Appointment of four Queen's Counsel

12/3/97

Attorney General Peter Foss today announced the appointment of four Queen's Counsel.

Mr Foss said Chief Justice David Malcolm had recommended that John Walters, Ronald Birmingham, Kenneth Martin and Frank Castiglione be appointed as Queen's Counsel.

Their appointments were approved yesterday by Western Australian Governor Major-General Michael Jeffrey in Executive Council.

Mr Walters was admitted to practice in Western Australia in February 1975 and was a partner in Lavan & Walsh and later Lavan Solomon (now Phillips Fox) between 1982 and 1985.

He joined the WA Bar Association in 1985 and has practised solely as a barrister since that time, principally in family and criminal law.

Mr Walters, who was chairman of the Chiropractors' Registration Board for eight years until 1995, has regularly appeared for clients in the Family Court and Full Court of the Family Court of Australia.

Mr Birmingham studied law at the University of WA and was admitted to practice in December 1978.

He was a partner with law firm Dwyer & Thomas between 1980-1983 and has practised solely as a barrister since joining the WA Bar Association in 1983.

Mr Birmingham has had a wide range of experience in civil and criminal jurisdictions - including the District, Supreme and Federal Courts and the High Court of Australia - and has regularly prosecuted on behalf of both the State and Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions, as well as appearing as defence counsel.

He has held a variety of positions including Commissioner of the District Court (1993-94), and was a member of the WA Chamber of Commerce and Industry Legislative Review Committee (1990-93).

Last year he served as the chairman of the State Committee for the Centenary of Federation and was a member of the National Council for Centenary of Federation.

Mr Martin studied at the University of Western Australia and became a solicitor in December 1978.

He first joined law firm Parker & Parker in 1978, later served as the associate to the Hon Sir Ronald Wilson in the High Court of Australia and practised in London before rejoining Parker & Parker where he became a partner in 1984.

Mr Martin, who has been the editor of the Western Australian Law Reports since 1985, has practised in all areas of commercial litigation and was a commissioner of the District Court last year.

Mr Castiglione was previously a qualified school teacher and was articled to Stone James & Co (now Mallesons Stephen Jaques) in 1976.

He has worked for a variety of Perth law firms since becoming a solicitor in 1978 and tutored in Family Law at the University of WA in the early 1980s.

Mr Castiglione has specialised in Family Law and has presented numerous papers at Family Law conferences and conferences of other professional groups.

Media contact: Kirsten Stoney 221 1377