Declan Norrie

Legal experience

Declan is an acclaimed early career Advisor, having been shortlisted as a Rising Star at the 2020 Australian Law Awards in his second year of practice.

Declan practises across a range of areas, notably commercial, technology, public, employment, and non-profit law (incl. managing Proximity’s Pro Bono Program).

Declan has a personal interest in modernising Australia’s environmental legal framework.

Declan has provided these legal services to the Digital Transformation Agency, Civil Aviation Safety Authority, National Health and Medical Research Council, Austrade, and as part of Proximity’s In House Counsel program.

Declan provides pro bono legal services to community organisations, and has averaged over 220 hours per annum since being admitted to the Supreme Court of the ACT.

Declan provides predominantly commercial- and employment-related advice, focusing on improving systems and processes to futureproof non-profits with respect to major areas of legal risk in their operation.

Declan has also been involved in the creation and operationalisation of new community organisations in the ACT and Victoria.

Experience

Declan is a high performing Senior Advisor working across Proximity’s consulting, legal, and commercial service lines.

Declan has a particular interest in cross-disciplinary synergies, leveraging lessons learned from legal engagements in commercial and consulting work, and vice versa. His approach is focused on finding pragmatic solutions tailored to the organisation he is advising – regardless of the service he’s offering.

Declan has been recognised by the legal profession as a shortlisted Rising Star in the 2020 Australian Law Awards, an Private Practice Lawyer (30 and Under) Excellence Awardee in the Australasian Law Awards, and a Young Lawyer Award finalist in the 2021 ACT Law Awards.

Declan is also Proximity’s Community Program Lead, co-ordinating and providing pro bono services to community organisations across Australia as well as Proximity’s philanthropic efforts.

Outside of work, Declan is heavily involved in several community organisations as a board member and/or volunteer. Declan draws on his day-to-day experience advising government clients to drive the community sector towards operational efficiency and maximised impact.

Declan and his partner are on a long and challenging journey to minimising their environmental footprint and enjoy sharing sharing tips and tricks with friends, family, and colleagues.