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Rowena Orr named as judge of the Victorian Court of Appeal
Victoria’s Solicitor-General Rowena Orr KC, who was the banking royal commission senior counsel, is joining the bench of the state’s Court of Appeal, with another silk to assume her role as S-G.
Jerome Doraisamy
Rowena Orr KC (pictured), served as senior counsel assisting the commissioner in the Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry and was senior counsel representing the state for Victoria’s Royal Commission into Family Violence, is leaving the role of Solicitor-General in Victoria to take up a position as a judge of the state’s Court of Appeal.
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She was appointed senior counsel in 2014 after joining the Bar in 2002 and is “widely regarded as one of Australia’s best senior counsel”, the Victorian Attorney-General’s Department said in a statement.
Most recently, she has served as the state’s Solicitor-General.
Speaking about the appointment, Victorian Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes said: “I extend my sincere gratitude to Rowena Orr KC for her exemplary service as Solicitor-General. Rowena’s transition to the Court of Appeal is a testament to her dedication, relentless commitment to justice and an unparalleled work ethic.”
In a statement, the Supreme Court of Victoria noted that it “congratulates and warmly welcomes” Orr to the bench.
The Judicial College of Victoria also said that Orr’s appointment to the Court of Appeal “is a testament to her exceptional legal career and commitment to justice”.
Assuming Orr’s position as Solicitor-General will be Alistair Pound SC, who took silk in 2020 after joining the Bar in 2005. He formerly practised at Mallesons Stephen Jaques (now King & Wood Mallesons) from 1998 to 2005 in its litigation and dispute resolution group.
He has, the A-G’s Department went on, advised on and acted in numerous complex matters, including class actions, regulatory proceedings and matters involving constitutional law and the Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities.
“Alistair Pound SC is a highly regarded legal practitioner, and I look forward to his frank and fearless advice as Solicitor-General,” A-G Symes noted.
Orr’s tenure as a Court of Appeal judge will commence on Friday of this week (18 April), while Pound will start as the state’s S-G next Tuesday (23 April).
