Richard Scruby: Appointed To NSW Supreme Court Equity

• Richard Scruby has been appointed to the New South Wales Supreme Court, slated to join the Equity Division on September 3, 2026.
• NSW Attorney General Michael Daley announced the appointment, praising Scruby's reputation as a leading litigation barrister with extensive experience.
• Scruby's broad legal background includes corporations, commercial law, equity, insolvency, and taxation, alongside administrative, public, and constitutional law.
• He has been a member of the NSW bar since 2002 and was appointed senior counsel in 2017.
• This appointment is one of several recent judicial additions to the NSW Supreme Court, including Katherine Richardson, Helen Roberts, James Emmett, Edward Muston, and Natalie Adams.

The appointment of Richard Scruby to the NSW Supreme Court Equity Division marks a notable development for legal practitioners in the state.

Barrister Richard Scruby has been appointed to the New South Wales Supreme Court, with plans for him to be sworn into the Equity Division on September 3, 2026. The announcement was made by New South Wales Attorney General Michael Daley, who highlighted Scruby's extensive experience and reputation within the legal community. This significant judicial appointment is expected to bolster the court's capacity, particularly in complex commercial and corporate litigation.

Richard Scruby brings a wealth of experience to his new role, having been a member of the NSW bar since 2002, accumulating 24 years of practice. His professional journey includes an appointment as senior counsel in 2017. Scruby's practice at Tenth Floor Wentworth Selborne Chambers, which he joined in 2004, has been notably broad, encompassing corporations, commercial law, equity, insolvency, and taxation.

Beyond these core areas, his expertise extends to administrative, public, and constitutional law, arbitration, commissions of inquiry, consumer protection, insurance, and real property matters. Scruby has also contributed to legal scholarship, authoring articles for the Australian Bar Review and Australian Law Journal on subjects such as the law of contracts and corporations. Early in his career, in 1999, he served as an associate to Justice Ian Callinan in the High Court of Australia, further solidifying his foundational legal experience. He has also been an active member of the NSW Bar Association's professional conduct and diversity and equity committees.

The appointment of Richard Scruby to the NSW Supreme Court Equity Division is part of a series of recent judicial appointments aimed at strengthening the state's highest court. In May 2026, the NSW Department of Communities and Justice announced Katherine Richardson, a barrister with over two decades of experience, would join the NSW Supreme Court, with her swearing-in scheduled for June 3, 2026. Earlier in the year, on March 4, 2026, NSW Chief Justice Andrew Bell welcomed Helen Roberts as another new judge to the Supreme Court.

These additions follow several appointments made last November, which saw James Emmett and Edward Muston named as new judges to the Supreme Court. Additionally, Natalie Adams was appointed as the chief judge of the Common Law Division during the same period. These ongoing NSW judicial appointments 2026 reflect a concerted effort to ensure the court is well-equipped to handle its caseload and maintain robust legal oversight.

Lawyers practicing in NSW, particularly those involved in equity, commercial, or insolvency matters, should note the appointment of Richard Scruby to the Supreme Court's Equity Division. His extensive background in these areas suggests a potential influence on future rulings and the court's approach to complex commercial disputes within that division.

Source: Original reporting via Australasian Lawyer