The firm becomes ADRAC’s registered office, replacing the Australian Government Solicitor in the role
Moray & Agnew has announced that it is teaming up with the Australian Dispute Resolution Advisory Council (ADRAC) to help advance dispute resolution policy, research and education in the country.
The firm takes over the role previously held by the Australian Government Solicitor (AGS) as ADRAC’s registered office. ADRAC is an independent not-for-profit organisation that focuses on bolstering the knowledge and understanding of dispute resolution processes.
The organisation highlights effective dispute resolution approaches in the public interest and contributes significantly to alternative dispute resolution development and access to justice.
As ADRAC’s new registered office, Moray & Agnew will provide governance as well as executive, company secretarial and legal support. The firm said the partnership is indicative of its commitment to providing pro bono assistance to “organisations that strengthen the legal profession, improve access to justice and create positive outcomes for the wider community”.
“Pro bono is an important part of who we are as a firm. We are committed to supporting organisations that improve access to justice and strengthen Australia's legal system”, said Lauren Stubbs, who leads Moray & Agnew’s pro bono practice. “ADRAC performs an important role in advancing the understanding and effectiveness of dispute resolution in Australia. We are proud to support the organisation and its mission through the provision of pro bono services and governance support”.
The AGS will continue to provide pro bono legal help to ADRAC. The AGS had worked with the not-for-profit since ADRAC’s inception in 2015, taking on company secretary duties.
Every year, one AGS lawyer would be tapped to serve as ADRAC’s executive secretary. However, Anti-Money Laundering and Counterterrorism Financing Act 2006 (Cth) reforms that came into force on 1 July meant that it was no longer viable for the AGS to provide pro bono executive support to ADRAC.
“We will always be grateful to the AGS for the wonderful executive assistance
it has provided during the eleven years since 2015. We are also grateful that the AGS will continue its pro bono legal assistance to us”, ADRAC said in a statement on its website.
The organisation said it was eager to collaborate with Moray & Agnew to champion alternative dispute resolution.
Moray & Agnew’s partnership with ADRAC highlights the importance the Australian legal profession places on pro bono work. This year, Dentons renewed its partnership with the Australian Sporting Alliance for People with Disability; Gilbert + Tobin also bolstered its pro bono practice in a recent promotions round.
Earlier this year, the Federal Court also teamed up with the Victoria Bar’s pro bono committee to use the latter’s online portal as a central mechanism for managing amicus curiae appointments and referrals for pro bono assistance under Division 4.2 of the Federal Court Rules 2011.
