Attorney-General John Hatzistergos announced the appointment this week, and he will officially be sworn in on 29 June. 

Davies has practised as a barrister for 33 years, primarily in the areas of professional negligence, insurance, equity and probate. 

He has appeared in the Supreme Court before, including including in a case that is credited with saving the Archibald’s prize money

JF Archibald left money in his will for the annual portrait prize, but in 1985, some 66 years after his death, a dispute arose over whether the prize was still a “good charitable bequest.” 

Representing the Trustees of the Art Gallery of NSW, Davies was able to convince the court that it was.

Davies also appeared in a case about the ordination of women priests in the Anglican Church, which ultimately established circumstances in which courts would and would not intervene in the internal affairs of churches.

Davies has been the Convenor and Chairman of the Bar Association’s Examinations Working Party since 2003. The Working Party sets and oversees exams for lawyers seeking to become barristers.

“I congratulate [Davies] on his appointment and look forward to his contribution to the NSW justice system in the years ahead,” Hatzistergos said.