Council and Executive

Council has sixteen (16) members which must include:

  • Five Northern practitioners
  • Three North-Western practitioners
  • Eight Southern practitioners

Office bearers are: President, Vice-President, Treasurer and members of the Executive Committee. Council elections Council members are elected by a vote of the entire regional membership and do not represent any particular category.

  • Elections for council are held each year in October.
  • Members are elected for a two-year term.
  • The Vice-President usually becomes President unless he or she does not wish to take up the position or the Council determines otherwise.

The President and the Vice-President are elected after the annual general meeting. Elections for the Treasurer and other Executive members are held at a council meeting following the annual general meeting. These are all a one-year term commencing October.

2026/2027 Council Members

* signifies member of the Executive

Luke Taylor* President
Old Mercury Chambers, 91-93 Macquarie Street, Hobart, 7000
Tel: 0407 401 491
luke.taylor@tasbar.com.au

Mr Luke Taylor is a barrister at the Old Mercury Chambers in Hobart. He is an experienced legal practitioner with over 2 decades of post-admission practice. Before being called to the Bar in 2026, Luke worked in key roles including as a Partner of HWLE in its national insurance practice, and as Crown Counsel in the State Litigation Office (Tasmania).

Luke practices generally in the personal injuries space, accepting briefs in a range of matters such as workers compensation, motor accidents, medical negligence, historic abuse and public liability. He has significant experience with industrial fatality and serious injury cases, coronial inquests and WHS prosecutions, as well as administrative law matters for the State of Tasmania and its instrumentalities.

Luke is currently the President of the Law Society of Tasmania, the Chair of the Society’s Litigation Committee, and is President of the Tasmanian branch of the Australian Insurance Law Association (AILA). He is also a Member of the Disciplinary Tribunal for the legal profession in Tasmania.

Imogen Cook* Vice-President
HWL Ebsworth Lawyers
Level 9, 85 Macquarie Street, Hobart 7000
Tel: (03) 6210 6200
icook@hwle.com.au

Imogen is a principal at HWL Ebsworth Lawyers in Hobart. Imogen was admitted in 2017 having graduated from the University of Tasmania with a Bachelor of Business & Law (Hons). Imogen practices in all aspects of commercial law including, commercial transactions, property transactions, insolvency matters, leasing, wills and estates. Imogen is currently the Vice-President of the Law Society of Tasmania Council and the immediate past treasurer.
Callum Purcell* Treasurer
Hamilton Purcell Lawyers
26a Rooke Street, Devonport, 7310
Tel: 03 6423 6669
callumpurcell@hamiltonpurcell.au
Helen Bassett
Walsh Day Mihal Bassett
18 King Edward Street, Ulverstone 7315
Tel: (03) 6425 2077
helenbassett@walshday.com.au

Ms Helen Bassett graduated from the University of Tasmania with a Bachelor of Social Work in 1998 and from Deakin University with a Bachelor of Laws in 2015. Helen was admitted to practice in 2016 and was an Associate at Walsh Day James Mihal from 2017 to 2023 and is now a Director of Walsh Day Mihal Bassett. Helen primarily practices in the areas of Family Law and Child Safety Law with a particular interest in Child Safety Law.  Helen was appointed to the Society Council in 2019 and is a past member of the Pro Bono Committee. Helen is the current chairperson of the North West Community Legal Centre Management Committee and Treasurer of the Family Law Practitioners Association of Tasmania.

Louis Benjamin
Rae & Partners
Level 3, 113 Cimitere Street, Launceston 7250
Tel: (03) 6337 5555
louis.benjamin@raepartners.com.au

Louis Benjamin is a Senior Associate at Rae & Partners, having commenced working there in 2021 upon his admission to the Supreme Court of Tasmania.

Having commenced his practice in commercial law, he now practices primarily in civil litigation and dispute resolution with a focus on employment law and industrial relations.

He graduated from the University of Tasmania in 2020 with a Bachelor of Arts and Law with Honours in Law and was admitted to practice in 2021. He is a past President of the Northern Early Career Lawyers Committee (2024–25), a current school Board member, volunteers with the Launceston Community Legal Centre and has previously volunteered time to the Tasmanian Refugee Legal Service (2023–24). Law is his second career, previously having worked as a mechanical draftsman.

