- Published:
- Tuesday 2 June 2020
The Andrews Labor Government has today announced the appointments of Justice Michael Sifris to the Court of Appeal and Kathryn Stynes and Jim Delany QC to the Trial Division of the Supreme Court.
Justice Sifris was appointed to the Trial Division of the Supreme Court in 2010 and currently sits in the Commercial Court. Since 2016, he has served as the Judge in Charge of the Corporations List, presiding over many complex and high-profile cases.
Justice Sifris is highly regarded as an expert in corporate insolvency law. He has supervised and assisted in the implementation of various measures designed to streamline procedures and minimise costs, particularly in the area of shareholder oppression cases.
Justice Sifris was admitted to practice in Victoria in 1987, having previously practised in South Africa. In 1989 he signed the Victorian Bar Roll and was appointed Senior Counsel in 2002.
Ms Stynes specialises in building and construction law, regularly appearing in the Supreme Court (Trial Division and Court of Appeal) and in domestic and international arbitrations.
Ms Stynes has developed a considerable body of work acting for principals and contractors in relation to a range of infrastructure, engineering and construction projects. Her expertise has been recognised by the prestigious Doyle’s Guide as a Pre-eminent leading Australian Construction and Infrastructure Junior Counsel.
She is also a Senior Fellow of the Melbourne University Law School where she lectures in construction law in the Melbourne Law Masters program.
Ms Stynes was admitted to practice in 1992 and signed the Bar Roll in 2005. She holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Science from Monash University.
Mr Delany has practised law for four decades, with a focus on commercial litigation, including appearing in class actions, Royal Commissions, contract and negligence disputes, corporations and insolvency disputes and claims for land compensation and for financial loss.
Mr Delany practises across all Australian jurisdictions and in arbitrations, but predominantly appears in the Federal and Supreme Courts and the Court of Appeal. Mr Delany also appeared at the Financial Services Royal Commission in 2018, and at the Aged Care Royal Commission in 2019.
Mr Delany was first admitted to practice in 1980, signed the Bar Roll in 1985 and was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2003. Mr Delany holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Master of Laws from the University of Melbourne.
Mr Delany and Justice Sifris will commence their terms from today, while Ms Stynes will take up her role from 22 June 2020.
Quotes attributable to Attorney-General Jill Hennessy
“I congratulate the appointees—the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal will greatly benefit from their expertise and sound knowledge of the law.”
“Justice Sifris has been dedicated to the Supreme Court for the past 10 years, and I am grateful for his efforts in reforming a range of court processes for the betterment of all parties.”