Peter A Clarke

Chambers: Floor 8: Room 802: Building ISAACS
Admitted : 1990
Signed Bar Roll : 1998
Admitted to Practice in : Victoria, Australian Capital Territory.
Phone : (03) 9225 8751 Facsimile : (03) 9225 8762
E-Mail : papclarke@optusnet.com.au. Web site email peter@peteraclarke.com.au

Areas of Practice :

Administrative Law: Experience in working to government departments in the Australian Capital Territory, in particular statutory interpretation, drafting instruments and Administrative Appeals Tribunal work
Admiralty/Maritime : Experience gained from working for the professional and indemnity clubs while a solicitor at Middletons
Commercial Law: General commercial work ranging from contractual issues to Trade Practices work.
Common Law: At this stage most of the common law work relates to Medical Negligence work, mainly for the Defendant.
Contract:
Coronial Inquests: Experience gained from working for the ACT Government representing the hospital system.
Corporations (Company) Law: General advisings and winding up and reinstatements.
Defamation: A growing area of my practice. Ongoing solo and junior briefs for both plaintiff and defendants.
Disciplinary & Related Tribunals: Experience as a solicitor acting as counsel for the Boards in Canberra.
Freedom of Information: Experience gained from advising and attending the Administrative Appeals Tribunal
Leases : Commercial and Retail Tenancies
Media/Entertainment Law
Professional Negligence

Prior to graduation LLB [Monash I spent 12 months as a research officer and advisor in the office of a Federal Member of Parliament. I was responsible for FOI requests, speech writing, research into portfolio matters and general legal research.

I did my articles at Westgarth Middletons [now Middletons ] as an Articled Clerk. After completion of articles I remained as an employee solicitor for 18 months and then joined the ACT Government Solicitors Office where I gained considerable experience in all areas of law related to government practice, administrative law, statutory interpretation and to a lesser degree constitutional issues. I also gained extensive experience in medical negligence cases acting as I did for the Canberra Hospital and in the area of mental health where I appeared regularly in custodial hearings, appeals, and the lecturing of mental health workers on their and their patient’s rights. I acted for a number of health profession boards, in particular the Medical Practitioners Board in matters of professional discipline. I also handled a large number of FOI applications including appearances in the ACT AAT.

In late 1996 I returned to Melbourne and joined the Commercial Branch of the Health Section of Phillips Fox. Peter returned to the public sector as a legal officer with the Department of Treasury and Finance in Melbourne where I worked on commercial [Govt], administrative law and FOI matters.