Israel-aligned law firm appointed to Antisemitism Royal Commission, no tender
The Attorney General’s Office used an opaque process to appoint law firm Gilbert+Tobin as lawyers to assist the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion without open tender. Stephanie Tran reports.
In response to questions about Senator David Shoebridge’s notice, Attorney General Michelle Rowland clarified that law firm Gilbert+Tobin was selected not through open bidding but through a limited “request for proposals” process limited to firms on the federal government’s Legal Services Panel.
Gilbert & Tobin is the principal sponsor of the Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce (AICC) business lobby group. AICC is associated with companies involved in war crimes in the occupied Palestinian territories, such as the arms company Elbit Systems.
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According to the government’s response, the Official Secretary to the Royal Commission invited “a number of law firms” from the Government Legal Services Panel to submit quotes to assist the Australian Government Solicitor (AGS) currently appointed as an Assistant Solicitor.
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The ministry did not disclose which companies were invited to participate and how many were considered. Instead, a selection panel within the Royal Commission Office assessed applications based on experience and “value for money” before recommending Gilbert+Tobin.
‘Selection panel’ is not defined.
Rowland, himself a former partner at Gilbert+Tobin, had “no role in the acquisition process” and was only informed after the decision had been made.
Gilbert+Tobin one main sponsor Israel lobby group Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce (AICC) sponsored by multiple weapons manufacturers, including Elbit Systems, a corporate accomplice Israel’s genocide in Gaza UN report.
There is no indication in the response that any specific risks related to Gilbert+Tobin’s external advocacy through AICC or client relations were formally assessed prior to appointment. It was not stated whether any statement was made by the company before the tender was made.
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Stephanie is a journalist with a background in both law and journalism. He worked at The Guardian and as a paralegal, where he assisted Crikey’s defense team in the high-profile libel case brought by Lachlan Murdoch. His reporting has been recognized nationally, earning him the 2021 Guardians of Democracy Award for Student Investigative Reporting and a nomination for the 2021 Walkley Student Journalist of the Year Award.
