| Notes |
Justice Paul Brereton was born on 27 August 1957 in North Sydney. He was educated at Knox Grammar School (where he was a Cadet Under Officer, Prefect, and Dux of the School in 1975) and the University of Sydney, from which he graduated Bachelor of Arts with Honours in 1980 and Bachelor of Laws in 1982. While a student, he was elected President of the Students Representative Council for two successive terms, and a student Fellow of the University Senate, the governing body of the University.
He was admitted as a solicitor in New South Wales in 1982, and practised as an employed solicitor with Duncan Barron & Co in Sydney, until 1987, mainly in litigation. While a solicitor, he was a member of the Law Society’s Ethics Committee.
He was called to the New South Wales Bar in 1987, and until his appointment to the bench practised continuously from 3rd floor, Wentworth Chambers, of which floor he became the leader. He was appointed Senior Counsel in 1998. His diverse general practice included equity, commercial, trade practices, bankruptcy, professional negligence and discipline, immigration, crime, and family law. He appeared regularly in major cases in the Supreme Court of NSW and the NSW Court of Appeal, the Federal Court of Australia and its Full Court, the Family Court of Australia and its Full Court, and the High Court of Australia. He frequently appeared for solicitors and barristers in disciplinary proceedings. His practice was based mainly in Sydney but he was also admitted in Western Australia, Queensland, Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory, and his practice extended to Tasmania and the Northern Territory.
On 15 August 2005, he was sworn in as a Judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, where he is assigned primarily to the Equity Division, but sits occasionally in the Common Law Division. The Equity Division hears civil cases involving the specific performance of agreements, the grant of injunctive relief, trusts, property, commercial disputes, and relief from harsh and unconscionable transactions.
His Honour enlisted in the Army Reserve in 1975 and was commissioned in 1979. His appointments have included Second-in-command of Sydney University Regiment (1994-96), Commanding Officer, 4th/3rd Battalion, The Royal New South Wales Regiment (1997-99), and as an instructor at the Australian Command and Staff College (2000-01). He was subsequently Colonel, Reserve Policy (2003-04) and then Chief of Staff, 5th Brigade (2005-06), for which service he was awarded a Land Commander’s commendation. On 1 January 2007 he was promoted Brigadier and posted Assistant Chief of Staff, Land Headquarters, and on 1 January 2008, assumed his current posting as Commander 5th Brigade.
From 1977 until 1997 he was also Training Officer of the Knox Grammar School Cadet Unit.
His Honour is married to Sue; they have an 18-year-old son Adam, now at University; and twin 7-year-old daughters, Josephine and Katherine. |