Best Lawyers in Australia for Government Practice
Practice Area Overview
The term ‘Government’ is used broadly below to refer to a nation state, a government department or agency, or a quasi-government body at any level. Government Practice can encompass:
- acting for Government in legal matters; and
- acting for an individual or entity in legal matters against Government.
In Australia, Government is subject to particular legal and policy requirements, and has particular rights and responsibilities, which do not apply to individuals or other entities. These are sometimes imposed or granted to comply with international treaties or agreements; to provide additional transparency, accountability, or probity in the use of public money; to prohibit unfair, uneconomic, or unethical practices; or to assist in implementing other laws. For example, a Government body may be subject to particular legal restrictions when purchasing goods or services, or commencing or defending legal claims, that do not apply to private citizens in the same jurisdiction.
Government Practice requires a specialist understanding of the particular legal, regulatory, and policy requirements and other issues and considerations (such as practices or processes) which apply to the matter solely because Government is involved in the matter, in addition to understanding any legal issues which apply to the matter regardless of Government involvement. Therefore, Government Practice intersects with many other legal practice areas, including commercial law, contract law, construction, real estate, litigation, and employment.
For example, a legal practitioner in Government Practice could specialise in advising Government on commercial contracts. Such a practitioner would need to be a specialist in contract and commercial law generally and also in understanding and advising on the additional regulatory requirements which apply to Government when undertaking commercial contracting.
In addition to having specialised expertise in another practice area, it is also likely that a Government Practice practitioner will have specialised expertise in a specific jurisdiction (eg Australia) and a specific level of Government (eg federal, state, or local) within that jurisdiction. This is because the regulatory and policy framework which applies to Government activities often differs substantially between jurisdictions and between levels of Government in those jurisdictions.
Government Practice is distinct from Administrative Law in that Government Practice may not involve advising on Government decision-making or rule-making powers or the exercise of those powers, but could encompass advising on any matter, transaction, or dealing undertaken by, or relating to, Government.
Natalie has close to 20 years’ experience in property, planning and environment law and has been recognised as a leading Australian lawyer in this area in Doyle's Guide to the Australian Legal Profession. She has also been recognised in the The Best Lawyers in Australia in Real Property Law every year since 2017 and was a Finalist at the 2016 Lawyers Weekly Partner of the Year Awards in real estate and for Partner of the Year at the 2014 Australian Law Awards . Natalie acts primarily fo...
Philip has over 30 years' experience practicing in business, commercial, and corporate law. Philip's range of industry experience includes agribusiness (private sector and public sector), mining services, large commercial and residential property development projects, acquisitions and sales, manufacturing, food service, medical practices, wills, and estates. Philip's areas of expertise are: Corporate acquisitions - company and business acquisitions, mergers, buy outs, and joint ventures. Corp...
James is Partner in our Planning and Environment practices with a reputation for exceptional advice across the areas of planning and development approvals, planning litigation and dispute resolution, infrastructure, land valuation and the compulsory acquisition or resumption of land. James has over 20 years’ experience advising developers, local government and State government authorities on all aspects of front-end and litigious planning and environment law including for major property...
Jeremy's practice spans work with a range of government and corporate clients. He has acted in claims before the High Court, Federal Court, various Supreme Courts and the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. Some of Jeremy's government experience includes: representing a Commonwealth regulator in a challenge to a legislative instrument on grounds of unreasonableness and that the regulator had acted beyond its power defending claims against a range of Commonwealth entities concerning allegations o...
Sarah is a Partner in our Planning and Environment practice and offers extensive experience in the areas of planning approvals, litigation and dispute resolution, together with many years of experience and a keen interest in environmental legislation and policy. Sarah provides front end advisory services, including project scoping, strategic planning advice and due diligence, through to representing stakeholders in planning and environment litigation, and assisting clients with environmental ...
Khory is a highly experienced litigator, negotiator and strategist with over 30 year’s experience. He provides wide-ranging issues management and conflict advice to corporate and government decision makers at the highest levels. Khory has advised clients across a multitude of industries including energy, resources, finance, building and construction, government, health and education. He advises clients on commercial and industrial disputes and disruptions, strategic risk and issue manag...
Wally is recognised as one of Australia’s leading practitioners with many years’ experience in advising major corporate and Government clients. He joined Piper Alderman from a large Australian law firm where he had previously held a number of senior positions including the national positions of Departmental Managing Partner, Corporate and Chairman, Energy and Resources Group. Throughout his career, Wally has acted on matters involving complex multinational mergers and acquisitions...
As Legal Director of the Planning, Environment and Local Government team Alice provides skilled and professional advice and representation for local government and private clients on a wide range of NSW and ACT planning, environmental and administrative law matters. Alice is a pragmatic and practical problem solver who works in partnership with her clients to deliver ‘on ground’ results. She enjoys providing strategic advice on how best to achieve her client’s goals, and spe...
Edward has as a national practice with a focus on commercial disputes, insurance, reinsurance, corporations law and obligations. He has particular expertise in addressing policy construction and other indemnity issues arising in the context of insurance and reinsurance arrangements. In addition, Edward has substantial experience – and a strong academic interest – in public law and the prosecution of environmental and regulatory offences. He appears regularly for governmental agenc...
Since 1995 David Prince has practiced extensively in all areas of visa applications, merits review and judicial review, and has established a reputation for successfully solving difficult immigration cases. He is regularly consulted by barristers, solicitors and migration agents on complex issues of immigration law. David has been accredited as an immigration specialist by the Law Society of New South Wales since 2000. There are fewer than 40 accredited immigration solicitors in New South Wal...
Tony practises in the firm's Insurance and Government Groups and has worked with the government sector for more than 35 years. He is an accredited mediator and has appeared on the Best Lawyers in Australia list for Government since 2013. What he does Tony assists government and private sector clients with litigated and non-litigated claims in tort or under statutory schemes. He has acted in equity and civil claims as well as for clients in administrative law, employment, health and safety, an...
About Sharon Sharon is a trusted and experienced contracting and procurement lawyer, with a focus on intellectual property. What she does Sharon advises clients on contracting and procurement projects, including drafting and negotiating contracts, and advising on contract breaches and disputes. She also advises on intellectual property matters, including commercialisation and licensing. Sharon regularly provides tailored legal training to clients, usually on contracting and intellectual prope...
Rebecca has extensive experience in advising the Commonwealth in relation to workers’ compensation matters. She is fully cognisant of the responsibilities of the Commonwealth in adhering to the Model Litigant Policy and the unique challenges that this can bring. In a previous role Rebecca successfully held the position of National Client Service Manager for Comcare, which, as a significant client, brought enormous responsibility from a business perspective. Rebecca is focussed on delive...
Julius Skinner is one of Western Australia’s leading planning and environment lawyers, advising clients throughout all stages of the planning and environmental approval processes. He has acted for clients across all industry sectors in respect of planning & subdivision approvals, environmental permits, Works Approvals & Licences, land acquisition & compensation, heritage, contaminated sites and all forms of regulatory compliance. He has conducted numerous State Administrativ...
Lucinda Watson is a special counsel in Moulis Legal’s Canberra office, providing strategic insight and expert knowledge in large scale information and communication technology (ICT) outsourcing transactions, complex procurements, and health-related product acquisitions. Lucinda adds great value to the business of our cross-border, commercial, government procurement, and intellectual property clients in both the public and private sectors. Lucinda has over 15 years of experience in contr...
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.