Seven are barristers, while two others are state prosecutors
Peter Quinlan, Western Australia’s chief justice, has announced the appointments of nine senior counsel for 2025, selected among 31 applicants: Michael Rynne, Steven Wong, Wayne Zappia, Adam Sharpe, Gemma Beggs, Heather Millar, Cobey Taggart, Beau Sertorio, and Alexander Mossop.
According to a media statement from the Supreme Court of Western Australia, seven of the appointees have practised as barristers, while the other two have served as state prosecutors.
The court’s media statement provides more information regarding the professional experience and organisational involvement of the new senior counsel.
Rynne obtained admission to practice in Queensland in 1978 and in Western Australia in 1998. He has practised as an independent barrister since 2023 from John Toohey Chambers.
His practice has spanned native titles, criminal law, and commercial law. He currently works exclusively in family law and keeps a pro bono practice.
Rynne has served in various capacities on the WA Bar Council.
Wong received admission to practice in WA in 2003. He has practised as an independent barrister since 2009. He currently practises from Quayside Chambers, where he serves as a director and company secretary.
His practice has included regulatory law, investigations, equity, corporate law, and banking law. He also maintains a pro bono practice, including with the Subiaco Justice Centre. He has likewise served on the Bar Council.
Before joining the bar, Wong worked as a solicitor at Corrs Chambers Westgarth.
Zappia earned admission to practice in WA in 2004. He has practised as an independent barrister since 2013. He currently practises from Shoreline Chambers.
He works in the areas of corporate insolvency, bankruptcy, intellectual property, trusts, construction law, and commercial litigation. As a bar training participant, he has supported numerous pupils and co-chaired units in the WA bar reader’s course, including the ethics and practice unit.
Prior to joining the bar, Zappia served as a solicitor at Phillips Fox and Lavan Legal.
Sharpe obtained admission to practice in WA in 2005. He has practised as an independent barrister from Francis Burt Chambers since 2013.
His public law practice has encompassed administrative and constitutional law, regulatory prosecutions, native titles, employment law, and commercial litigation. He is involved in legal education at the university level and in the legal profession.
Before joining the bar, Sharpe acted as a solicitor at the State Solicitor’s Office.
Beggs earned admission to practice in WA in 2005 and has since served as a senior state prosecutor. At the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), she has held various roles for more than two decades.
Since 2015, as a member of the ODPP appeals team, she has focused on appellate matters. Her work has taken her to the High Court of Australia, the Court of Appeal, and the General Division of the Supreme Court. In 2021, she became an acting Supreme Court registrar.
Beggs regularly contributes to continuing professional development programs, both within and beyond the ODPP.
Millar obtained admission to practice in WA in 2008. She has practised as an independent barrister since 2016. She currently practises from Shoreline Chambers.
Her workplace law practice has included employment, industrial, discrimination, occupational safety, and disciplinary and regulatory matters. She keeps a pro bono practice and regularly contributes to legal education and advocacy training efforts.
Prior to joining the bar, Millar practised at Freehills in Western Australia and at Lewis Silkin LLP in England.
Taggart received admission to practice in WA in 2008. She has practised as an independent barrister from Francis Burt Chambers since 2018.
Her public law practice has covered migration, native titles, the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), judicial reviews, mining, and environmental law matters. She participates in legal education programs and maintains a pro bono practice.
Before joining the bar, Taggart served as senior assistant state counsel and had roles with the National Native Title Tribunal and New South Wales Native Title Services.
Sertorio earned admission to practice in WA in 2008. As a senior consultant state prosecutor at the ODPP, he has served as a corporate executive committee member, among other positions, since 2007.
He focuses his practice on all kinds of crime, with an emphasis on complex trials. He has been involved in legal education within the ODPP and with external agencies and organisations.
Mossop obtained admission to practice in WA in 2010. He has practised as an independent barrister since 2016. He currently practises from Shoreline Chambers.
His practice focuses on criminal law and commercial litigation, including matters involving white collar and corporate crime, civil penalty proceedings, regulatory offences, employment law, and general commercial matters. He participates in advocacy training initiatives across numerous organisations and keeps a substantial pro bono practice.
Prior to joining the bar, Mossop practised as a solicitor at multiple local and national law firms.
