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.

Quantifying Damages for Economic Loss: Is This the Hardest Thing Commercial Litigators Do?

Robert Angyal SC presented a paper on 26 February 2015 in Parramatta for LegalWise Seminars, entitled Quantifying Damages for Economic Loss: Is this the Hardest Thing Commercial Litigators Do?. By reference to a recent decision of the NSW Court of Appeal, Angyal explains why assessing damages can be very difficult. His paper is now available online here.

Robert Angyal SC appointed to mining & petroleum disputes Arbitration Panel

The members of 6 St James' Hall Chambers congratulate our colleague Robert Angyal SC on his recent appointment by the NSW Minister for Resources and Energy to the Arbitration Panel constituted under the Mining Act 1992 and Petroleum (Onshore) Act 1991 to conciliate and arbitrate disputes about access to land between landowners and holders of mineral or petroleum exploration licenses or assessment leases. 

Egyptian Court of Cassation Orders Retrial for Journalist Peter Greste

On 1 January 2015, Egypt's highest judicial body overturned the conviction, and ordered a retrial, of Australian journalist, Peter Greste. Mr Greste, along with two other Al Jazeera journalists, Mohamed Fadel Fahmy and Baher Mohammad, had been convicted of news reporting "spreading lies in an attempt to aid a terrorist group" (the banned Muslim Brotherhood) in June 2014. Mr Greste was sentenced to 7 years incarceration.

Since November 2014, 6 St James' Hall Chambers' international law specialists Dr Christopher Ward and Dr Stephen Tully, instructed by Chris Flynn of Gilbert & Tobin, have been acting for Mr Greste pro bono in relation to the appeal and associated international law issues.