08 May 2006
Sydney, 8 May 2006: Eminent jurist and long-serving consultant to Clayton Utz, Andrew Rogers QC, sees his recent appointment to Australia's International Legal Services Advisory Council* as an opportunity to contribute to the Council's direction and help it to meet the challenges of the global business environment.
The Federal Attorney-General, Mr Philip Ruddock, announced Mr Rogers' appointment last month as ILSAC's new Deputy Chairman. The appointment is effective to 30 June 2007.
Mr Rogers says he has a particular interest in exploring ways in which ILSAC can assist in identifying and promoting opportunities for Australia's legal services sector in developing countries of the Pacific Rim.
"There is both a need for and an opportunity to provide legal services to certain countries in the region which the Prime Minister recently very accurately described as 'failing states'," Mr Rogers says.
"Obviously restoring the rule of law is of prime importance but perhaps the supply of legal services is as important as sending police or troops to these countries."
Mr Rogers says Australian lawyers have an important role to play in bridging the gap between developed and developing legal systems. "With the support and encouragement of countries such as Australia that have sound legal systems in place and are in a position to offer aid and advice, we can help less-developed countries to strengthen their legal frameworks, for mutual benefit," says Mr Rogers. "Not only will Australia's ability to export legal services be greatly enhanced, we will also be contributing to better governance in the region."
Mr Rogers says promoting Australian universities as a training ground for young lawyers is an example of how Australia can help developing countries in a practical way. "It is in Australia's interests to attract and train future lawyers from countries in the Asia-Pacific, particularly the Pacific Islands, who badly need support to help them operate within their often struggling legal systems."
For commercial law firms, Mr Rogers says the opportunities to promote their services internationally are strongest in areas such as commercial dispute resolution, as well as in legal education and training. However, he acknowledges that there are still challenges. "The question is to what extent we can enlarge our ability to supply legal services in other countries, particularly in Asia, by pushing the quality of our work and our price advantage," Mr Rogers says. "I'm confident that we can."
Mr Rogers' appointment to ILSAC is the latest honour in a distinguished legal career. A former judge of the Supreme Court of NSW, Mr Rogers is also an experienced international arbitrator and consultant. He regularly acts as a mediator and arbitrator in domestic and international commercial disputes in jurisdictions including the UK, US, France, China, Singapore and Hong Kong, and was a member of the Australian delegation to the United Nations Committee on International Trade Law.
* The Federal Government established ILSAC in 1990 to enhance Australia's international profile and the performance of its legal and related services. ILSAC members serve in a voluntary and part-time capacity, and are drawn from the private sector, educational institutions and government departments and agencies.
