Prominent Sydney barrister Ruth Higgins SC has been named the nation’s first female solicitor-general.
Attorney-General Michelle Rowland announced that Higgins, a leading "silk" with more than two decades of experience, will fill the Commonwealth’s top legal vacancy, which has remained open since December.
Higgins, widely regarded as a formidable expert in competition and constitutional law, is perhaps best known for representing the Australian Securities and Investments Commission in its high-stakes litigation against former directors of Star Entertainment.
Her elevation to the role of "second law officer" places her at the helm of the government’s most complex litigation, particularly within the High Court.
"Dr Higgins' exceptional acumen and depth of experience ensure the Commonwealth remains robustly represented in matters of significant national interest," Rowland said.
Higgins is set to inherit a suite of politically sensitive challenges, including the constitutional validity of the government’s social media ban and impending legal disputes surrounding new hate speech legislation.
She follows in the footsteps of Stephen Donaghue KC, whose tenure was marked by the dual-citizenship crisis and the enquiry into former Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s secret ministerial appointments.