STEVEN RARES

 Steven is a mediator, arbitrator and adjunct professor of law at the University of New South Wales. He has extensive experience in commercial, maritime, private and public international law issues.

In 2022, Steven qualified as a mediator at Harvard Law School. In 2023 he became a professional member of the Resolution Institute as well as a supporting member of the London Maritime Arbitrators Association (LMAA) and was made a titularly member of the Comité Maritime International.

Former judge of the Federal Court of Australia from February 2006 and served until November 2023. He was also a judge of the Supreme Courts of the Australian Capital Territory (from 2007) and Norfolk Island (from 2018). He heard numerous cases in all areas of those Courts’ civil and criminal jurisdictions and delivered over 1,200 judgments at first instance and on appeal.

Prior to his appointment as a judge, Steven practised at the bar for 25 years, taking silk in 1993. His areas of practice at the bar included maritime, aviation, defamation, media, contempt, administrative, constitutional, trade practises, competition, consumer, planning professional negligence, employment and criminal law as well as appellate.

Steven was also a board member and later chair of Counsels Chambers Ltd (1996-2005) which provided accommodation, internet and other services to over 500 barristers. He was a member of the Council of the Bar Association of New South Wales for two years and a member of one of its professional conduct committees for many years. He was also a director of an ovarian cancer research charity until 2005.

Steven is now a full time arbitrator and mediator with delivery addresses in London, Singapore and Australia.