Outside the Square

Running these conferences has enabled me to establish a niche practice at the bar. The conferences take up in aggregate 3 months of the year (including January), leaving the rest of the year for practice at the bar, which has developed into areas outside the square.

My principal area of practice is administrative law (ie taking on the government) with a sub-specialty of migration law. I have appeared in every court and tribunal in Australia which deals with migration matters including the High Court & Federal Court and in criminal matters involving migration law in the Magistrates Court. As result I publish a journal called ‘Migration Law & Practice’, see the contents page on the back of this sheet. One pleasant compliment paid to me recently was the Federal Government amending the migration regulations to make them consistent with my submissions in my successful appeal to the Full Federal Court. This overturned a long standing and incorrect interpretation of the visa provisions.

My other areas of practice are – arbitration & mediation, industrial law, disciplinary matters (including representing lawyers, doctors, engineers and other practitioners in disciplinary hearings), Federal law generally, international trade law & intellectual property.

There is no doubt that non-court means of resolving disputes is a genuine cost-effective alternative to litigation. I am a qualified arbitrator and have represented clients in numerous commercial arbitrations. I am also mediator & case appraiser of the Qld Supreme Court. As I do not practice in general areas of law, it means I am not reliant on briefs from solicitors who practice in that area, making me a good choice as a mediator, case appraiser or arbitrator.

Disciplinary issues for professionals are increasing, I have the advantage of prosecuting and defending in this area (being previously on the panel of counsel prosecuting real estate agents and motor dealers and as counsel advising one of the professional building boards). I have helped medical professionals deal with the Health Insurance Commission and migration agents and lawyers deal with the Migration Agents Registration Authority.

The ‘Work-Choices’ legislation still leaves a lot of room for dispute over employment contracts and industrial disputes will now be more set piece. Over the yeas I have appeared in almost every court and arbitral body which deals with industrial relations. On international trade law, my main expertise is acting as a go between in commercial disputes and other matters involving Australia and Europe, more particularly Italy. Some Italian lawyers need someone to represent them in Australia and Australian lawyers need someone to liaise with their Italian lawyers. These include issues of property, trade disputes & personal injuries.

Finally, my last area of practice is intellectual property, including areas such are architects plans, passing off, trade marks & copyright generally.

Lorenzo Boccabella