Greenwood will be sworn in on 4 August and will become one of only a handful of non-barristers to be appointed to a superior court. “This is a great tribute to Andrew’s professional skills and standing, which have been well known to us and to our clients for a long time,” Minter’s Brisbane office managing partner, Denis Gately said.

“As a lawyer, Andrew has established a pre-eminent national reputation, particularly in the field of competition law, but also in commercial litigation and intellectual property, and in the emerging field of biotechnology.” Gately said Greenwood’s contribution to the firm and partnership would be greatly missed.

Attorney-General Philip Ruddock said Greenwood’s skills and experience equipped him well for the challenges of his new office. Greenwood is currently Queensland Chair of the Intellectual Property and Trade Practices Committees of the Law Council of Australia and an Adjunct Professor in intellectual property and competition law at the TC Beirne School of Law, University of Queensland.