Search
This area does not yet contain any content.
Justinian News

Sofronoff stripped bare ... Deceit ... Betrayal ... Drumgold hung out to dry as a result of Sofronoff-Albrechtsen information "tryst" ... Latest derailment of conspiracies about the prosecution of manosphere darling, Bruce Lehrmann ... Derangement syndrome ... Sofronoff's "serious corruption" ... Devastation among devoted Banana Benders ... Read more >>

Politics Media Law Society


Bag lady ... Don't call the results until the fat lady sings … Senator's criminal record hidden from view … Inspiration from our B-grade business leaders … Forget the sexual harassment, Dicey Heydon is coming out of the deep freeze ... Read on >> 

Free Newsletter
Justinian Columnists

Capital crimes ... Dangerous words likely to be scrubbed from the Trump era lexicon ... Musk and his techie vandals ... The shredder going full blast at the FBI ... Stolen national security documents sent back to Mar-a-Lago ... Cabinet clown show ... White supremacy unleashed ... Consumer protection prosecutions dropped ... Lawyers and law firms threatened ... Roger Fitch from Washington ... Read more >> 

Blow the whistle

 

News snips ...


NSWDCJ Robert Newlinds, again ... Judgment has now been amended to remove the words "he was a good-looking young man" in [1] and to remove "She was (and remains) an attractive young lady" from [2]". Well done Robert ... Fazldeen v State of New South Wales >>

Justinian's Bloggers

London Calling ... Law n Order in Blighty ... King invites the King for State visit ... Grovels aplenty ... Magistrate over does the "send him down" ... Musos strike an angry chord about AI encroachment ... Law shops protect the billable hour ... Floyd Alexander-Hunt files ... Read more >> 

"True to form, the ACT corruption watchdog has put itself at the centre of perceptions of bias with a finding against eminent former Queensland judge Walter Sofronoff KC that serves only to debase the definition of serious corrupt conduct."

The Australian with its unique perspective on "bias" ... March 22, 2025 ... Read more flatulence ... 


Justinian Featurettes

Judgment for sale ... Melbourne University Publishing's decision to produce Justice Lee's Lehrmann judgment as a commercial product is not without its problems ... The omnishambles continues ... Melbourne lawyer Nilay B. Patel explains ... Read more >> 


Justinian's archive

Defamation and other misadventures ... So sexy, said the actress of the Chief Justice ... Daphnis dunks women in hot water ... Another (male) judge frocks-up ... Inside Madge's mouth ... Stephen Archer defamed ... David Levine strangles more English ... Justice Dean Mildren "the idiot" ... From Justinian's archive, April 22, 2004 ... Read more >> 


 

 

« How to Kill a Client | Main | Law 20.1.2 »
Wednesday
Jul052023

Leon Zwier

Melbourne lawyer Leon Zwier On The Couch ... Honouring the legacy of a former partner ... The hour of need - assisting Brittany Higgins and Eryn Jean Norvill ... The misuse of documents obtained coercively in litigation ... Grudges ... Racism ... Plaited loaves 

Leon Zwier: the man beside Brittany Higgins

Leon Zwier has been a partner of Arnold Bloch Leibler since 1991. He is head of the firm's dispute resolution operations as well as its restructuring and insolvency practice. 

When he's not involved in corporate disputes and regulatory proceedings he has been noticeably assisting Brittany Higgins during the rape trial of Bruce Lehrmann, and its aftermath. 

He also acted for actress Eryn Jean Norvill who was a key witness in Geoffrey Rush's defamation case against The Daily Telegraph

Zwier is an Appeals Conduct Commissioner of Cricket Australia's code of behaviour and is the Chairman of the Bradman Foundation. 

And here he is batting away Justinian's searing questions ...

Describe yourself in three words

Mr Fix It.

What are you currently reading? 

"A Promised Land" by Barack Obama

What is your favourite film? 

The Godfather. 

When are you happiest?

In the mountains after a fresh snowfall, no visible tracks, the trees covered with snow, the sky a deep blue, no wind and with family and friends (and without connectivity). 

Who has been the most influential person in your life, professional and otherwise?

My late father, David. 

What motivated you to provide legal support to Brittany Higgins? 

Former partner, Leonie Thompson, who championed the contribution and role of women at ABL and who asked her partners to honour her legacy in this way. 

You also provided support for Eryn Jean Norvill who gave evidence in the Geoffrey Rush defamation case. What prompted your involvement on her behalf?

Leonie Thompson (again).

Zwier with Eryn Jean Norvill during the Rush case 

And you acted for Rolah McCabe in her fight against British American Tobacco. Is there a pattern here - the protection of women in vulnerable circumstances?

Not in relation to this one. McCabe was all about Big Tobacco and the loss of my grandfather (when I was very young) to smoking related illnesses. I bear good grudge.

What is your view of the use by the media of material provided to the defence in Lehrmann's rape trial? 

Documents obtained coercively in litigation should not be disseminated and, if they are, there ought to be restraint by the media. 

What remedy does Brittany Higgins have for a breach of the Harman rule and for her privacy? 

In time that will become clearer.

Why did you want to be a lawyer?

Because my father wanted to be one and could not. He chose to help support his family by working in a factory rather than pursue his dreams, so that his children could pursue theirs.

What other occupations would you have liked to pursue?

Australian Test Cricketer. CEO of Cricket Australia. Carlton Player. Carlton Coach. Carlton Assistant Coach. Diplomat. Journalist. (All beyond my capabilities, so I ended up a lawyer.) 

What is your greatest weakness? 

I bear long-term grudges. Next question.

What would you change about Australia?

Racism. 

If you were an item of food, what would it be?

Challah - the traditional Jewish plaited loaf.

What comes to mind when you shut your eyes and think of the word "law"? 

Luck, fun and hard work.

 

Reader Comments

There are no comments for this journal entry. To create a new comment, use the form below.
Editor Permission Required
You must have editing permission for this entry in order to post comments.