William and Lonsdale - Lives in the Law explores the legal ecosystem and the fascinating people that make it tick. Your host Michael Green interviews guests from all corners of the criminal justice system, delving into what keeps them motivated, passionate and engaged; their challenges, frustrations; and how their lives in the law have shaped them.
This week, we welcome Derek Humphery-Smith, Partner and Head of International at Lander & Rogers, to Lives in the Law. Derek practises in all areas of workplace relations and safety law. He is also Chair of TerraLex, the world’s largest network of independent law firms, and Chairman of the Victorian Council of Governors for the American Chamber of Commerce in Australia - roles we explore in this episode. Derek first studied science at the University of Queensland, where he discovered a passion for anatomy. But while completing his honours year, it dawned on him that science might not be his lifelong path, so he embarked on a law degree. Around the same time, he was transitioning from playing AFL football at university to umpiring. He went on to become an AFL umpire, a role that brought him to Melbourne, where he pursued both his legal career and umpiring simultaneously. As you’ll hear, in a football town like Melbourne there were significant professional benefits to being on the inside of the AFL, and often unexpected advantages to having both strings to his bow. It’s a fascinating conversation about a career that has spanned the law, international legal practice, governance and elite sport, and a pleasure to welcome Derek to Lives in the Law. www.greenslist.com.au/podcast www.themelbournemap.com.au
This week we welcome Peter Gordon, one of Australia’s most prominent class action lawyers. Peter’s worldview was profoundly shaped by growing up in Melbourne’s west. It informed both his politics and his approach to the law - particularly his belief that the law could, and should, be used to protect ordinary people from the wrongdoing of powerful institutions. It also forged a deep and lifelong passion for the Footscray Football Club, where he would, of course, go on to serve as President - twice. As we’ll hear today, even before he was admitted to practice, Peter was taking on large companies he believed were doing the wrong thing - and he hasn’t stopped doing so since. Over the decades, Peter has been involved in many landmark cases, including the first successful mesothelioma litigation in Australia, representing medically acquired HIV patients, acting for women injured by defective breast implants, and survivors of Thalidomide. It is a wide ranging and fascinating conversation, and a pleasure to welcome him to Lives in the Law. www.greenslist.com.au/podcast www.themelbournemap.com.au
This week we welcome recently retired Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria, The Honourable Christopher Beale - and, for the first time on Lives in the Law, we welcome a second guest later in the episode: Chris’s eldest son, Max, a well-known and much-loved member of Melbourne’s legal community. Chris became known around the world as the presiding judge in the case of Erin Patterson, the so-called “mushroom murders.” We will hear about that experience in detail, but despite the global attention the case attracted, it is far from the most compelling chapter in his life. Across his career, Chris has seen the criminal law from every angle, starting young at the Victorian Bar, lecturing in criminal law at Monash University, working as a Crown Prosecutor, and later presiding over some of the state’s most significant cases. Along the way, he also authored and continues to update Pocket Evidence Law - an iconic and freely available resource relied upon by practitioners across Victoria. It was an absolute pleasure to welcome Chris and Max to the show, and hear about their Lives in the Law. www.greenslist.com.au/podcast www.themelbournemap.com.au
This week, we welcome migration lawyer, principal and founder of Mason Chen Lawyers, Traci Chen. As you’ll hear today, Traci is a natural entrepreneur. While studying law, she built and sold a successful solar panel business, purchased her first home at just 19, and over the past five years has grown Mason Chen Lawyers from a sole practice operating out of her home office into a firm with more than 80 employees. Traci has also used social media to extraordinary effect, building a powerful platform to communicate with current and prospective clients and grow her business. She has more than a quarter of a million followers on TikTok and an even larger audience on Instagram. It’s a fantastic conversation, and a real pleasure to hear about Traci’s Life in the Law. www.greenslist.com.au/podcast www.themelbournemap.com.au
This week, we welcome former Deputy Commissioner of Victoria Police, Ross Guenther APM. Across a 40-year career with Victoria Police, Ross held a wide range of roles, from frontline policing and training, to establishing the newly formed Counter Terrorism Command in 2015, and ultimately serving as Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety and Security. But before entering the police academy, Ross had an entirely different career - as a professional musician. He played in the house bands of television programs at the ABC and Channel 9, supported some of the biggest acts in Australia, and performed alongside legendary international artists including Shirley Bassey, Tina Turner and Barry White. It’s a fascinating conversation, and a real pleasure to hear about his Life in the Law. www.greenslist.com.au/podcast www.themelbournemap.com.au
