harrison, Chief Judge in Common Law, Supreme Court of NSW
• The Honourable Justice Bruce Smith, Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia
• His Honour Judge Grant, District Court of NSW
• His Honour Judge Peter McGrath SC, District Court of NSW
• Her Honour Judge Penny Musgrave, District Court of NSW
• His Honour Judge Michael McHugh SC, District Court of NSW
• Her Honour Judge Miiko Kumar, District Court of NSW
• His Honour Deputy State Coroner Magistrate Robert Stone, Coroners Court of NSW
• Max Kimber SC, Private Chambers
• Sally Dowling SC, Director of Public Prosecutions
• Pat Griffin SC, Seventh Floor Garfield Barwick Chambers
• Ben Kremer SC, Banco Chambers
• Brett Hatfield SC, Crown Prosecutors Chambers
• David Scully SC, Crown Prosecutors Chambers
• Philip Hogan, Deputy Senior Crown Prosecutor
• Michelle England, Acting Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions
• Michelle Castle, University Chambers
• Michelle Swift, Crown Prosecutors Chambers
• Julie Granger, 7 Wentworth Selborne
• Monica Millward, Crown Prosecutors Chambers
• Carl Young, Crown Prosecutors Newcastle - Mark Sherring Chambers
• Kate Hamilton, Newcastle Chambers

Further speaker details will be made available over the coming weeks. These will be advertised in InBrief as well as on the New South Wales Bar Association Website.

The Conferences have been confirmed for the following dates and locations:

• Saturday, 24 February 2024: Newcastle, Novotel Newcastle Beach
• Saturday, 9 March 2024: Ballina, RSL Club
• Saturday, 16 March 2024: Orange, The Greenhouse
• Saturday, 23 March 2024: Sydney, Hyatt Regency

Run by registration only, places in each conference are strictly limited. To register and pay to secure your place, please click on any of the REGISTER NOW buttons located on the dedicated 2024 Regional Conference Series website.

For any questions about CPD requirements, conferences or the general CPD program, please contact the Professional Standards and Support Department via e-mail at cpd@nswbar.asn.au.

Vale

Mr Bruce Stratton KC, formerly Head of Chambers of 11th Floor Garfield Barwick Chambers and NSW Bar Association member, passed away on 31 December 2023.

The funeral service will be private.

Members are invited to the 2023 Sir Garfield Barwick Address on Thursday, 5 October 2023, 6.00pm for a 6.30pm start at the Castlereagh Boutique Hotel, 169 Castlereagh Street Sydney.

Cost of $105 includes three-course dinner (with cash bar available). Please email your attendance to sara.heard@hotmail.com with the form here.

The 2023 Address will be delivered during the dinner by Hon Alister Henskens SC MP, NSW shadow Attorney-General, on “Barwick and the Rule of Law”.

The Sir Garfield Barwick Address Foundation is an independent non-profit charity registered with the ACNC whose purpose is to organise the Address and if possible its publication. Earlier Addresses have been published in Bar News and the Australian Bar Review.

Vale

Dr John Patrick Berwick formerly of 8th Floor Garfield Barwick Chambers, passed away on 1 July 2023. Members will be advised about funeral details via InBrief.

Women Barristers Forum

Notice of WBF ordinary meeting on Wednesday, 21 June 2023 at 5.00pm which will be held in person at 11 Garfield Barwick Chambers and via Zoom. All women barristers are welcome to attend. We particularly extend the invitation to new women readers who have commenced at the Bar.

Please contact Co-secretaries Sarah Andrews or Emily Graham for an agenda, zoom link or to RSVP for in person attendance.