Reginald Ian Barrett
Encyclopedia
Reginald Ian Barrett is an Australian judge. He has been a judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales
since 2001. He had been a corporate and securities lawyer and a partner in Mallesons Stephen Jaques
, general counsel for Westpac Banking Corporation and 20 year partner with Allen Allen & Hemsley
.
, New South Wales, the son of Ronald Arthur Barrett and Lila Jean née Frew who had married in 1941.
He completed his secondary education (Leaving Certificate
) at Newcastle Boys High School and matriculated to the University of Sydney
. He was graduated Bachelor of Arts in 1964 and Bachelor of Laws in 1967.
He returned to The University of Sydney for further studies and was graduated as a Master of laws with first class honours in 1971.
He served as a councillor of Wesley College
at the University of Sydney between 1970 and 1977 where he had been elected senior student in his final undergraduate year.
in New South Wales
on 17 March 1967.
He was an articled clerk (19641967) with Allen Allen & Hemsley
, a year behind William Gummow
(later puisne justice of the High Court of Australia) and a year ahead of [John R F Lehane|John Lehane] (later a Federal Court judge). On admission he became an employed solicitor and made partner in 1971. From 1987 to 1989 he was their resident partner in London.
Barrett was a part-time member of the Companies and Securities Law Review Committee between 1983 and 1987.
In 1991 Barrett left Allens to become Group Secretary and General Counsel
for Westpac Banking Corporation which had been one of his clients at Allens.
From 1991 he was a part-time member of the Commonwealth Companies and Securities Advisory Committee and convenor of its legal committee.
In May 1995 Barrett became a partner at Mallesons Stephen Jaques
where he practised until his commission as a judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales in 2001.
In 1997 he was appointed Deputy Chairman of the Australian Stock Exchange Appeal Tribunal and then Chairman in January 1998.
As a corporate and securities law specialist he was involved in several important and complex Australian corporate cases: the 1995 Westpac
Challenge Bank merger, the NRMA insurance demutualisation, Comalco's takeover of Rio Tinto and the Australian Stock Exchange
demutualisation and self-listing which was a world first.
Barrett has been noted for his commitment to legal education. From 1973 to 1974 and from 1976 to 1987 (when he left Australia to work in London), he was a part-time lecturer at the Sydney Law School of The University of Sydney. He was also a consultant to the Legal Workshop, Australian National University
from 1973 to 1977. He chaired the Legal Qualifications Committee of the New South Wales Legal Practitioners Admission Board (200406) which he had joined in 2002.
Barrett has been a member of the editorial board of the Company and Securities Law Journal
since it began publication in 1982.
He has sung with the Sydney Philharmonic Choir including as one of their twelve hundred at the Opening Ceremony of the Sydney Olympic Games
.
Supreme Court of New South Wales
The Supreme Court of New South Wales is the highest state court of the Australian State of New South Wales...
since 2001. He had been a corporate and securities lawyer and a partner in Mallesons Stephen Jaques
Mallesons Stephen Jaques
Mallesons Stephen Jaques is a commercial law firm that operates in the Asia-Pacific region. It is one of the 30 largest law firms in Australia, and is widely regarded as one of the top commercial law firms in Australia.-Offices:...
, general counsel for Westpac Banking Corporation and 20 year partner with Allen Allen & Hemsley
Allens Arthur Robinson
Allens Arthur Robinson is a commercial law firm that operates in the Asia-Pacific region. In Australia, and throughout the Asia-Pacific region generally, it is considered to be one of the top commercial law firms.- Offices :...
.
Early life and education
Reginald Ian Barrett was born on 1 April 1944 in SydneySydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, New South Wales, the son of Ronald Arthur Barrett and Lila Jean née Frew who had married in 1941.
He completed his secondary education (Leaving Certificate
Leaving Certificate
The Leaving Certificate Examinations , commonly referred to as the Leaving Cert is the final examination in the Irish secondary school system. It takes a minimum of two years preparation, but an optional Transition Year means that for those students it takes place three years after the Junior...
) at Newcastle Boys High School and matriculated to the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
. He was graduated Bachelor of Arts in 1964 and Bachelor of Laws in 1967.
He returned to The University of Sydney for further studies and was graduated as a Master of laws with first class honours in 1971.
