11 December 2015: Clayton Utz is pleased to announce that Dr Ashley Tsacalos [1] will join the firm's national Public Sector practice as a partner in 2016, based in Sydney.
Ashley has built a reputation as one of Australia's leading advisers to government in the areas of dispute resolution and litigation, and administrative law. His areas of specialisation include contractual disputes, tort claims, judicial review, merits review, regulatory enforcement, public law, government information law and privacy, tendering issues and, insurance law.
Ashley acts for a range of government departments and agencies at federal and state level, as well as Ministers and senior public servants. He has extensive experience in managing complex and often sensitive disputes for government and has also conducted a number of investigations and reviews for government departments and agencies. Ashley also acts for a range of private sector clients within his areas of expertise.
In addition, Ashley has significant experience and expertise in relation to inquiries and Royal Commissions. In the last 12 months, he has represented significant parties in three major inquiries: the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse; the Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption; and the Special Commission of Inquiry into Greyhound Racing in NSW.
He also acted for the Commonwealth Government in the Montara Commission of Inquiry in 2010 following the worst oil spill in the history of Australia's offshore petroleum industry in 2009.
The head of Clayton Utz's Public Sector national practice group, Jamie Doran, welcomed Ashley's appointment. "Ashley reinforces our commitment to remaining the leading legal services provider to the public sector, particularly in New South Wales. Our government clients will benefit from his broad range of experience and unique understanding of the State and Federal government environments. He will play a leading role in our Public Sector practice."
Footnote
1Ashley was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy (Law) in 2012, for his thesis on constitutional law and appellate advocacy. He holds several positions including: Adjunct Lecturer, University of Sydney; Honorary Senior Fellow and Member of the School of Law Advisory Committee, University of Wollongong; Member of the Specialist Accreditation Dispute Resolution Advisory Committee, Law Society of NSW.