This week, we are delighted to welcome The Hon. Lex Lasry AM KC, former Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria and current Justice of the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory. Lex is one of Australia’s most recognisable criminal lawyers, a leading barrister at the Victorian Bar prior to his appointment to the bench, and a long-time opponent of the death penalty. He is also known for his pursuits beyond the law, including car racing, playing the drums, and, in his early years, a keen interest in becoming a dairy farmer. It’s a fantastic conversation, and a real pleasure to hear about his Life in the Law. www.greenslist.com.au/podcast www.themelbournemap.com.au
Today we revisit our conversation with Forensic & Child Psychiatrist Dr Adam Deacon. Throughout his career Adam has worked in many areas of the justice system including with adult inmates in prison, youth in the juvenile justice system, writing psychiatric court reports for both defence and prosecution and when we recorded with him in 2023, working at the Youth Forensic Specialist Service with Alfred Health. All this along with a thriving private practice! Adam brings a fascinating lens to Lives in the Law and it’s a pleasure to have him on the show. www.greenslist.com.au/podcast www.themelbournemap.com.au
This week we revisit our wonderful conversation with lawyer and former Magistrate, Rob Stary. Rob grew up in the western suburbs of Melbourne and has remained strongly connected to the area throughout his life and career. Rob is probably best known for his long and often highly publicised work as a criminal defence lawyer, having been engaged by the likes of Tony Mokbel and Carl Williams among many others. He became a Magistrate in 2021 beginning another interesting chapter in his long and dynamic life in the law. www.greenslist.com.au/podcast www.themelbournemap.com.au
Today, we revisit our conversation with Dan Meagher, Professor and Chair of Law at Deakin University. As we’ll hear, despite studying law and doing his articles, Dan initially tried fairly hard to avoid a life in the law, until he found academia or perhaps more accurately, until it found him. Dan specialises in constitutional law; lecturing, studying and publishing on the topic all over the world. We recorded this episode in the lead-up to the 2023 referendum, and it was truly enlightening to hear his insights on the Voice to Parliament. www.greenslist.com.au/podcast www.themelbournemap.com.au
This week we revisit our conversation with lawyer Lauren Cruickshank. At the time of recording, Lauren was an associate at Pinsent Masons, specialising in Construction Law. In her teens Lauren had two big goals; to be a teacher and to go to the Paralympics for discus - neither of which eventuated. But as we’ll hear, after a chance work experience placement in year 10 Lauren found her passion and she hasn’t looked back. www.greenslist.com.au/podcast www.themelbournemap.com.au
This week we revisit our wonderful conversation with The Hon Justice Michael Croucher KC. Amazingly, His Honour dropped out of school in year 10, at the ripe old age of 15, to pursue his dream of becoming a professional motocross rider. Fortunately for us that didn’t work out and he made his way to the law, ultimately becoming a Victorian Supreme Court Justice. It’s a fascinating tale, and we’re delighted to bring you Justice Croucher’s Life in the Law. www.greenslist.com.au/podcast www.themelbournemap.com.au
This week, we revisit our wonderful conversation with Ali Besiroglu. At the time we spoke, Ali was principal lawyer at Robinson Gill and head of their Crime and Advocacy department. Over the course of his career, Ali has been involved in some incredibly significant and high-profile cases, not least of which is the coronial inquest into the death in custody of Veronica Nelson. Please note, since our conversation, Ali has been appointed as the Director of Legal Services at the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service. www.greenslist.com.au/podcast www.themelbournemap.com.au
This week, we revisit our wonderful conversation with The Hon. Jennifer Coate AO. Throughout her life in the law, Jennifer has served as a Magistrate, Head of the Children’s Court, a Judge of the County Court, Victorian State Coroner, a Commissioner on the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, and most recently as Chair of the COVID-19 Hotel Quarantine Inquiry. Her career is extraordinary, marked by deep integrity and an enduring contribution to the Victorian legal system. It was a privilege to hear about her Life in the Law. www.greenslist.com.au/podcast
This week, we revisit our 2023 conversation with His Honour Justice Paul Coghlan AO. Paul’s life in the law has taken him from the Deputy Crown Solicitor’s Office to the Bar, from Director of Public Prosecutions to a Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria - and somewhere along the way, he also managed to serve as Mayor of Fitzroy. A wealth of knowledge, Paul reflects on his approach to prosecuting, his treatment of witnesses and juries, and his experience striking case-cracking deals in the early days of the gangland murder trials. www.greenslist.com.au/podcast
From all the team who work on William & Lonsdale - Lives in the Law, and everyone at Greens List, we would like to wish you a happy and safe festive season. We’ll be kicking off 2026 with more exceptional guests, including former Deputy Commissioner of Victoria Police and professional musician, Ross Gunther, migration lawyer Traci Chen, who has over 250 thousand TikTok followers and used the platform to extraordinary effect to connect with her current and potential clients and The Hon. Lex Lasry, well known for his work as a criminal barrister and Supreme Court Justice. But for now, have a wonderful break, and we look forward to bringing you more great conversations in the new year.
