SA Chief Justice Stein: Appoints Simon Blewett, Benjamin Garnaut Senior Counsel

• Simon James Blewett and Benjamin Leigh Garnaut have been appointed as new Senior Counsel in South Australia.
• SA Chief Justice Laura Stein announced the appointments, citing their diligent performance and adherence to high standards.
• The selection process involved extensive consultation and rigorous criteria, including legal learning, advocacy skills, and integrity.
• Simon Blewett specializes in employment, industrial relations, discrimination, and workers compensation law.
• Benjamin Garnaut, an assistant Crown advocate, focuses on civil, commercial, industrial, and public law litigation for the state.

The elevation of Simon Blewett Benjamin Garnaut Senior Counsel SA marks a key moment for the state's legal landscape.

The South Australian legal community has seen the appointment of two distinguished practitioners, Simon James Blewett and Benjamin Leigh Garnaut, to the esteemed rank of Senior Counsel. This significant announcement was made by SA Chief Justice Laura Stein, who commended both individuals for their dedicated service to the courts and their clients, acknowledging that their recognition was well-earned through diligent performance.

The selection process for these pivotal roles was comprehensive, involving extensive consultation across the state's judicial officers, senior law officers, and various legal professionals. Criteria for selection encompassed a broad range of attributes, including profound legal learning, exceptional advocacy skills and experience, unwavering integrity, independence, and a commitment to availability for potential clients. Chief Justice Stein underscored the profound importance of these appointments, not only for the successful applicants but also for the broader legal profession and the South Australian community at large. She emphasized that Senior Counsel are expected to exemplify leadership within the profession, upholding the highest standards of legal excellence, integrity, and respectful conduct. The elevation of Simon Blewett Benjamin Garnaut Senior Counsel SA marks a key moment for the state's legal landscape.

Simon Blewett brings a wealth of experience, primarily focusing on employment, industrial relations, discrimination, and workers compensation law. His practice in these areas is nearly exclusive, demonstrating a deep specialization. Additionally, he maintains a more limited engagement with administrative law and legal matters pertaining to Aboriginal people.

His extensive courtroom experience spans various jurisdictions, including the Federal Family and Federal Circuit Court of Australia, the Federal Court, the Fair Work Commission, and the South Australian Employment Tribunal (SAET). Mr. Blewett also makes periodic appearances before the South Australian Court of Appeal, particularly for appeals originating from the SAET. He was admitted to legal practice in December 1990 and joined the independent bar in July 2017. His academic credentials include an LLM from New York University and an LLB with first-class honours from the University of Adelaide, solidifying his foundation in Simon Blewett employment law SA.

Benjamin Garnaut currently serves as an assistant Crown advocate, a role in which he provides counsel and representation to the state, its ministers, and various agencies across a wide spectrum of primary and appellate proceedings. His advocacy is predominantly concentrated on complex civil, commercial, industrial, and public law litigation. Furthermore, his practice extends to regulatory prosecutions, administrative merits reviews, and coronial inquests.

Mr. Garnaut is a regular presence in prominent South Australian courts and tribunals, including the South Australian Court of Appeal, the Supreme Court, the South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, and the SAET. He also periodically appears before the High Court of Australia and the Federal Court of Australia, reflecting his broad national reach. Admitted to legal practice in September 2007, he holds an LLB with first-class honours from the University of Adelaide, underscoring his strong background in Benjamin Garnaut public law litigation SA.

These SA Senior Counsel appointments are part of a series of significant legal leadership changes and elevations within South Australia. The legal profession and the community benefit from the continued strengthening of judicial and advocacy ranks, ensuring high standards of legal practice and justice.

In related developments, the state's Attorney-General announced in late January the future appointments of Katrina Bochner and Kristopher Handshin as justices of the Supreme Court of South Australia, effective February 19, 2026. Preceding this, in mid-January, the Attorney-General also revealed that Laura Stein Chief Justice SA would assume the role of Chief Justice, replacing Chris Kourakis, also effective February 19, 2026. This historic appointment will make her the first woman to hold this distinguished position in South Australia.

Lawyers and compliance officers in South Australia should be aware of these new Senior Counsel appointments, noting their specific expertise in areas such as employment law, industrial relations, and complex civil and public law litigation, for potential engagement, referral, or understanding the leading advocates in these fields.

Source: Original reporting via Australasian Lawyer