Samuel Claessens
Douglas & Collins
9-13 George Street, Launceston 7250
Tel: (03) 6332 3400
samc@douglascollins.com.au

Sam graduated from the University of Tasmania with a combined degree in Arts and Law in 2009. He completed his Practical Legal Training in 2010 and is admitted to the Supreme Court of Tasmania. Prior to joining Douglas and Collins in 2023, Sam practiced at Archer Bushby for over eleven years. He practices predominantly in commercial and property law as well as Wills and Estate planning matters. Sam is a former member and Chairman of the Northern Tasmanian Football Association Tribunal (2013 – 2020), a formal General Member of the Northern Young Lawyers Committee (2014 -2015) and is a current member of the Council of the Law Society of Tasmania.

Randall Barnett
Dobson Mitchell Allport – (Incorporating Doolan and Brothers)
1st Floor, 34 Stewart Street, Devonport, 7310
Tel: 0447 981 450
randall.barnett@doma.com.au

Manoj Fernando
Fernando Legal
Level 1, 174 Macquarie Street, Hobart 7000
Tel: 0431 541 025
manoj.madushanka49@gmail.com

Mr Manoj Fernando

Rohan Foon
Douglas & Collins
9-13 George Street, Launceston 7250
Tel: (03) 6332 3400
rohanf@douglascollins.com.au

Rohan graduated from the University of Tasmania in 2004 with a combined degree in Economics and Law with first-class honours in law. In 2005, he completed a Graduate Certificate of Legal Practice and was admitted as a practitioner of the Supreme Court of Tasmania. Upon his admission, he spent a year as Associate to the Honourable Justice Crawford of the Supreme Court of Tasmania. Rohan has been a practitioner at Douglas & Collins since August 2006 and became a principal of the firm in January 2013. He practices primarily in commercial and estate litigation. He has also been a member of the council of the Law Society of Tasmania since 2010.

  • In addition to practice, Rohan is currently:
    • A Director of the Law Council of Australia;
    • A member of the Legal Profession Board of Tasmania;
    • A Criminal Injuries Compensation Commissioner;
    • A member of the Board of the Tasmanian Law Reform Institute;
    • A member of the Finance and Risk Committee of Law Council of Australia;
    • Member of the Solicitors Accounts Rules Committee;
    • Member of the Board of Encore Theatre Company; and
    • On the Society’s Senior Practitioners List

He is a former President, Vice President and Treasurer of the Law Society of Tasmania and was a member of the Executive Council of the Law Society of Tasmania from 2013 to 2019. Rohan has also previously been President of Law Foundation, A member of the Disciplinary Tribunal for the Tasmanian Legal Profession, and a Deputy Chairman of the Tasmanian Racing Appeals Board (2013-2015).

Amelia Higgs* (Immediate Past President)
Derwent & Tamar Chambers
128 Macquarie Street,Hobart 7000
Tel: 0438 396 996
amelia.higgs@tasbar.com.au

Ms Amelia Higgs is a Principal at Dobson Mitchell Allport and practises in family law. As well as being President of the Law Society of Tasmania Council and the past Vice-President and treasurer, Amelia is currently the coordinator of the Family Court Practice and Advocacy Unit at the Centre for Legal Studies, and a board member of Dress for Success Tasmania. She is also a member of the Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia, and the Family Law Practitioners Association of Tasmania. She was a joint recipient of the Law Society’s 2017 award for Young Lawyer of the Year.

Julia Higgins
Bishops
19 Paterson Street, Launceston, 7250
Tel: (03) 6334 1667
juliahiggins@bishops.com.au

Ms Julia Higgins is a Partner at Bishops Solicitors in Launceston. Julia graduated from the University of Tasmania with a Bachelor of Commerce and Laws in 2001 and was admitted to practice in 2002. Julia practices in Family Law and Child Protection. Julia is regularly appointed by the Court as an Independent Children’s Lawyer in complex parenting cases. Julia is a past President of the Law Society of Tasmania Council. Julia is the current Chair of the Family Law Practitioners Association Tas Inc and is a former Commissioner for the Legal Aid Commission of Tasmania. Julia is a prior President of the Northern Young Lawyers Committee. Julia was recently appointed by Legal Aid Tasmania onto the Register of Legal Practitioners Tasmania – Family Violence; Cross examination of Parties Scheme.

