Recently the Full Bench of the Supreme Court of Victoria Court of Appeal ruled in favour of Faruk Orman, who brought an application seeking order that his conviction for the murder of underworld figure Victor Peirce be overturned.

Mr Orman’s legal team relied on the conduct of the disgraced former lawyer Nicola Gobbo, also known as Lawyer X or police informant 3838.

Gobbo was once regarded as one of Victoria’s most prominent Barristers and represented a number of high-profile criminal underworld figures. Her conduct in being engaged by Victoria Police as a police informant, and, in the process breaching some of the most significant legal principles including client confidentially and legal professional privilege has sent shockwaves through the Australian Legal System.

The High Court of Australia has previously considered Gobbo’s conduct and found that she committed “appalling breaches” of her obligations as a lawyer and that Victoria Police was guilty of “reprehensible conduct” for knowingly encouraging her to do so.

The Court of Appeal's recent landmark decision, together with the pending outcome of the Royal Commission, could potentially open the floodgates for a raft of appeals for matters involving Gobbo during the period 1995 to 2009.

Brodie Hatswell - Solicitor - Broadbeach Law Group  

5 August 2019