Appointments to the Federal Court of Australia

I am pleased to announce the appointments of Mr Christopher Horan KC and Mr Yaseen Shariff SC as judges of the Federal Court of Australia. Mr Horan has been appointed to the Victorian registry of the Federal Court and commences on 5 September 2023. Mr Shariff has been appointed to the New South Wales registry of the Federal Court and commences on 7 September 2023.

In progressing these appointments, I have consulted extensively with key members of the legal community seeking nominations of suitably qualified people. I established an advisory panel, which comprised the Chief Justice of the Federal Court, a former Justice of the Federal Court, and a senior officer of the Attorney-General's Department. The advisory panel assessed the nominations and provided me with recommendations on suitable candidates, including Mr Horan and Mr Shariff.

Mr Christopher Horan KC

Mr Horan was admitted in the Supreme Court of Victoria in 1992. Mr Horan was called to the Bar in 2000 and took silk in 2015.

In 1990, Mr Horan graduated from the University of Melbourne with a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws (Honours). In 1992 Mr Horan commenced his legal career as a solicitor at what was then Arthur Robinson & Hedderwicks. In 1993 Mr Horan served as Associate to then Justice of the High Court of Australia, the Hon Sir Francis Gerard Brennan AC KBE QC. From 1994 to 2000 Mr Horan worked for the Commonwealth Attorney-General's Department, first in the Office of General Counsel and later as Counsel Assisting the Solicitor-General.

At the Bar Mr Horan specialised in administrative law, constitutional law, migration, revenue, native title, and commercial and equity matters.

Mr Yaseen Shariff SC

Mr Shariff was admitted in the Supreme Court of New South Wales in 2001. Mr Shariff was called to the Bar in 2007 and took silk in 2020.

In 2000 Mr Shariff graduated from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Economics (Social Sciences) and Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours). Mr Shariff then practised as a solicitor at what was then Allens Arthur Robinson, and at Clayton Utz.

At the Bar Mr Shariff practised in a broad range of areas, with a particular focus on employment and industrial law, corporate law, equity, insurance and professional negligence claims, professional disciplinary matters, regulatory prosecutions and workplace safety.

On behalf of the Australian Government, I congratulate Mr Horan and Mr Shariff on their appointments and thank them for their willingness to serve the people of Australia as judges of the Federal Court.