Slater and Gordon senior practice leader to lead Australian Lawyers Alliance

Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) has elected Slater and Gordon senior practice leader Genevieve Henderson as its new national president.

The Sydney-based solicitor succeeds Graham Droppert SC, a WA barrister who led the organisation for a record two years through the COVID-19 pandemic. Henderson focuses on work and road clams, and is an accredited specialist in compensation law.

“I went into law to make a difference and over my career I’ve worked in all areas of personal injury law. My membership of the ALA has brought me into contact with extraordinary people with strong values, working enormously hard for those people least able to help themselves. I am proud to have this opportunity to now lead the organisation for the next 12 months,” Henderson said.

She added that she was taking the reins “with a feeling of tremendous optimism.”

“The newly minted federal attorney-general has just discontinued the appalling prosecution of Bernard Collaery. The federal government seems to have a genuine commitment to reconciliation and there is an increased focus on attempting to address the issues facing the NDIS and the aged care sector,” Henderson explained. “There is clearly still much work for the ALA to do – both in advocating for change to eliminate injustice and working to protect existing legislative rights – but I feel positive that we are working in a climate where this will be possible.”

The ALA was first established in 1994 as the Plaintiff Lawyers Association. Previous presidents include Noor Blumer, Tom Goudkamp OAM, Greg Barns SC, Andrew Stone SC and Peter Semmler QC.

“For 28 years the ALA’s commitment to justice, fairness and protecting the rights of the individual has not wavered. Our values and principles are relevant whether we are fighting for justice for someone injured on the road or in a workplace accident, a survivor of abuse, someone in immigration detention or a person with disability,” Henderson said.