The appointment is the first since the passage of State Government reforms last year which renamed Supreme Court Masters "Associate Judges", and conferred a greater role for judges in mediation.

"The Associate Judges' expanded role is integral to modernising the court system and resolving legal disputes at less cost," Victorian Attorney-General Robert Hulls said.

"Mukhtar is a senior commercial counsel with 27 years' legal experience who will be a valuable addition to the judiciary in this new role. His rise to Queen's Counsel and now the Supreme Court is a testament to his hard work and dedication."

Mukhtar is an alumni of the University of Melbourne, where he studied Law and Commerce before signing the bar roll in 1982.

After completing his articles at Middletons, Mukhtar began his career as an advocate, developing a focus on civil law matters. He has extensive experience in commercial law litigation, particularly in the area of energy and resources, as well as specialising in taxation law and assets confiscation.