Staying connected to community legal need – By Amanda Stone

New legal appointments announced

Toni Vozzo was recently appointed as a Magistrate, replacing Alfio Grasso who has retired from the Magistrates Court. She commenced her new role on 20 July.

Magistrate Vozzo was the inaugural Chair of the Society’s Wellbeing & Resilience Committee, and has remained at the helm of the Committee from its inception in 2012 up until her appointment to the Magistracy. Through her stewardship, the Wellbeing & Resilience Committee has taken on an increasingly important role in raising awareness of mental health in the profession and developing a raft of resources to help practitioners improve their health and wellbeing.

Magistrate Vozzo has also been an active member of the Indigenous Law Students Mentoring Scheme.

Attorney General, The Hon Vickie Chapman MP, said: “Toni Vozzo has worked in the legal sector for over 30 years, with a focus on litigation and dispute resolution – and has been widely recognised as a leader in the field.”

Laura Stein has been appointed as SA’s new Crown Solicitor, a role she is due to begin on 3 August. Ms Stein replaces Mike Wait SC, who will commence his new role as Solicitor-General on the same day.

“Laura Stein has an extensive background both in private practice and working for the Crown – rising through the ranks from High Court Judge’s Associate to the head of the largest division within the Crown Solicitor’s Office, Civil Litigation,” Attorney-General Vickie Chapman said.

“In private practice with Fisher Jeffries, she was involved in the litigation of many highly sensitive and complex cases.

“Since being employed within the Crown Solicitors’ Office, Ms Stein has overseen disputes relating to the construction and operation of the new Royal Adelaide Hospital, and aspects of the development of emergency legislation relating to the Government response to the coronavirus pandemic.

“She has also taken on a significant leadership role in the day-to-day operation of, and reform within, the Crown Solicitor’s Office, including the digitalisation of the Civil Litigation Section.

Nicolle Rantanen was announced on 9 July as the State’s new Public Trustee.

Ms Rantanen has been performing the role of Acting Public Trustee since March 2018, and was previously Chief Operating Officer of the Department of Treasury and Finance.

Ms Rantanen has a Masters of Commercial Law, a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Commerce. She is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and is a Fellow of the Australian Society of CPAs.

Attorney-General Vicki Chapman said: “Ms Rantanen was appointed Acting Public Trustee at a time when significant reforms were underway within the agency to respond to the Independent Commission Against Corruption’s independent valuation.”

“She has helped deliver a more focused, more efficient Public Trustee that delivers better services for some of South Australia’s most vulnerable citizens.”

The Family Court and Federal Circuit Court recently announced three new appointments to the Adelaide registry. Kathryn Heuer has been appointed as Senior Registrar to the Court’s Adelaide registry, while Jacqueline Schirippa and Camille McDonald have been appointed as registrars of the family law courts in Adelaide.

The three registrars will be involved in the implementation of the “Lighthouse Project”, a risk screening and triage program taking place in the Adelaide, Brisbane and Parramatta Registries. The program aims to better protect litigants experiencing or at risk of family violence, and will involve screening for high risk outcomes in parenting matters, triaging and managing cases based on their risk profile, and establishing a specialist list for high-risk matters.

The Society congratulations all practitioners on their appointments. B

• Mediation • Conciliation • Dispute Representation • Mediation Advocacy • NMAS Accredited

Contact Stephen Dickinson (LLB (Hons), NMAS Accredited Mediator)

E stephen@ansr.com.au M 0414 456 474

Or visit ansr.com.au for all

August 2020 THE BULLETIN 35 matter and client enquiries