Government and Public Law

AH has a superior knowledge of, and background in, the practice of government and public law. A number of AH’s lawyers have held senior positions in federal and state government agencies.
 
A founding partner, Tony Hartnell, was the inaugural Chairman of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission and National Companies and Securities Commission (predecessor organisations to ASIC), Senior Assistant Secretary in the Attorney–General’s Department, a Member of the National Companies and Securities Advisory Committee, a Member of the Trade Development Council, Special Legal Adviser to the Australian Government Inquiry into Telecommunications and Deputy Secretary of the (then) Commonwealth Department of Business and Consumer Affairs.
 
AH is appointed to the Commonwealth Government’s Legal Services Multi-Use List. 

AH lawyers understand the technical requirements of working with Government and public bodies. AH is able to provide standardised documentation which takes into account Government’s internal procedures for making and authorising decisions. We recognise the statutory and policy framework under which issues are brought to us and that individual matters often do not take place in a vacuum. Our lawyers are experienced in working with clients to identify and resolve matters which have “whole of agency” or “whole of Government” implications.

 
Examples of the high-profile Government and public law engagements carried out by AH’s lawyers include:

  • acting for the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), Department of Defence and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO);
  • acting in many ASIC and Australian Taxation Office (ATO) related compliance matters;
  • acting on key infrastructure and transport projects, such as the Lane Cove Tunnel, M5 East, M7 and Melbourne’s CityLink; and
  • acting for Seven West Media in connection with its successful AD(JR) challenge to search warrants and related orders issued in respect of proceeds of crime investigation.