The members of 6 St James Hall Chambers are delighted to announce that leading Sydney silk Ian Neil SC has joined the Floor from 1 September 2018. A silk since 2006, Ian has a wide appellate, commercial, inquiries and equity practice, with a particular specialty in employment and industrial law.
Ian’s modern and collaborative approach to advocacy and his national practice complement the existing commercial, industrial and international strengths of 6 St James Hall. Ian joins the existing international practice group of Chambers and will continue to conduct mediations and arbitrations in Australia, Hong Kong, and in the London Beth Din.
Ian will continue to practice from the new 6 St James Hall Annex in the Art Deco Trust Building.
For all inquiries please contact head of chambers, Dr Christopher Ward SC (cward@stjames.net.au), clerk to Ian Neil SC, Sharon Verhagen chambers@ianneil.com or Chambers Practice Manager Nora Faulua
Dr Ward SC represents lawyer Bernard Collaery in the Witness K case
Dr Christopher Ward SC is a member of the legal team instructed by Gilbert & Tobin to represent lawyer Bernard Collaery, facing serious charges under national security legislation before the ACT Courts.
The case appeared on Ten Eyewitness News Sydney, and was covered by The Guardian as well as The Canberra Times.
Dr Christopher Ward SC elected to global Presidency of ILA
6 St James Hall Chambers is delighted to announce that senior counsel Dr Christopher Ward SC was last week, elected to position of global President of the International Law Association. The ILA, which has almost 5,000 members world-wide, works to develop and publicise rules of private and public international law. Dr Ward’s extensive work over many decades in both fields of international law and related commercial law will ensure that the Association’s work is strengthened during his 2 year term. The ILA last week, successfully gathered from around the world in Sydney for the 78th Biennial Conference, hosted by Dr Ward and the Australian Branch of the ILA. The Conference was addressed by dignitaries including the Right Honorable Lord Mance, Chief Justice Kiefel, Chief Justice Allsop, Chief Justice Bathurst, the Hon Mark Speakman and Chief Justice Pascoe as well as other Australian and foreign judges, counsel and arbitrators. The Conference was greatly assisted by 6 St James Hall Barrister Ms Madeleine Bridgett.
$64 million verdict obtained by 6 St James Hall Counsel in fraud trial.
Senior Counsel at 6 St James’ Hall Dr Christopher Ward SC last week secured for his client Dr Benoy Berry a verdict of $64,800,000 in a long-running commercial fraud case brought against former Reserve Bank company Securency (now known as CCL Secure). Dr Ward appeared with experienced junior counsel Mr Phillip Santucci and was instructed by leading boutique firm Marque Lawyers. The verdict follows the earlier judgment on the merits in December 2017 and demonstrates the risks to corporate entities when engaging in fraudulent conduct to achieve commercial goals. The merits judgment is found here. The case is discussed here.
2018 Legal Language Breakthrough: The Quadruple Negative
2018 has seen a Legal Language Breakthrough: The Quadruple Negative (as used against Luna Park by a certifier addressing whether construction of a new ride required development consent):
“The works cannot be demonstrated as not inconsistent with the development consents as it was unclear whether the development consents authorise the installation of new rides.”
Wow! That's ... nearly incomprehensible.
We lawyers used to think that double negatives were not uncommon, especially in legal prose. And it was not unusual for layers not to stop there, but to wheel out the big gun of the triple negative. Whammo! Take that, whether you understand it or not.
Click here to read more.
6 St James Hall counsel in Cambodian human rights case
Dr Christopher Ward SC welcomes the verdict of the Cambodian Supreme Court quashing the conviction of Queensland resident Yoshe Taylor for drug trafficking. Dr Ward is a member of the Australian legal team that has provided pro bono assistance to Ms Taylor and recently travelled to Cambodia to assist the appeal. Yoshe has spent almost five years in prison in Cambodia and the legal processes to secure her freedom now continue in light of her successful appeal.