Victorian Bar Pro Bono Awards 2025

Greens List is proud to celebrate the outstanding contributions of our members at the 2025 Victorian Bar Pro Bono Awards. These awards honour barristers who provide vital pro bono legal assistance, ensuring access to justice for vulnerable individuals.

Greens List members were recognised in the following categories:

Ron Castan AM QC Award – Nick Boyd-Caine was recognised for his work as sole or co-counsel in a significant number of pro bono matters, including migration matters, criminal matters, Victims of Crime Assistance Tribunal claims, coronial inquests, and institutional abuse claims, particularly for First Nations clients.

Debbie Mortimer SC Award – Tiphanie Acreman received this award for appearing at short notice on behalf of local residents in a complex Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) matter concerning planning permission for a gold mine tailings storage dam and the potential environmental and human health risks of the proposed development.

Uncle Jim Berg Award – Julie Buxton was recognised for drafting innovative submissions that prompted the NSW State Coroner to reopen a long-suspended inquest into the deaths and sexual assaults of two young First Nations girls, and for appearing at the resumed inquest on behalf of the girls’ families.

Pro Bono Team Excellence Award – Justin Hannebery KC and Joanne Poole were awarded for their representation of an Aboriginal legal service solicitor who was charged with multiple counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice.

These achievements highlight the dedication of Greens List members to pro bono advocacy and their commitment to ensuring access to justice. Congratulations to all award recipients!

See the full list of recipients here.