Woodward Legal

Administrative Law

We have a thorough understanding of administrative law and regulatory issues relevant to the public and private sectors.

We offer the expertise in administrative law of not only acting for Government as external legal advisors but who have also worked within Local Government.

Legal Expertise

Our expertise and experience include acting for individuals; Local Councils; State departments; authorities, and professional bodies in the following areas:

  • Judicial Review in the Land & Environment Court (L&E Court) & Supreme Court of NSW
  • Merits Review (Administrative Decision Tribunal, L&E Court NSW and Federal Tribunals)
  • Statutory interpretation
  • Government Information (Public Access) Act – Freedom of Information.
  • Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) of NSW
  • Drafting of by-laws, delegations and other instruments of authority.

Experience

  • Acting on behalf of individuals appearing before ICAC Inquiries
  • Acting for Councillors and Council staff who have had allegations of “corrupt conduct” or “misconduct” leveled at them and, partnering with them through the difficult mine field of the investigation to the giving of evidence at the hearing.
  • Advising and acting for various clients in relation to the exercise of powers, authority and delegations by statutory investigatory bodies.
  • Drafting complaints to the NSW Ombudsman for lack of due process – eg. a submission on behalf of a Council in relation to the decision of a government department dealing with the access to information claiming, amongst other excuses, they had lost all the documents. Slowly the documents were “discovered”.
  • Initiating and defending administrative law proceedings in the Land and Environment Court against developments or local plans where the proper process has not been followed, such that the consent authority has required beginning again in their evaluation.
  • Preparing submissions for Private Certifiers in relation to statutory interpretation and issues of proper process being followed for the consideration of the Buildings Professional Board.

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