Paul Menzies was called to the bar in 1973, having practised for 5 years in Sydney and London as a Solicitor. He took Silk in 1988 and currently practices from 8 Wentworth Chambers Sydney, Southern Highland Chambers Exeter, as a member of Dever’s Melbourne list and from the Chambers of Paul Menzies QC Singapore.
Paul is admitted as a practitioner at:
- The Dubai International Financial Centre Court. A common law based jurisdiction offering an enforceable consent jurisdiction to deal with commercial disputes in the Middle East and North Africa.
- The Singapore International Commercial Court. The court has jurisdiction to hear matters of an international and commercial nature where the parties have submitted to the court’s jurisdiction.
Paul has always maintained a very diverse practice appearing as an advocate at both trial and appellate level in administrative law, constitutional law, criminal law, common law, particularly. medical negligence, insurance and commercial Law.
His most recent commercial practices including guarantee, unconscionable conduct and mortgage cases, He is the co-author of the chapter on guarantees in the Banking and Finance volume of Halsbury’s Laws of Australia.
Paul has had extensive experience in Work Place matters including award and agreement negotiations and litigation as well as unfair dismissal and discrimination claims.
Paul has appeared for insured defendants and their insurers, and frequently advises on various aspects of insurance law and liability, both contractual and arising under statute. These appearances have included cases of extent and limits of indemnity, dual insurance and reinsurance.
Paul’s professional life at the Bar has seen him appear for Governments in a broad range of areas extending through most aspects of administrative law (including workplace relations), constitutional law, contract and common law generally.
As a result of his relationship with Government cases, Paul has gained considerable insight into the workings of the executive Government and the Public Service and is sensitive to the nuanced approach that is required when appearing either for or against Government.
He has appeared in most administrative and quasi-judicial tribunals including Fair Work Australia, the NSW Industrial Relations Commission and their various predecessors, Administrative Decisions Tribunals, and professional disciplinary bodies. Paul has also appeared for interested parties and as Counsel Assisting in a broad range of inquiries, including ICAC, significant Coronial Inquests and Royal Commissions.
Paul has enthusiastically contributed to the legal profession in respect to health and education. He is a regular commentator on depression in the legal profession and addresses methods of dealing with and combating mental illness.
Paul has undertaken roles as an advocacy teacher at courses conducted by the Australian Bar Association, as a member of the International Faculty at the UK Bar advocacy training course at Keble College, Oxford and as an advocacy trainer in Singapore on the invitation of the Singapore Law Society.