Au revoir Chris Canavan KC

People “Au revoir” Chris Canavan KC

Kate Lyle, Victorian Bar

After 53 years of practise, Chris Canavan KC has decided to hang up his robes for the final time.

On behalf of the Planning Bar, I would like to mark the occasion of Chris’ retirement.

Chris was admitted to practise and signed the Bar Roll in May 1969. After 18 years as a preeminent planning junior, Chris took silk in 1987.

Over five decades at the Bar, Chris will be known to many within the VPELA community. He has been an active member of VPELA, regularly contributing to legal seminars and keenly attending functions. In 2005, Chris received the Richard J Evans Award in recognition of his contribution to planning.

Chris has been a leader of the Victorian Bar, and in particular, the Planning Bar for a generation. He has rightly earnt a place among the truly great advocates at the Bar. A consummate advocate, he was uncompromising in his advocacy, a ferocious cross examiner and fearless in the pursuit of his client’s cause.

Never one to rely too heavily on written submissions, Chris was a master of the art of oral advocacy. Jeremy Gobbo KC is correct to say that “Canavan has been for many of us an inspiration – a model of excellence in Court craft”.

Chris’ contribution to the planning jurisdiction, in the cases he has run, and won, and in the submissions he has made, has in many instances profoundly shaped the field of town planning and the law. His most important contribution to the town planning field, and the practise of advocates within it, has been the standard at which he has operated. Over many years he has been one of the benchmarks of excellence in advocacy and as such, an important contributor to the much needed rigour in planning decision making. In leaving the Bar, Chris leaves behind many to which he has been a teacher, a confidant, a mentor and in the truest sense, a friend.

He has modelled true leadership at the Bar, and the responsibility that comes with it. In his retirement he leaves that as a legacy for the next generation.

On behalf of the Planning Bar and broader planning community, Chris we wish you well in your retirement. You leave behind big shoes to fill.

Kate practises principally in planning and environment law. Prior to joining the Bar, Kate was a solicitor at Maddocks and most recently Kate was a Senior Adviser to the Minister for Planning.

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