New Crown Solicitor recommended

16/9/03
Deputy Crown Solicitor Tim Sharp has been named as the recommended candidate to become Western Australia's new Crown Solicitor.
This follows the retirement last month of Peter Panegyres after 42 years in the public service, 18 of which were as Crown Solicitor.
Attorney General Jim McGinty said Mr Sharp had been selected after an exhaustive nation-wide recruitment search. He had strongly impressed the selection panel as the stand out candidate for the job.
The appointment could not be confirmed until a two-week review period expired and there were no claims against the selection process.
Mr Sharp is currently head of the Crown Solicitor's Office commercial and conveyancing section and is experienced in all aspects of commercial and resource development law, including property, infrastructure, transport, finance, power, gas transmission, land development and State agreements.
Prior to joining the CSO, Mr Sharp was a partner with law firm Mallesons Stephen Jaques between 1989 and 1997.
Mr McGinty also paid tribute to outgoing Crown Solicitor Peter Panegyres.
"Mr Panegyres was an outstanding lawyer and civil servant who gave the State many years of invaluable advice and legal leadership," he said.
"He leaves behind a solid foundation upon which the incoming Crown Solicitor can build for the future."
The Crown Solicitor's Office provides broad-based legal services to the State Government, including Ministers, departments, instrumentalities and agencies.
It has a staff of 177 and an operating expenditure of approximately $20million.
Attorney General's office: 9220 5000