David Blumenthal

David practises primarily in public law with a particular interest in government work including royal commissions and inquiries, anti-corruption commissions, and other work at the nexus between law and public policy. David also accepts briefs in commercial law, including regulatory matters and planning and environment law.
 
Before coming to the Bar, David was Chief of Staff to Mark Dreyfus KC MP, where he worked on matters across the federal Attorney-General's portfolio, both in Opposition and in Government.  Key responsibilities included:

• Senate and other parliamentary inquiries;
• The national security portfolio, including the Australian Federal Police and ASIO;
• Anti-discrimination law, including legal prohibitions on religious and race-based hate speech;
• Federal anti-corruption agencies and reform;
• Indigenous justice;
• Environmental law; and
• International law.

David also worked as a Senior Adviser in the Climate Change and Environment portfolios for several years, focussed on major project assessments under the EPBC Act, and climate change policy.
 
Prior to working in the federal government, David taught criminal law and international law at the University of Melbourne, and worked as an independent legal consultant on parliamentary inquiries, the Royal Commission into the Metropolitan Ambulance Service, and the ACT Coroner's Inquiry into the 2003 Bushfires. David has also worked at the Victorian Department of Justice, and commenced his legal career at Mallesons in dispute resolution and litigation.

David holds honours degrees in Arts and Law, and a PhD in political science from the University of Melbourne.  His doctoral thesis examined the influences of Jewish history, identity and theology on modern political Zionism, and the relationships between the Israeli settlement movement and successive Israeli governments in the context of the Arab-Israeli peace process. 

David read with Gabi Crafti SC, and his senior mentor is Matthew Collins AM KC.

Since coming to the Bar, David has been briefed to act in a range of matters, including:

• Commonwealth anti-corruption investigations;
• State inquiry work;
• Civil actions for survivors of childhood sexual abuse;
• Media and entertainment law; and
• Commercial disputes.