Josh is a Special Counsel in our Public Law team, with more than a decade of experience advising and representing NSW and Commonwealth Government agencies. He is experienced in navigating the unique legal, operational and reputational considerations that come with acting for government. Josh began his career at the NSW Crown Solicitor’s Office and has since worked with leading top-tier and upper mid-tier firms, continuing to advise and represent a wide range of government clients. His practice spans administrative law, judicial review, high profile royal commissions, inquiries, inquests and complex litigation.
He has acted for clients including the NSW Commissioner of Police, NSW Department of Education, Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Department of Communities and Justice, the National Disability Insurance Agency, Corrective Services NSW and various local councils.
Experience
- Represented various state and commonwealth government agencies and departments, as well as private individuals, in high profile royal commissions, inquiries and inquests, including:
- acting for Services Australia in the Royal Commission into the Robodebt Scheme;
- acting for Corrective Services NSW and managing a legal team in the Special Commission of Inquiry into Offending by former Corrections Officer Wayne Astill at Dillwynia Correctional Centre;
- acting for the former CEO of The Star and leading a legal team in the 2024 Inquiry into The Star;
- acting for a Manager Client Services of the Department of Communities and Justice in the Inquest into the death of EM;
- acting for a Caseworker of the Department of Communities and Justice in the Inquest into the death of DB;
- acting for the NSW Commissioner of Police in various inquest proceedings, including an inquest in relation to a high-profile matter concerning an indigenous death in custody and an inquest regarding the release of highly sensitive operational documents over which public interest immunity/non-publication orders were claimed.
- Represented various state government agencies and state-owned corporations in responding to Standing Order 52 requests from the NSW Legislative Council, including the review and production of documents for a government agency that involved the review and production of tens of thousands of documents over the course of five months.
- Representing the NSW Commissioner of Police in approximately 250 subpoenas to produce documents issued to the Commissioner, including successful applications to various courts throughout NSW to set aside the subpoena.
- Represented various state government agencies and private companies in contractual disputes before the Supreme Court and Federal Court.
- Managed a high volume and fast paced practice in administrative law and judicial review representing various state and commonwealth government agencies and departments before various Tribunals (nation-wide), the Coroners Court, Local Court, Supreme Court, the Federal Circuit Court and the Federal Court (including the Full Court of the Federal Court).
- Successfully represented the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs in a contentious hearing before the Full Court of the Federal Court.
- Advised various NSW Government departments and agencies in relation to various internal policies, procedures and strategy.