Two new judges appointed to NSW District Court

Monday 7 August 2023

Sydney senior barristers Paul McGuire SC and Greg Waugh SC have been appointed judges of the District Court of NSW, bringing many years of skill and expertise to the bench.

Mr McGuire is an experienced trial and appellate advocate whose specialist areas include criminal law, white-collar crime, Ponzi schemes, tax and revenue fraud, money laundering, terrorism, and commericial and equity matters.

Mr Waugh’s areas of expertise include contract law, negligence, trusts, unconscionable conduct, real property, estoppel, wills, probate and family provision.

Mr McGuire will replace his Honour Judge Hoy SC, who retired on 2 June 2023, and Mr Waugh will replace his Honour Judge Levy SC, who retired on 26 June 2023.

Mr McGuire will be sworn in on August 23 and Mr Waugh will be sworn in on August 25.

Quotes attributable to NSW Attorney General Michael Daley:

“The District Court of NSW is fortunate to have two Senior Counsel of such high calibre appointed to the bench.

“Mr McGuire and Mr Waugh have amassed almost 75 years of experience between them, bringing their incisive legal minds to matters in almost every jurisdiction in NSW.”

BIOGRAPHIES

Paul McGuire SC

Mr McGuire has practised at the private bar for 24 years, the last eight of which as Senior Counsel. He has worked extensively in the Supreme and District Courts of NSW, particularly in the criminal jurisdiction.

He has appeared in a number of high-profile matters, recently appearing for the Crown in the Plutus Payroll $105 million tax fraud conspiracy trial, involving multiple accused, in the Supreme Court of NSW.

Before being called to the bar, Mr McGuire was a solicitor in large commercial firms in Sydney, Brisbane and London for 10 years.  

Greg Waugh SC

Mr Waugh was called to the bar in 1990 and appointed Senior Counsel in 2017. His broad areas of practice include commercial, equity and common law and he has conducted cases before the Local Court, the District Court, the Supreme Court and the Family Court.

Mr Waugh’s work in the District Court focused on conducting common law personal injury claims. Before coming to the bar, Mr Waugh was a solicitor in Wollongong and Sydney for six years.