DAVID FULTON ROFE BA LLB (Hons) QC
CURRICULUM
VITAE
[ 13 March 2007 ]
Youngest son of Wyndham Fulton Rofe, Solicitor (d 1935)
and Florence Barclay Rofe (nee Shand) (d 1974)
Contact Details Wentworth Chambers, 12th Floor
180 Phillip Street, Sydney NSW 2000
DX 389 SYDNEY
Tel: (02) 9232-3179 [Int: +61-2-9232-3179]
Fax: (02) 9221-7183 [Int: +61-2-9221-7183]
Email: rofeqc@12thfloor.com.au
Education Secondary
The Scots College Preparatory School (ages 5 to 10)
The Scots College (ages 11 to 17)
Tertiary
Sydney University - Arts/Law - 1949-1954 (inclusive)
1955 Graduated Arts/Law (Hons)
Career 1955-1956 “Gap year” spent overseas UK, France, Spain, Morocco
10 February 1956 Admitted to Bar of New South Wales as
Barrister-at-law (24 years of age)
3 December 1974 Appointed as one of Her Majesty’s Counsel [“QC”] for the State of New South Wales. Subsequently admitted as QC in the Australian Capital Territory, Papua New Guinea, Queensland and Victoria. Now entitled to practise in all States and Territories of Australia.
To date Have practised in the High Court of Australia, the Federal Courts of Australia, the New South Wales Supreme, District and Local Courts, the Coroner’s Court, the Taxation Board of Review and other tribunals set up by legislation. Have appeared at a Royal Commission. I have been in continuous practice now for just over 51 years.
Practise Areas of Practise Negligence cases, Insurance Law, Medical Negligence, Defamation, Contracts, Torts, Corporate Law.
I have led the prosecution in a number of long cases including:
· the “rare coin” case (over 10 weeks)
· the “bottom of the harbour” tax fraud committal case (60 days)
· the Social Security Conspiracy Committal which extended over 4 years and in which I had 7 Junior Counsel
· the famous case of Sankey -v- Whitlam involving inter alia important principles of Crown Privilege
and many other interesting cases.
I have appeared for Plaintiffs and Defendants, the Crown and accused persons, the Commissioner of Taxation, the Official Receiver and bankrupts.
Non-Legal Activities
· I have been Chairman of Directors of a successful motel company operating motels in Canberra. I continued as Chairman until the Company was bought out by another organisation some years later at a price which Directors could only recommend to shareholders. I have been a Chairman of my floor committee and a member of my floor for 50 years that I have occupied Chambers on 12th floor, Wentworth Chambers. I am Chairman of 2 Strata Title properties.
· I was an Alderman (now called Counsellor) of the premier Municipality of Woollahra from some 14 years from 1977 to 1991. Woollahra was the Municipality in which I have lived all my life. During those 14 years, I served as Mayor, Deputy Mayor (on 2 occasions), Chairman of the Finance Committee, the Building and Health Committee, the Policy and Works Committee and the Environment Committee. As Mayor I involved a number of ideas to involve the community with the Council initiatives. At the end of my 14 years as as Alderman I have made Alderman conversant with PAVS as an essential of residential development - viz privacy, amenity, views and sunlight. I did not stand for the September elections held in 1991.
· I retain a keen interest in residential amenity and the necessity in any development application to consider the reasonable interests of adjoining neighbours.
· My main leisure activities are now reading, walking and current affairs. I have a keen interest in politics.