Contact Anthony Mason Chambers

We welcome your enquiries and encourage you to contact us with any legal matters or questions.

+61 (8) 8228 0000

clerk@anthonymasonchambers.com.au

201 Victoria Square Adelaide SA 5001

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history

Anthony Mason Chambers began in 1993 with just David Wicks QC, Paul Heywood-Smith, and Tom Birchall in its former life as Divett Chambers.  Divett Chambers was at Divett Place east of its current position in Victoria Square. 

 

Edward Divett MP was the Chairperson of Directors of the South Australia Company, incorporated by Act of the UK Parliament in 1835. 

 

Divett Place and the Mews building where Divett Chambers was situated were both named after him.  Divett Chambers slowly increased in size to 7 members by 2006 when it shifted to its current location.

When it came to leave Divett Place in 2006 a name change was considered appropriate and Sir Anthony Mason kindly consented to allow his name to be used for the new premises at 201 Victoria Square. 

 

Sir Anthony was the Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia for some eight years until 1995.  Sir Anthony attended the opening of the new chambers and we are proud that we were the first chambers in Australia to seek his permission to use his name.

Anthony Mason Chambers has some of Adelaide’s most experienced barristers and recognised leading counsel in their respective fields of expertise.

ANDREW TOKLEY KC

the hon. Sir Anthony Mason AC KBE

The Honourable Sir Anthony Mason AC KBE was a Justice of the High Court of Australia from
1972 to 1987 and Chief Justice from 1987 to 1995.

He was Commonwealth Solicitor General from 1964 to 1969 and a Judge of the NSW Court of
Appeal from 1969 to 1972.  Until recently, he was Chancellor of UNSW, National Fellow at the
Research School of Social Sciences at the ANU, a Judge of the Supreme Court of Fiji and
President of the Solomon Islands Court of Appeal.

In 1996-1997 he was Arthur Goodhart Professor in Legal Science at Cambridge University.
Since 2001 he has been Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the ANU College of Law.
 
Sir Anthony has been a non-permanent Judge of the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal since 1997.
Sir Anthony holds Honorary Doctorates from the Australian National University and Sydney,
Melbourne, Monash, Griffith and Deakin Universities, UNSW and the Universities of Oxford and Hong Kong.

the building

The present address of 201 Victoria Square is a building with historical significance.  Its former life was as the head office of the Marine and Harbour’s Department and the building is still graced on its roof by a widow’s walk; historically placed near coasts where women could look out and wait for sailors overdue from sea voyages.

 

The building was moved to its present site in 1979 by being placed on train tracks and hauling it 50 metres north then sitting it on new foundations. Photos of the incredible move are in the foyer of the present chambers.  After 1979 the building was used as a solicitor’s office and a bank. 

 

It was completely refurbished in 2006 and has rooms for barristers on three floors and a pleasant outdoor courtyard.

 

When the chambers moved to the new site more members were able to join the chambers. From an initial start of just three barristers in its former life Anthony Mason Chambers now has 13 barristers.

 

This prominent Victoria Square position is close to all superior courts and its members practice across a broad range of legal areas.

judicial appointments

The Honourable Justice David Wicks KC

Justice Wicks was appointed to the Supreme Court of South Australia in 1998.  His Honour joined Chambers in 1993 after taking Silk in 1991.  

His Honour Judge Paul Slattery KC

Judge Slattery was appointed to the District Court of South Australia in 2012.  His Honour joined Chambers in 1994 and took Silk in 2003.  

The Honourable Justice NataliE Charlesworth

Justice Charlesworth was appointed to the Federal Court of Australia in 2016.  Her Honour joined Chambers in 2007. 

Her Honour Judge Joanne Deuter

Judge Deuter was appointed to the District Court of South Australia in 2019.  Her Honour joined Chambers in 2006.