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Legal A-list to turn out for opening
David Gonski heads a list of business figures, managing partners, general counsels, members of the judiciary and silks that will be attending the launch of a new legal body.
Justin Whealing
David Gonski heads a list of business figures, managing partners, general counsels, members of the judiciary and silks that will be attending the launch of a new legal body.
Speaking to Lawyers Weekly, Dr Rosemary Howell (pictured), one of the Dispute Group’s six members, said that Gonski agreed to speak at the opening because of personal connections he has with her and some of the other members.
“I am chuffed he agreed to do it,” said Howell. “You go to a lot of these things where there is no connection, yet David felt he could come and talk about us because he has some deep-seated relationships.
“It makes me feel there is integrity in this group.”
As a professorial visiting fellow at UNSW, Howell has known Gonski for many years via academic circles, with Gonski, a former Herbert Smith Freehills partner, UNSW’s current chancellor. Howell also taught one of his children.
In addition to Howell, the Dispute Group also includes three silks: Angela Bowne SC, Jeremy Gormly SC and Max Kimber SC. Bowne is the chair of the NSW Bar Association’s ADR committee and Gormly chairs the National Alternative Dispute Resolution Advisory Council (NADRAC).
The other two experts on the Dispute Group’s books are the well-known mediator Alan Limbury and Holding Redlich partner Harold Werksman.
The Group’s service will include conflict training, mediation and conflict coaching for corporate and individual clients.
“There is no doubt there is a growing awareness around ADR, and not just mediation,” said Howell, whose clients include senior executives seeking conflict coaching. “The role of general counsels, for example, in wanting to make sure that the right thing happened for the right reason and that their businesses don’t get distracted by bitter disputes and cultural issues.”
The executive director of the group is William Nicholls, who had a successful business career before deciding to study law, graduating with first class honours from UNSW recently.
Howell credits him for being the brainchild behind the Dispute Group's formation.
It is expected that around 80 people will attend Monday’s launch.
Colin Biggers & Paisley managing partner Dunstan de Souza, Clayton Utz partner and former Law Council of Australia president Joe Catanzariti, NSW Supreme Court justice David Hammerschlag and Michelle Sindler, the head of the Australian International Disputes Centre, are all invited and expected to attend.