Olivia Jenkins*
Rae & Partners
Level 3, 113 Cimitiere Street, Launceston 7250
Tel: (03) 6337 5555
olivia.jenkins@raepartners.com.au

Olivia specialises in criminal and civil litigation. She conducts hearings in the Magistrates Court and has experience providing advice and representation on a wide range of matters. She has taken great pleasure in volunteering with the Launceston Community Legal Centre since she commenced work at Rae & Partners in 2016.

Olivia’s goal in life is to win The Amazing Race and, in preparation, she has been trying to learn various languages. So far, she can count to 10 in Japanese and say hello in Spanish.

Will Justo*
Wallace, Wilkinson & Webster
169 Liverpool Street, Hobart 7000
Tel: (03) 6234 8022
wjusto@wwwlawyers.com.au

Mr Will Justo was admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Tasmania in 1995. He joined Wallace Wilkinson and Webster in 1997 and has been a Partner since 2002. Will practices in all aspects of commercial and contract law, residential and commercial conveyancing and property development, leasing, finance and wills and estates. His clients include many well-known Tasmanian businesses, associations, national financial institutions and individuals. Will is a past President of the Law Society of Tasmania Council; he has held this position twice, and previously Vice-President and Treasurer of the Law Society of Tasmania Council, and is past Chair of the Law Foundation of Tasmania. He has also been the former Chair of the Law Society Property and Commercial Law Committee. He continues to be an active member of that Committee. Will was one of the principal draftsman of the REIT/Law Society Standard Form of Contract for the sale of a property in Tasmania.

Pip Monk
Monk Lawyers
Level 1/191 Liverpool Street, Hobart, 7000
Tel: 0407 738 676
pip@monklawyers.com.au

With over a decade of experience in Tasmania and South Australia, Pip has established herself as a leading advocate and criminal defence lawyer. Based in Hobart, Pip is an expert in criminal law. Pip has dedicated her career to fighting for the rights of individuals charged with criminal offences, ranging from simple driving offences to serious charges before the Supreme Court. Her passion for justice and her extensive courtroom experience have enabled her to successfully represent clients in the Magistrates Court, Supreme Court, and Court of Criminal Appeal. She graduated from UTAS in 2010. She moved to South Australia where she began working for the Legal Services Commission of South Australia, and quickly developed a reputation for her natural advocacy skills and uncompromising defence of her clients. She returned to Tasmania in 2013 and worked for Tasmanian Legal Aid from 2013-2023. She has established herself as an accomplished, experienced and fearless criminal defence lawyer. Pip has conducted many jury trials for a range of crimes, achieving not guilty verdicts in murder, rape, arson, robbery, assault, and wounding trials. She has appeared on a range of complex cases in the Supreme Court including special hearings to determine fitness to stand trial, cases with clients who had significant mental impairments and complex sentencing hearings. Pip has appeared in the Magistrates Court countless times for bail applications, hearings, disputed facts hearings, special hearings, pleas of guilty, court mandated drug cases, mental health diversion list cases, youth justice cases and many others. Pip is a current member of The Law Society of Tasmania’s Council and Criminal Law Committee

Victor Murray
Derwent & Tamar Chambers
128 Macquarie Street, Hobart, 7000
Tel: 0434 032 318
victor.murray@tasbar.com.au

Mr Victor-David Murray graduated with a Bachelor of Laws from Queensland University of Technology in 2011. In 2019, Victor received a Master of Laws (Succession Law) from the College of Law. Victor worked as a solicitor in private practice from 2012 and was a legal practice director at a law firm until he moved to the bar in 2024. Victor is a member of the Society’s Estate and Succession Law, and Litigation, committees. He is also a member of the Tasmanian Bar.

Renee Spencer *
Wallace Wilkinson & Webster
169 Liverpool Street, Hobart, 7000
Tel: 0407 171 155
rspencer@wwwlawyers.com.au

Renee has been a barrister and solicitor working in private practice in the Tasmanian legal profession for 20 years and is the Special Counsel at Wallace Wilkinson & Webster. Renee practises in civil litigation with a focus on insurance, personal injury, professional conduct, workplace relations, and building and construction.

Renee has advised and acted for individuals, employers, large corporates, and government and acted as a solicitor to clients in non-litigious and commercial matters, as an instructing solicitor to counsel, and has also appeared as counsel in the Tribunals and Courts of Tasmania.

In her time in practice, she has been an employee lawyer, an employer, and a manager of a law firm with departments outside the areas of everyday practice. Renee is a mum to two wonderful children (who somehow manage to keep her young whilst making her feel old at the same time).