Dr James Renwick SC is a member of the NSW Bar with a general commercial and public law practice, and particular interests in appellate, disciplinary, national security and inquiry work. He practices throughout Australia.

His clients include Australian governments and authorities, corporations and individuals.

He is a former Fulbright Scholar with research interests in national security, counter terrorism and de-radicalisation.

He is a Commander in the Royal Australian Naval Reserve, and Head of the Sydney Naval Legal Panel where he has experience in appearing at disciplinary trials and boards of inquiry, providing legal advice on questions of international law, and administering the Panel.


Experience

  • Solicitor: 1985-1995
  • Barrister: 1996 to present
  • Counsel assisting the Commonwealth Royal Commission into the Building and Construction Industry: September 2001 - February 2003
  • Senior Counsel: 2011
  • Member of the NSW Bar Council: 2000, 2001
  • Former Member of Professional Conduct Committees of the NSW Bar

Academic Qualifications, Appointments and Awards

  • LLB (Sydney) 1984
  • SJD (Sydney) 1993
  • Parsons Scholar 1993
  • Senior Fellow, University of Melbourne Law School, 2005
  • Fulbright Scholar, School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University, Washington DC 2007, 2008
  • Associate, Sydney Centre for International Law since 2009

Select Recent Appearances

Regularly appears in the High Court (over 20 Full Court hearings), Federal Court, NSW Supreme Court and NSW land and Environment Court and before a wide range of tribunals and inquiries. Select recent appearances include

  • Handlen and Paddison v R [2011] HCA 51
  • Hargraves and Stoten v R [2011] HCA 44
  • Queanbeyan City Council v ACTEW Corporation Ltd [2011] HCA 40
  • Haskins v Commonwealth [2011] HCA 28
  • Wainohu v New South Wales [2011] HCA 40
  • South Australia v Totani [2011] HCA 10
  • R v LK [2010] HCA 17
  • Birdon Pty Ltd v Houben Marine Pty Ltd [2011] FCAFC 126
  • Dhungutti Elders Council RNTBC v Registrar - Federal Court
  • New Zealand v Johnston [2011] FCAFC 2
  • Duarte v AMSA [2010] FCAFC 127
  • Monis and Droudis v R [2011] NSWCCA 231

Contact Details