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Law Society President Brett McGrath has congratulated Justice Michael Ball, for his appointment to the Court of Appeal.

Ball was appointed to the Supreme Court bench in 2010 and has served as the List Judge for Commercial and Technology, Construction and Commercial Arbitration lists. 

McGrath says the Law Society of NSW is delighted with the appointment. 

“His Honour is one of the (still) all too rare appointments to higher courts directly from the solicitor branch of the profession,” says McGrath. 

“His presence on the bench of the State’s highest court injects a diversity of practice experience that is critical to the effective functioning of our justice system.” 

Beginning his legal career in South Australia, Ball later worked at the Australian Law Reform Commission, before joining Allen & Hemsley in Sydney. 

He spent 27 years at the firm (Allen Allen & Hemsley/Allens Arthur Robinson), working on a range of high-profile cases involving competition and insolvency law. 

Attorney General Michael Daley has described Ball as a respected lawyer and judge, whose expertise would be invaluable. 

McGrath has pointed out that Justice Ball would join fellow direct solicitor appointee and Court of Appeal President Justice Julie Ward, who was the first female solicitor appointed directed to the Supreme Court bench in 2008. 

“On behalf of the solicitors of NSW, I congratulate Justice Ball on his appointment and wish him well in this important new chapter in his judicial career,” said McGrath.