He served as a councillor of Wesley College
Wesley College, University of Sydney
Wesley College is a Protestant co-residential college of over 230 students within the University of Sydney. The College occupies a site on the main campus of the University of Sydney and was built on a sub-grant of Crown Land.- Academic profile :...
at the University of Sydney between 1970 and 1977 where he had been elected senior student in his final undergraduate year.
Career
Barrett was admitted as a solicitorSolicitor
Solicitors are lawyers who traditionally deal with any legal matter including conducting proceedings in courts. In the United Kingdom, a few Australian states and the Republic of Ireland, the legal profession is split between solicitors and barristers , and a lawyer will usually only hold one title...
in New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
on 17 March 1967.
He was an articled clerk (19641967) with Allen Allen & Hemsley
Allens Arthur Robinson
Allens Arthur Robinson is a commercial law firm that operates in the Asia-Pacific region. In Australia, and throughout the Asia-Pacific region generally, it is considered to be one of the top commercial law firms.- Offices :...
, a year behind William Gummow
William Gummow
William Montague Charles Gummow AC is a Justice of the High Court of Australia, the highest court in the Australian court hierarchy.-Biography:...
(later puisne justice of the High Court of Australia) and a year ahead of [John R F Lehane|John Lehane] (later a Federal Court judge). On admission he became an employed solicitor and made partner in 1971. From 1987 to 1989 he was their resident partner in London.
Barrett was a part-time member of the Companies and Securities Law Review Committee between 1983 and 1987.
In 1991 Barrett left Allens to become Group Secretary and General Counsel
General Counsel
A general counsel is the chief lawyer of a legal department, usually in a corporation or government department. The term is most used in the United States...
for Westpac Banking Corporation which had been one of his clients at Allens.
From 1991 he was a part-time member of the Commonwealth Companies and Securities Advisory Committee and convenor of its legal committee.
In May 1995 Barrett became a partner at Mallesons Stephen Jaques
Mallesons Stephen Jaques
Mallesons Stephen Jaques is a commercial law firm that operates in the Asia-Pacific region. It is one of the 30 largest law firms in Australia, and is widely regarded as one of the top commercial law firms in Australia.-Offices:...
where he practised until his commission as a judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales in 2001.
In 1997 he was appointed Deputy Chairman of the Australian Stock Exchange Appeal Tribunal and then Chairman in January 1998.
As a corporate and securities law specialist he was involved in several important and complex Australian corporate cases: the 1995 Westpac
Westpac
Westpac , is a multinational financial services, one of the Australian "big four" banks and the second-largest bank in New Zealand....
Challenge Bank merger, the NRMA insurance demutualisation, Comalco's takeover of Rio Tinto and the Australian Stock Exchange
Australian Securities Exchange
The Australian Securities Exchange was created by the merger of the Australian Stock Exchange and the Sydney Futures Exchange in July 2006. It is the primary stock exchange group in Australia....
demutualisation and self-listing which was a world first.
Barrett has been noted for his commitment to legal education. From 1973 to 1974 and from 1976 to 1987 (when he left Australia to work in London), he was a part-time lecturer at the Sydney Law School of The University of Sydney. He was also a consultant to the Legal Workshop, Australian National University
Australian National University
The Australian National University is a teaching and research university located in the Australian capital, Canberra.As of 2009, the ANU employs 3,945 administrative staff who teach approximately 10,000 undergraduates, and 7,500 postgraduate students...
from 1973 to 1977. He chaired the Legal Qualifications Committee of the New South Wales Legal Practitioners Admission Board (200406) which he had joined in 2002.
Barrett has been a member of the editorial board of the Company and Securities Law Journal
Company and Securities Law Journal
The Company and Securities Law Journal is a peer-reviewed law journal published in Australia since 1982.The general editors are Bob Baxt and Dr Paul Ali...
since it began publication in 1982.
Personal life
On the 1 August 1970 he married Susan, the daughter of Mervyn G and Dorothy M Campbell. They have two sons.He has sung with the Sydney Philharmonic Choir including as one of their twelve hundred at the Opening Ceremony of the Sydney Olympic Games
2000 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony
The Opening Ceremony of the 2000 Summer Olympics was described by IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch as the most beautiful ceremony the world has ever seen. Held on the evening of Friday 15 September 2000, the Opening Ceremony represented everything Australian, from sea creatures and flora/fauna...
.