This week we welcome Her Honour Magistrate Urfa Masood, former criminal barrister, and the first Muslim woman to sit on any bench in Victoria. Urfa left Sri Lanka and moved to Australia with her immediate family at the age of 11, leaving behind a civil war and a large, deeply connected extended family. After adjusting quickly to life in Australia and excelling at school, Urfa began her law degree at 16 and graduated with honours. So when she started applying for legal positions, it was confronting, to say the least, to be met with comments from interview panels like, “No client is going to want to engage someone who looks like you.” How Urfa got from there to becoming a Victorian Magistrate is a tale of talent, hard work, self-belief, resilience, and a love of the law that just would not leave her alone. www.greenslist.com.au/podcast
This week we welcome The Hon. John Coldrey AM KC to Lives in the Law. When reflecting on John’s work and contribution to the criminal bar in Victoria, the words legendary and iconic are entirely appropriate. Along with his decades defending in criminal cases, John was a founding member of the Criminal Bar Association and even wrote and performed songs and skits at Bar Review nights with his close friend and colleague, Frank Vincent. Following in Frank’s footsteps, John was one of the first advocates to go to the Northern Territory to work at the Central Australian Aboriginal Legal Service - an experience that led to his role as Director of Legal Services at the Central Land Council, where he advocated for Indigenous land rights. Not long after returning to the bar, he was appointed Victorian DPP - a surprising move for a man who had never prosecuted a single case. In 1991, John was appointed to the Supreme Court of Victoria. He also served as a member of the Adult Parole Board and as Chairperson of the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine. John has had an exceptional life in the law, and it was an honour to welcome him to the show. www.greenslist.com.au/podcast
This week, we welcome renowned Australian investigative journalist Nick McKenzie to the show. Although Nick doesn’t work directly in the law, his work intersects with it almost daily. Some of his greatest collaborators have been lawyers - as have some of his greatest foes. Nick has enormous respect for the law, yet he also sees its limits, and believes journalism can bring justice where the law cannot. And he’s certainly used his craft time and time again to do just that - exposing police corruption, foreign interference in Australian politics, and war crimes. His work has even instigated a Royal Commission. It’s a dynamic and, at times, surprising conversation and a real delight to hear about Nick’s life and career. www.greenslist.com.au/podcast
This week, we welcome Her Honour Magistrate Michelle Hodgson, head of the family violence division of the Magistrate’s Court, to Lives in the Law. Michelle was admitted in 1993 and worked as a Solicitor Advocate at Victoria Legal Aid, the Fitzroy Legal Service, and the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service, all of which crystallised her desire to go to the bar. As a barrister, Michelle worked on many complex and high-profile cases, including the Nauru Royalty Phosphate Trust case and the Pong Su heroin import case. Her work as a Magistrate has been broad and impactful; in particular, her role now as head of the family violence division is compelling to learn about. It is a fantastic conversation, and a pleasure to welcome Michelle to the show.
This week, we welcome Fiona McLeay, the Victorian Legal Services Commissioner and CEO of the Victorian Legal Services Board. The VLSB+C is the independent statutory authority responsible for the regulation of the legal profession in Victoria. Long before her fascinating life in the law, Fiona grew up in the country, and was the first person on either side of her family to go to University. She is a natural-born leader who brings systems thinking to every role she takes on; from Special Counsel at Clayton Utz to CEO of Justice Connect; from General Counsel of World Vision to Co-Chair of Equality Australia. It is a wonderful conversation and pleasure to welcome Fiona to the show. www.greenslist.com.au/podcast
