I am pleased to announce that Ms Helen Rofe QC has been appointed as a judge of the Federal Court of Australia and will commence on 12 July 2021.
Ms Rofe has been appointed to the Victorian registry to replace Justice Simon Steward following his elevation to the High Court of Australia. She was admitted to both the Supreme Court of Victoria and the High Court of Australia in 1993 and has practised as a barrister since 2001, taking silk in 2014.
On behalf of the Australian Government, I congratulate Ms Rofe on her appointment and thank her for her willingness to serve the people of Australia as a judge of the Federal Court of Australia.
Ms Helen Rofe QC
Ms Rofe graduated from the University of Melbourne with a Bachelor of Science in 1988, a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) in 1992 and a Master of Laws in 1995. In 1993, following her admission to the Supreme Court of Victoria, Ms Rofe commenced as a solicitor at Blake Sly & Weigall (now Deacons). She practised as Special Counsel at Arthur Robinson & Hedderwicks (now Allens) from 1994 and commenced as a Senior Associate at Blake Dawson Waldron (now Ashurst) in 2000.
Ms Rofe was called to the Bar in 2001 where she has specialised in science and technology related matters. She has significant experience in representing clients in the pharmaceutical, agricultural, mining, and manufacturing industries and government. Ms Rofe is currently Junior Vice President of the Victorian Bar Council and was the President of the Intellectual Property Society of Australia and New Zealand from 2007 to 2009.
