The Victorian Bar
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Media release
Wednesday 28 October 2009
Victorian Bar election results – new chairman and office bearers
Michael Colbran QC has been elected the new chairman of the Victorian Bar Council
following elections which saw seven new council members elected to the 21 member
Council.
Mr Colbran replaces the retiring chairman, Mr John Digby QC, with Mark Moshinsky
SC taking up the position of Senior Vice Chair and Cameron Macaulay SC taking up
the position of Junior Vice Chair.
The Council election was held on Wednesday 14 October, and the office bearer
positions were finalised by a vote on Thursday 22 October.
Mr Colbran has 27 years experience in the profession – he was admitted to practice in
1981, joined the Bar in 1982 and was appointed Queens Counsel in 1997. His practice
includes general commercial, property, trusts and tort litigation.
He acted in one of the first cases in Victoria which recognised a civil right of privacy.
Issues related to privacy protection continue to preoccupy the community and legal
policy makers.
Mr Colbran has a history of working with the national bodies – the Law Council of
Australia, of which he is a director, and the Australian Bar Association – especially on
issues related to the development of the national profession and conduct rules and
national issues affecting the judicial system
‘Much work has gone into the ‘nationalisation’ of the profession with the idea of a
seamless legal profession able to operate across state borders according to consistent
rules and regulations. The opportunities for practitioners who see their practice
developing beyond their home state or territory have never been greater,’ he said.
However, Mr Colbran says the Bar must also play a greater role closer to home: ‘We
owe it to the members of the community to better communicate about the way
barristers now serve them and engage constructively in the discussion about further
ways in which we can and should serve them.
The Victorian Bar
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‘We need to better promote our pro bono activities and access to justice options which
assist ordinary people and continue our strong advocacy for greater legal aid funding
at both the State and Federal levels.’
Media inquiries: Alicia Patterson, Victorian Bar Media Liaison, 0403 172024
RESULTS OF BAR COUNCIL ELECTION FOR 2009/2010
At the Declaration of the Poll following the Bar Council election on 14 October 2009
the following candidates, in order of seniority, were declared elected:-
CATEGORY A: Eleven counsel who are Queen’s Counsel, Senior Counsel, or junior
counsel who are of not less than 15 years’ standing -
Jacob (Jack) Isaac Fajgenbaum QC
Michael John Colbran QC
Chairman
Brendan Anthony Murphy QC
Timothy Patrick Tobin SC
*Melanie Sloss SC
Cameron Clyde Macaulay SC
Jnr Vice Chairman
*Fiona McLeod SC
Richard Wallace McGarvie SC
*Christopher Mark Caleo SC
Mark Kranz Moshinsky SC
Snr Vice Chairman
Edvard William Alstergren
Hon Treasurer
CATEGORY B: Six counsel who are junior counsel and who are of not more than 15
nor less than 6 years’ standing -
Sara Louise Hinchey
Assistant Treasurer
Matthew Joseph J Walsh
*Patrick Justin Hannebery
Paul Xavier Connor
Kim Joy Knights
Katharine (Kate) Jane D Anderson
CATEGORY C: Four counsel who are junior counsel and who are of less than 6
years’ standing -
*Anthony Thomas Strahan
*Simon Thomas Pitt (was Hon Secretary)
*Richard Henry Stanley
Kim Maree Southey
* New to the Victorian Bar Council
NEWS 
