Premium Content:

Anti gay hate crime champion Nicholas Stewart earns Law Society of NSW President’s medal

A Sydney lawyer instrumental in the establishment of a Special Commission of Inquiry into gay and transgender hate crimes has been awarded the prestigious Law Society of NSW President’s Medal for 2022.

- Advertisement -

President of the Law Society of NSW Joanne van der Plaat awarded the honour to Nicholas Stewart, a partner of Sydney firm Dowson Turco, during the Society’s Annual Members Dinner and inaugural Awards Night held last week.

“The unsolved homicides and serious assaults on our LGBTQIA+ community, especially in the four decades from 1970, remain a blight on our community. Mr Stewart’s tireless campaign for a judicial inquiry gave voice to those victims silenced by the crimes committed against them,” van der Plaat said.

“Through his membership of the Law Society’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee, Mr Stewart has made invaluable contributions to the legal profession in NSW, being instrumental in revising the Society’s Charter for the Advancement of Women. He has also been active in mentoring women practitioners and law students.”

The first ever Law Society Awards recognise and celebrate the tireless contributions of the Society’s most exceptional members who reflect its values of commitment to the highest ethical and professional standards.

Nicholas heads up the criminal and commercial law teams at Dowson Turco. He joined the firm in January 2012 after working for a top tier firm as a corporate lawyer and working as in-house counsel at a large digital media company and a large telecommunications company.

He has spent years campaigning for a special inquiry into gay hate crimes in NSW. The inquiry is currently underway. Stewart has represented Alan Rosendale, a 1989 gay bashing victim, on a pro-bono basis.

OIP Staff


You can support our work by subscribing to our Patreon
or contributing to our GoFundMe campaign.

 

 

 

Latest

Polari Prize longlist announced but authors launch protest action over inclusion of John Boyne

Authors and judges have complained saying Boyne's statements about trans people should have excluded him from consideration.

US revokes approved early retirement of trans service members, removing their benefits

In January when US President Donald Trump returned to...

LGBTIQ+ groups join forces to denounce discrimination against trans women

"We reject damaging public narratives that seek to divide us and deny the long and connected history of our movement for equality and justice."

Rising star Georgina Hopson takes the lead in ‘Anastasia’ musical

The hit Broadway musical will have its Australian premiere at the Regent Theatre in Melbourne before touring to Perth and Sydney in 2026.

Newsletter

Don't miss

Polari Prize longlist announced but authors launch protest action over inclusion of John Boyne

Authors and judges have complained saying Boyne's statements about trans people should have excluded him from consideration.

US revokes approved early retirement of trans service members, removing their benefits

In January when US President Donald Trump returned to...

LGBTIQ+ groups join forces to denounce discrimination against trans women

"We reject damaging public narratives that seek to divide us and deny the long and connected history of our movement for equality and justice."

Rising star Georgina Hopson takes the lead in ‘Anastasia’ musical

The hit Broadway musical will have its Australian premiere at the Regent Theatre in Melbourne before touring to Perth and Sydney in 2026.

Join Dyan Tai for a unique afternoon of music, creativity and community

Midland-based LGBTIQA+ group Our Place is bringing queer pop sensation Dyan Tai to the west coast for a very special youth event.

Polari Prize longlist announced but authors launch protest action over inclusion of John Boyne

Authors and judges have complained saying Boyne's statements about trans people should have excluded him from consideration.

US revokes approved early retirement of trans service members, removing their benefits

In January when US President Donald Trump returned to power he issued an executive order saying that transgender personnel serving in the armed forces...

LGBTIQ+ groups join forces to denounce discrimination against trans women

"We reject damaging public narratives that seek to divide us and deny the long and connected history of our movement for equality and justice."