General > News > New Chair elected for the Legal Services and Complaints Committee

New Chair elected for the Legal Services and Complaints Committee

03 Mar 2023

The Legal Practice Board announced today that Gary Cobby SC has been elected unopposed as the Chair of the Legal Services and Complaints Committee.

The appointment is effective from 4pm Friday 3 March.

Gary joined the Committee in October 2022, but has for many years acted for the Committee and the Board in a legal capacity, and has a comprehensive understanding of the Committee’s functions and type of matters it considers. As Senior Counsel, Gary has nearly 30 years’ experience in commercial litigation.

The Committee is established and has a statutory function under the Legal Profession Uniform Law Application Act 2022 to carry out the powers and functions under Chapter 5 of the Uniform Law concerning professional discipline, delegated by the Board.

While most Committee members are Board members, there are also two community representatives and the provision for additional legal officers to be appointed. All Committee members are appointed by the Board.

The appointment follows the resignation of former Chair John Ley SC after 8 years in the position. John has been a member of the Committee for almost 17 years and will remain as a  member of the Board. Under the Application Act, Committee membership is now limited to no more than six years total.

Comments from John Fiocco, Chair of the Board: 

“John’s tenure has presided over many changes to the volume and diversity of the legal profession and its regulation in Western Australia, including the changes introduced by the Uniform Law”.

“It is to John’s credit that the integrity of the Western Australian legal profession is held in the highest regard. His contribution to and leadership of the committee is gratefully acknowledged and applauded”.

“Fortunately, Gary Cobby SC, after a number of years of service on the committee, has agreed  to take up the appointment of Chair. The Board is very pleased that it has been able to appoint a successor, of Gary’s calibre, and with his expertise and experience, to lead the committee”.