Western Australia Attorney General Christian Porter

New judge of the Supreme Court of Western Australia

Victor P Taffa

Barrister Michael Corboy SC has been appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court of Western Australia, replacing the Hon Justice Christine Wheeler who retires from the court on March 2, 2010.

Announcing the appointment today, Attorney General Christian Porter said Mr Corboy would commence his appointment on April 19, 2010.

Mr Corboy graduated from The University of Western Australia with an economics degree in 1973.

After lecturing in economics at Curtin University of Technology and working as a research associate and tutor at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, Mr Corboy graduated in 1980 from The University of Western Australia with a Bachelor of Jurisprudence (Hons.) and a Bachelor of Laws.

He was admitted to practice in 1980 and commenced his Articles at Warren McDonald French and Harrison (now Norton Rose Australia) with Robert French (now Chief Justice French of the High Court).

Mr Corboy became a partner of the firm in 1982 and practised in criminal law and civil litigation before joining Stone James (now Mallesons Stephen Jaques), becoming a partner in 1987.

In 1993, Mr Corboy was elected to the National Board of Partners and became head of the Perth litigation group.

“Mr Corboy has diverse commercial litigation practice and from 1990 to 1993 he advised on, and appeared in, various criminal and confiscation proceedings arising out of the Special Investigation into the affairs of Rothwells Ltd.” Mr Porter said.

In 1996, Mr Corboy joined the Independent Bar practising out of Francis Burt Chambers, primarily in the field of commercial litigation.  For many years he has appeared for the liquidator in the Bell Group v Westpac Banking matter.

“Mr Corboy has taken an active role as a member of the Bar Council and the Board of WA Bar Chambers where he was elected chairman from 2006 to 2009.” the Attorney General said.

“He is currently deputy chairman of the Legal Practitioners’ Complaints Committee, having been a member of the committee since 2002. He was also a member of the Law Society Ethics Committee from 1986 to 2008 and was the convenor of the committee for seven years.

“I congratulate Mr Corboy on his appointment.”