Two eminent ACT lawyers, described as "leaders of the Bar", have been appointed silk.
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The ACT Bar Association announced Philip Anthony Walker and Peter John Fawckner Garrisson would be appointed as senior counsel.
Mr Walker, who has practiced since 1988, helped with the successful introduction of the ACT Supreme Court blitz, a 12-week intensive listing of cases that significantly reduced the jurisdiction's backlog.
As a president and member for the ACT Law Reform Commission, he fought changes to personal injury legislation and moves to reduce rights to trial by jury.
He also actively opposed changes to the right to self-defence in assault cases, and helped to amend Supreme Court procedures.
Mr Walker mainly practices in commercial and administrative law, and was the ACT Bar Association president from 2010 until 2012.
He has worked as a legal officer in the Navy Reserve since 2004.
The second newly-appointed silk, Mr Garrisson, has been the Solicitor-General for the ACT since August 2011.
Before that, Mr Garrisson worked for several years as the Chief Solicitor for the Territory.
He was admitted to legal practice in 1981 in Victoria, and worked in the private and public sector, before joining the ACT Government Solicitor's office in 1999.
ACT Bar Association president Greg Stretton, SC, said the appointments had involved a rigorous selection process, which included consultation with local and interstate judiciary and senior barristers.
There had been strong support for both of the new senior counsel.
"We are fortunate to have both of these eminent members joining the ranks of senior counsel," Mr Stretton said.
"They can both truly be seen as leaders of the Bar," he said.
Attorney-General Simon Corbell congratulated Mr Garrisson on the appointment, saying it recognised his long and impressive contribution to the profession and to the ACT.
“Mr Garrisson has been in legal practice for over 30 years in the private and public sector, and he continues to make a significant contribution to the Australian Capital Territory in the field of civil, administrative and public law," Mr Corbell said.
"His appointment is strong recognition of his ongoing service.”