The New South Wales Bar Association released a statement about the death of prominent defamation lawyer Sandy Dawson, who died due to brain cancer at the age of 50.
He was surrounded by his loved ones when he passed away. The association’s president, Gabby Bashir SC, said their thoughts and prayers were with his family.
Sandy was regarded as a great leader within the legal profession due to his exceptional talent, knowledge, and tactical brilliance.
He was destined to be a barrister, and he loved the practice of advocacy. Before Katrina, his sister, died during the 2014 Lindt Cafe Siege, she was also a barrister.
In honor of his sister, Katrina, Sandy established the Katrina Dawson Foundation, which provides mentoring programs for young women.
According to Bashir, the entire legal profession will never forget Sandy’s resilience and determination during the Lindt Cafe Siege. He was admitted to the bar in 2003. He became a senior counsel in 2016.
He was known for representing various media organizations in their disputes. One of his clients was Emma Husar, a Labor Member of Parliament, who was the victim of allegations of misconduct against her by staff members of the website Buzzfeed.
Husar referred to Sandy as a charming and witty individual on Monday.
In a statement, Husar praised Sandy for his professional and personal contributions.
He also thanked him for his sensitivity in handling her defamation case.