Senior partner Mark Leibler is the latest guest in a series of interviews about Victoria’s legal ecosystem, which has previously featured former Governor Linda Dessau, former justice Michael Kirby and author Helen Garner.
The interview with Mark, first recorded in November 2023, traverses Mark’s three main areas of contribution: the law, in particular tax law; the Jewish community; and Indigenous empowerment and human rights.
Over one hour of conversation, Mark tells podcast host Michael Green about his early life growing up in Melbourne as the child of Holocaust survivors, his studies at Melbourne University and later at Yale, and how he managed to become one of Australia’s pre-eminent tax lawyers, while also making a major contribution to his community and the nation in other areas.
“In the early days, you think of the law as the combination of what's in the statute books and the common law and the cases that you study. Once you practice law, over time you begin to understand that the law is also a very human process. Decisions are not handed down by computers - they're handed down by human beings. And you have to understand that if you're going to be a good lawyer.”
Mark Leibler AC, Lives in the Law
[Left] Mark graduated with first-class honours from The University of Melbourne’s Law School, where he shared the Supreme Court Prize as the year’s top law graduate. Pictured here with his mother Rachel.
[Middle] Mark attended a luncheon at the Lodge hosted by then Prime Minister John Howard with special guest US President Geoge W. Bush.
[Right] Mark’s service to the nation was recognised in 2005 with his appointment as a Companion of the Order of Australia, the highest honour for community service. Mark and Rosanna are pictured here with then Governor-General Major General the Honourable Michael Jeffery and his wife Marlena.
