Will Sharpe
Will advises on government and regulatory matters, and has a deep understanding of public and administrative law. During his career, Will has worked as an in-house and external legal adviser to government agencies. He is known for delivering clear advice, practical solutions and strong representation.
Will assists government and non-government clients in relation to government decisions, statutory interpretation, legislative development, and information law, as well as representing clients in judicial review litigation in the Federal Circuit Court and Federal Court, and in merits review proceedings in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. He has acted across a wide range of subject matters areas, including immigration, environment, health, disability, social security, defence, Indigenous affairs, climate change, freedom of information, and privacy.
Will has been named in Best LawyersTM Australia for Government Practice.
Experience
Will’s recent experience includes advising:
- Department of Home Affairs in relation to matters before the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, the Federal Circuit Court of Australia, the Federal Court of Australia and the High Court of Australia;
- National Disability Insurance Agency in proceedings before the Administrative Appeals Tribunal for review of decisions concerning access to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (the NDIS) and provision of supports under the NDIS;
- Australian Securities and Investments Commission in relation to claims of legal professional privilege over documents the subject of a search warrant and notice to produce;
- Department of Health in proceedings before the Administrative Appeals Tribunal in relation to registration of a medical practitioner for Medicare;
- Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet in relation to a decision under the Native Title Act 1993 concerning the provision of financial assistance to a native title representative body;
- Department of the Environment in proceedings challenging a decision under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) relating to coal seam gas mining; and
- Department of the Environment in relation to proceedings before the Administrative Appeals Tribunal concerning refusal to issue a permit for the export of a CITES species.