Eleven Wentworth provides accommodation for two readers (barristers in their first year of practice) each year. Each reader’s position is for a period of 12 months, usually commencing in May to coincide with the Bar Practice Course.
Martin Smith and John Zerilli are reading on Eleven Wentworth from May 2011 to May 2012.
Martin Smith was admitted to practice in 2005 and subsequently called to the Bar in 2011. Prior to being called to the Bar, Martin practised as a solicitor at a number of commercial law firms, including Freehills, and spent 18 months as Associate to a Judge of the Federal Court of Australia. As a solicitor, Martin gained experience in the conduct of a wide range of matters in all of the principal courts of New South Wales as well as the Federal Court of Australia.
Martin’s principal areas of practice include commercial law, equity, trade practices, corporations law, media law and defamation, intellectual property, insurance law and professional negligence. Martin also has a particular interest in public and administrative law and has recently authored the following articles in the area:
- “Judicial review and jurisdictional errors: The recent migration jurisprudence of the High Court of Australia” (2011) 18 Australian Journal of Administrative Law 138 (co-authored); and
- “Illogicality and administrative decision-making after Minister for Immigration and Citizenship v SZMDS” (2011) 18 Australian Journal of Administrative Law (forthcoming).
Martin also contributed to “Australia’s Right to Know”, an audit report prepared on behalf of Australia’s leading media agencies considering the state of free speech in Australia.
John Zerilli graduated with first class honours in law before working for a year as research tipstaff to the President of the NSW Court of Appeal and an instructing officer for the NSW Director of Public Prosecutions. After two years in private practice as a commercial lawyer, he went to Cambridge where he wrote the top-ranking thesis of his year. John also submitted a dissertation in theoretical biology and philosophy of science at the University of Sydney. He has published numerous articles, and one book (The Economic Imperative, Exeter: Imprint Academic). John’s principal areas of interest in the law are equity and commercial law, administrative and public law, and international law.
Applications for readership on Eleven Wentworth should generally be submitted to the Floor Secretary by 31 January in the year before the applicant wishes to commence reading. This is a guide only and eleven wentworth may consider applications for readership at other times. Applications will be treated in confidence.
Successful applicants are encouraged to read with a Member on Eleven Wentworth and another barrister in other chambers.
General enquiries about readership on Eleven Wentworth should be directed to the clerk, Paul Daley.
