ABA revamps top brass in an effort to seize the future … From the world of soaps and shampoos comes VicBar’s fragrant new CEO … Criminal lawyer to head-up NSW Bureau de Spank 

FORMER grande fromage of VicBar, Fiona McLeod, becomes the crowned head of all the nation’s briefs, as she takes on the job as president of the Australian Bar ‘n’ Grill Association. 

Pat O’Sullivan, a South Australian commercial and construction brief, is the new vice..  

But, wait, there’s more. NSW bar CEO Philip Selth has been anointed as charge d’affaires of the ABA, while VicBar’s PR muffin Alicia Patterson will also handle the communications side of the national barristers’ lobby outfit. 

As a PR consultant Alicia does a splendid job fending-off the reptiles of the media – e.g. she has never returned a phone message left by Justinian.  

Queen’s man from Victoria Willy Alstergren saw off Phillip Boulten for the slot of ABA treasurer. 

The ABA is trying to revamp itself into a meaningful institution, beyond hosting conferences in attractive cities as far away from Asia as possible. 

At the moment it’s facing some difficult headwinds. Sydney barrister Derek Minus currently owns the domain name austbar.com.au while the ABA uses austbar.asn.au

Minus has established a website where barristers can promote themselves and their specialities. His virtual chambers have attracted the ire of both the ABA and NSW Bar, which claim Minus is trespassing on their turf by creating a homepage that looks like the official ABA site, has breached the trade mark of the national barristers’ club and nicked it’s domain name. 

Both the NSW bar and the ABA have actions underway in the Federal Court, alleging trademark infringement. 

The ABA turns out to be an unincorporated association, and has transferred its trademark to Selth as trustee for the national association. 

The ABA’s action is being conducted in Selth’s name. Both cases in the Federal Court got off to a rocky start in November with Minus applying for Justice John Nicholas in the ABA case and Justice Annabelle Bennett in the NSW Bar case to recuse themselves – being both former barristers and therefore former members of the ABA and NSW bar associations. 

Further, Bennett’s husband, Bubba Bennett, is on the council of the NSW bar ‘n’ grill and there was a vague allegation, since withdrawn, that Mrs Bennett may have had some “association” with Philip Selth because she once served on the bar’s silk selection committee. 

The hearings get rolling again later this month and in the meantime the hunt is on for a couple of Federal Court judges who have not been barristers and who might be able to sit on these applications. 

See transcript NSW Bar v Derek Minus 
See transcript ABA v Derek Minus 

In the meantime, Minus is inviting lawyers to join his struggle as part of “Team AustBar”. 

Bar associations pay a capitation fee to the ABA and all barristers are members, however they don’t vote for the executive, which is chosen by the inner-sanctum representatives of the various state and territory bar clubs around the country. 

Democracy at its finest. 

A woman has been appointed as the CEO of VicBar. What must all those hairy-nostrilled members think? The male ones.

Lawyer Sarah Fregon swept the pool of contenders and will take up the reins next month following seven years of Stephen Hare’s CEOmanship. 

The fragrant Ms Fregon said: 

“I look forward to supporting the important role the almost 2,000 members of the Victorian bar play in their positive contribution to the Victorian justice system and in particular building on the diversity of talent and skills in the profession.” 

Let’s hope the commitment to “diversity of talent” means doing a whole lot more to give female barristers an even break. 

Jimbo Peters, the bar chairman, thanked the outgoing Hare, adding: 

“We have been fortunate at the Victorian bar to attract high quality talented professionals who share our vision of a thriving independent bar in Victoria.” 

Fregon had been at VicBar for eight years. In 2004 she was one of the bar’s sexual harassment and vilification conciliators.  

More recently she has suited-up as general counsel and head of corporate social responsibility for PZCussons Australia and NZ – the people who bring us Imperial Leather soap, Fudge hair products and dishwashing lines Trix and Morning Fresh.  

EVERYONE is also saying nice things about John McKenzie, the new Legal Services Commissioner for NSW. 

It’s an interesting appointment for someone who has spent a large part of his 36-year career working as a criminal lawyer for the disadvantaged – eight years as the chief legal officer for the NSW-ACT Aboriginal Legal Service, and before that with the Many Rivers Aboriginal Legal Service, Legal Aid NSW and PIAC. 

McKenzie was also a principal solicitor at the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody between 1987 and 1991. 

His predecessor as LSC, Steve Mark, held onto the job for 19 years, with numerous four year terms. Each time he was reappointed the bar association and the solicitors’ union gave him glowing endorsements. 

It made your correspondent wonder about the quality of the gamekeeper if the poachers loved him so much. 

The Law Society was quick out of the blocks with an endorsement of McKenzie’s appointment. Let’s hope it’s not the beginning of a beautiful friendship.