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Profile

Luke Officer, TGB

Luke Officer

Partner

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I pride myself on quality, first and foremost. I am sure that whatever experience you are going through requiring you to engage a lawyer causes you angst. When you engage me, your problem becomes my problem. Therefore, I also pride myself on communication. I want you to know what is happening with your matter every step of the way and more importantly, that you understand the legal process.

You will also know the possible outcomes, whether they be good or bad, as most people want some certainty.

I practise in a wide range of areas across South Australia, the Northern Territory, Western Australia, the ACT and Tasmania, and so I can help you with your problem wherever it may exist. I believe a good lawyer approaches problems with creativity by thinking out of the box, but also with confidence, and if there is a testament to that it’s my fierce defence of people’s rights.

I have acted in a number of significant and complex matters around Australia which brings out the best in me, and in turn, the best for your matter.

For my entire practice I have been the advisor to large Association clients such as the Police Association of South Australia, Northern Territory Police Association, Western Australian Police Union, the Correctional Officers Legal Fund and South Australian State School Leaders Association: representing the organisation or their members across a variety of matters, including disciplinary, criminal and industrial, and large judicial reviews.

However, I also help many people individually with their particular problem, be it criminal charges, disciplinary and professional misconduct allegations, ICAC/CCC inquiries, defence of WorkSafe prosecutions, Commissions and Coronial Inquiries, AHPRA regulatory requirements, Administrative and workplace issues and Boards of Appeal or Review, including sporting regulatory bodies.

My personal life has also had a great influence on my abilities as a lawyer having a vast array of professional experiences although young at age.

I am 33 years old, having become a partner of TGB at the age of 30 and only 6 years after my admission as a lawyer. I am competitive and I enjoy success, and I have those same values when I approach your legal problem.

I became vice-president of the South Gawler Football Club at the age of 25, and then president at the age of 26, a position I held for four years before reluctantly stepping down to spend more time with my family, and with increasing commitments in my practice between SA, the NT and the ACT. I am a proud father of 2 boys to my beautiful partner Hayley and enjoy spending time up the river when I have a spare moment.

I have also been a Board member of Light the Way Foundation, a charity intended to provide grants of funding to those under privileged so they can realise their dream in sport, arts, education and study.

In addition, I have been the principal Legal Advisor to the Barossa Light and Gawler Football Association, and a committee member on the SANFL Player Payments Committee.

My involvement advising Associations, as well as my Board, management and committee experience across these sporting associations, has really given me a broad knowledge base that has helped me in my legal career, and greatly benefits my clients.

Luke Officer, TGB

Luke Officer

Partner

My Qualifications:

  • Bachelor of Laws, University of Adelaide
  • Bachelor of Arts (Politics), University of Adelaide
  • Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice
  • Admitted to practice 2014

My Areas of Expertise:

  • All criminal matters, including Appeals
  • Employment – disciplinary/professional misconduct – tribunals, Boards of Review and Appeals
  • Commissions of Inquiry, ICAC/CCC
  • Defence of WorkSafe prosecutions
  • Coronial Inquests
  • Administrative processes and judicial reviews
  • Sports Review/Appeal Boards, including racing industry
  • Industrial and workplace issues
  • Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)
  • Associations and Clubs advice
  • Defamation

My Professional Interests:

  • Member of the Law Society of South Australia
  • Young Lawyers Committee Member, Law Society of South Australia
  • Criminal Law Committee Member, Law Society of South Australia
  • President, South Gawler Football Club (2016-2021)
  • Committee Vice-President, South Gawler Football Club (2015-16)
  • Member, South Australian Community Football League Player Payments Committee
  • Board Member, Light the Way Foundation since 2017
  • Doyle’s Guide to the Australian Legal Profession – Recommended Criminal Defence Lawyer, South Australia 2023

Doyle's criminal law Luke Officer

 

Significant Cases

  • The Queen v Zachary Rolfe (NT) – junior counsel in successful defence of a Northern Territory police officer charged with murder
  • The Queen v Rolfe (HCA) – instructed in the High Court Appeal as to the applicability of the good faith defence
  • Bell & Ors v Deputy State Coroner (SA) – junior counsel in successful argument in the South Australian Supreme Court finding that penalty privilege applied in SA Coroners Court
  • Rolfe v Territory Coroner (NT) – junior counsel arguing on appeal that penalty privilege applies in the NT Coroners Court – (decision reserved)
  • Bauwens & Ors v Territory Coroner (NT) – junior counsel for a plaintiff arguing the existence of penalty privilege in NT Coroners Court – currently on appeal (as above)
  • DPP v Jaunay & Hobbs (SA) – acted as counsel successfully arguing for a stay in the Magistrates’ Court, and then instructed in the subsequent appeal in the Supreme Court
  • Inquest into the death of Kumanjayi Walker – instructing and counsel for Constable Rolfe in the Inquest which has been running for over three months
  • Inquest into the death of Wayne Fella Morrison acting for a number of correctional officers in an inquest which ran for 5 years, concluding on 12/5/23
  • DPP v Foster (ACT) – instructed in a successful application for a permanent stay in the Magistrates’ Court
  • Lumsden v Police – counsel at trial and then instructed on successful appeal overturning conviction on the basis of the ‘police good faith immunity.’
  • NT WorkSafe v Kalidonis & Kalidonis Pty Ltd first industrial manslaughter prosecution in the NT – industrial manslaughter charges dropped
  • NT WorkSafe v Rainbow Beach Constructions – currently proceeding through courts charged with industrial manslaughter
  • NT WorkSafe v Little Miss Korea – currently proceeding through courts charged with various WorkSafe breaches
  • Bahnert v Commissioner of Police (NT) – current judicial review on the application of medical retirement provisions
  • Police v Boffa (SA) – successful defence as counsel at trial of a young liberal member charged with aggravated assault

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