Neale Dawson

Neale Dawson was appointed as Special Counsel in April 2025, following his roles as Managing Director and Principal Solicitor of NEW Law since October 2015 and Principal Solicitor since July 2013. With over 30 years of dedicated experience, Neale has committed his career to providing legal services to unions and their members. Throughout his career, Neale has developed extensive litigation experience across a broad spectrum of workplace-related matters. He has appeared as an advocate in all major courts and tribunals, including Coronial Inquiries, Commissions of Inquiry, professional registration tribunals and the Independent Commission Against Corruption. His advocacy also extends to representing workers and their families facing criminal charges related to their employment and other matters. Neale has provided dedicated representation to veterans and the widows of war veterans in Administrative Appeals for many years. Before entering the legal profession, he gained valuable experience in teaching and educational administration within both government and non-government sectors. His diverse background also includes practice as a Barrister and work as an academic. He holds Master’s degrees in Education and Law from the University of Sydney, along with a Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Corporate Governance. Neale is a Chartered Secretary and Notary Public, a Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand College of Notaries, and a member of both the Governance Institute of Australia and the Australian Institute of Company Directors. In addition, he serves as a Director of Teachers Health Pty Limited and chairs its Risk and Governance Committee.