By -

The Law Society of NSW recognised members, former members, and law professionals whose work was influential to solicitors and other law professionals in the state.

The King’s Birthday Honours List, this year comprising 949 Australians, includes several solicitors and legal figures whose contributions to the country are noteworthy.

President of the Law Society of NSW, Ronan MacSweeney, remarked the inclusion of current and former Law Society of NSW members “reinforces the foundational role that the rule of law plays in guaranteeing our democratic freedoms, and the leadership roles many solicitors perform above and beyond their legal careers.”

Three members of the Law Society of NSW were awarded the Order of Australia Medal (OAM). Former Acting Judge of the District Court, and Law Society life member, Kieran Tapsell, was an instrumental part of the canon Law panel that assisted the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

MacSweeney also congratulated former Law Society Councillor, Winwood Howard. “I thank Mr Howard for his service to the profession, particularly for his term as Chair of the Council of Law Reporting for NSW and his part in administering The Law Society’s Fidelity Fund,” MacSweeney said.

And 40-year long member of the Law Society Sharon Cook was recognised for her contribution to the banking industry and the law.

Former Baker McKenzie Principal and Chair of NSW Climate Change Council and the Australian Renewable Energy Agency, Martijn Wilder AM; and former Senior Judicial Member of the New South Wales Equal Opportunity Tribunal, Helen Conway, were awarded Officers in the Order of Australia (AO).

Former member of the Law Society, Mary-Lynne Taylor, whose distinguished career passed through several prominent firms and significant academic contributions, has been made a Member in the Order of Australia (AM). Also awarded the same honour, is bobsled Olympian Bronwyn Fagan, who supported aspiring lawyers as mentor law students, and a magistrate at the Law Society’s Mock Trial Competition.

MacSweeney also congratulated former and current judges, who made significant contributions to the profession before taking the bench.

“A large majority of lawyers who become judges being their careers as solicitors,” MacSweeney said. “The recognition these judicial officers are receiving through today’s honours are well deserved indeed.”

These include the AM awarded to NSW Local Court Judge Debra Maher; OAM awarded to former Magistrate of the Local Court Brian Lulham, Local Court Judge Scott Nash, and the Hon. Justice Murray Aldridge of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia.