Supreme Court of Victoria welcomes Meghan O’Sullivan as a judge
Effective 29 September 2026, Justice Lisa Nichols has joined as a judge of appeal of the Court of Appeal of the Supreme Court of Victoria, while Meghan O’Sullivan has started sitting as a judge of the Supreme Court of Victoria.
In a news release, the Victorian Supreme Court welcomed the Executive Council’s appointments, with O’Sullivan joining the Commercial Court. O’Sullivan replaced Nichols, who had joined the Commercial Court in 2019.
The court’s news release provided more information regarding the two judicial appointees.
Before joining the bench, Nichols’ legal career of nearly three decades included acting in the Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation, and Financial Services Industry, in the Bushfires Royal Commission, and in the Victorian Mental Health Royal Commission.
In 2017, she was appointed silk. She was a barrister at Chancery Chambers and a partner at Slater and Gordon. Her practice has covered class actions, commercial law, competition and consumer matters, professional liability, and torts causing economic loss.
Nichols obtained her LLB with first-class honours from Monash University.
With two decades of experience at the bar, O’Sullivan has worked across the areas of commercial, common, and insurance law, as well as property, equity, trusts, and torts. She has appeared before the Federal Court of Australia and all the state’s courts and tribunals.
She practised from Ninian Stephen Chambers 3909. She also served as a solicitor at Mallesons Stephen Jaques, now known as King & Wood Mallesons. She joined the bar in 2005 and earned admission into legal practice in 2002.
O’Sullivan was vice president of the Commercial Bar Association and a member of the pro bono committee of the Victorian bar.
She received her LLB and philosophy degrees with honours. While enrolled at Monash University, she won the World University Debating Championships.
Here are some other recent news stories involving appointments in the state.
The Supreme Court of Victoria welcomed Justice Rowena Orr’s appointment as president of the Court of Appeal, effective 29 September 2026. She succeeded Justice Karin Emerton, who retired as of 28 September 2026.
On 7 July 2026, the County Court of Victoria announced Malcolm Harding’s appointment as a judge sitting in its Common Law Division, effective 7 July 2026.
On 12 May 2026, the Victorian County Court welcomed the appointments of the following judges: Rose Falla, Tara Hartnett, Peter Matthews, and Rebecca Wilson.
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