Leslie Katz SC is a former Solicitor General for New South Wales (1997–1998) who later became a judge of the Federal Court of Australia.
[5] Previously an academic at the University of Sydney, Katz in 1980 had become a member of the New South Wales Bar.
[6] As Solicitor General, Katz appeared in a case arising out of the Hindmarsh Island bridge controversy, where it was argued removing heritage protection is unconstitutional.
[7] Katz reports having been influenced to move from a career in academia to practice by former High Court Justice Michael Kirby.
[8] At the time, Kirby was the head of the Australian Law Reform Commission.