Below are profiles of the NSW Young Lawyers Leadership Team and Executive Councillors. Members of the Executive Council who are not part of the Leadership Team are elected for a term of two years and must participate in and/or chair at least one Sub-Committee during their term.

Leadership Team

President: Timothy Roberts

Timothy is a solicitor at NEW Law, a law firm owned by unions that provides legal services to unions, union members and the general public. He works in a range of areas including industrial, employment, criminal and personal injury law. 

Timothy commenced at NEW Law as a paralegal and research assistant to support the Counsel Assisting the Teachers Federation Independent Inquiry into the status of teaching, and his work in this role contributed to the 2021 Valuing the teacher profession report. 
  
Prior to Timothy’s appointment at NEW Law, he worked as a Senior Education Officer and Executive Officer at the NSW Education Standards Authority. He holds a Bachelor of Biomedical Science and a Master of Education from the University of Newcastle, and a Juris Doctor from the University of Technology Sydney.
  
Timothy began his career as a secondary science teacher, working in regional NSW. In 2016, he was a representative for public schools on the Quality Teaching Council. He has also worked as a Relief Officer in many roles at the NSW Teachers Federation and has been an association representative on their Branch Council. 

Timothy is the Secretary of the NSW Young Lawyers Workplace and Safety Law Sub-Committee and the President of the New South Wales Council for Civil Liberties, one of Australia's leading human rights and civil liberties organisations.

Vice President: Will Noonan

Admitted as a Solicitor in May 2021, Will is currently a Tipstaff in the Equity division of the NSW Supreme Court. Prior to this, he was a Senior Associate working with his dad in Bondi Junction, practicing almost exclusively in equity litigation and estate planning.

 Will graduated with a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) and Bachelor of Arts (History/Political Science) from ANU in 2020. During his studies, Will (briefly) studied at the London School of Economics and is currently completing a Master Of Laws (Applied Law) through the College of Law, majoring in wills and estates. His interest in wills and estates can only be explained by nominative determinism. 

Will became involved with NSW Young Lawyers through the Eastern Suburbs Law Society, where he has been the Young Lawyers Representative since March 2023. To those curious about joining the ranks of the organisation, Will has found the camaraderie, friendship and support of the fellow young lawyers to be the most rewarding part of both the organisation and profession. As Vice President, Will seeks to encourage more young lawyers and law students to join and actively participate in their local law societies and, of course, NSW Young Lawyers. A particular project Will hopes to address during his term is improving collegiate discourse (see s56 of the Civil Procedure Act for further application) and decreasing the financial barriers faced by regional and suburban clients in their access to justice. 

Outside of work, Will likes to spend time telling people they need a will (the testamentary instrument, not himself), cooking, painting, and spending as much time as he can with his wife.

Secretary: Marie Russo

Immediate Past President: Taylah Spirovski

Taylah is a Litigation Lawyer at HWL Ebsworth Lawyers and in 2024, was the President of NSW Young Lawyers.

One of her biggest achievements during her term, was the NSW Young Lawyers release of an inaugural publication targeted at early career lawyers who are interested in undertaking pro bono legal work. This comprehensive guidebook titled "Demystifying Pro Bono: Contributing to Closing the Access to Justice Gap in New South Wales", aims to illuminate the pathways available for young lawyers to engage in pro bono work.

The Guide not only seeks to inform but also inspire a generation of lawyers to embrace their role and civic duty to serve community. It contains five chapters of comprehensive invites as well as an appendix of practical resources.

Taylah has formed part of and led several NSW Young Lawyers submissions, initiatives, and events since 2021. Notably, in December 2023, Taylah and some of her peers received the '2023 NSW Young Lawyers Community Project of the Year' award for their event on 'Advocacy and Community Leadership: How to effect broader change with lawyer skills outside of lawyering', which raised money for the Women's Housing Company.

In August 2023, Taylah was awarded 'Woman Lawyer of the Year (under 5 PQE)' by the Women Lawyers Association of NSW.

Taylah is deeply committed to social justice and community advocacy. Taylah is the youngest board member of Women Illawarra (a not-for-profit community organisation run by women for women affected by domestic violence), where she is involved in not only strategic goal setting and financial monitoring, but a range of community advocacy. 

Taylah is the Chief Executive Officer of youth-led human rights organisation, Voices of Influence Australia. Here, she leads a team and coordinates policy-based projects and initiatives to empower and educate young people, while advancing the rights of marginalised communities. 

Taylah holds a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics (Distinction) from the University of Wollongong. 

Submissions Lead: Jessica Lighton

Jessica is a solicitor at Clayton Utz, working in the Environment and Sustainable Development team, having started with the firm as a graduate in 2019. She works across a range of environment and planning areas, including planning pathways for energy, resource and renewables projects, regulatory compliance, biodiversity offsetting, waste management, and contaminated land. 

Jessica has been involved with NSW Young Lawyers since 2020 and is currently the Chair of the Environment & Planning Law Sub-Committee. In her various roles with the Sub-Committee over the years, Jessica has contributed to submissions on NSW planning and Commonwealth environmental reforms, as well as assisting with organising the annual Environment and Planning Sub-Committee Trivia Extravaganza which raises funds for the nominated NSW Young Lawyers Charity. Notably, the 2024 event was awarded the '2024 NSW Young Lawyers Best Community Project' for its fundraising in support of The Mirabel Foundation.

Jessica holds a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) / Diploma of Legal Practice and Bachelor of Arts (History/Politics and International Relations – Honours) from the University of Newcastle. Beyond work, she enjoys musicals and ballroom dancing.

Executive Councillors

Manus Chauhan

Manus is an Assistant Director at the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), specialising in competition and consumer law enforcement. With experience in consumer fair trading and competition investigations, Manus considers himself fortunate that his role aligns with his passion for fostering integrity in business practices to create a more competitive, fair, and equitable marketplace that contributes towards a better life for all Australians.

Manus has been actively involved in NSW Young Lawyers as Chair of the Public Law and Government Sub-Committee and as a delegate for the NSW Law Society's Government Solicitors Committee. Through these roles, he has contributed to policy discussions and advocacy on issues affecting young lawyers in the public sector. As an Executive Councillor, Manus aims to promote community, competence, and career development among young lawyers, ensuring they have the support and opportunities to not only survive but thrive.

Outside of work, Manus prioritises a holistic approach to his health, emphasising both physical and mental health. While Manus enjoys any form of physical exercise/torture, going for a run or hitting the gym are his go-to for physical fitness. Manus also aims to incorporate quality time with friends and family, meditation, and other spiritual practices into his daily life for the benefit of his mental health.

Milorad (Milo) Kuga

Milo is an Industrial Officer and Solicitor at The Doctors Union – the Australian Salaried Medical Officers Federation. He acts for doctors employed in the public and private hospital systems as well as those employed by other entities. Milo works in a range of areas including employment, industrial, administrative and discrimination law.

Prior to Milo’s appointment at The Doctors Union, he represented the interests of professional firefighters as an Industrial Officer and Solicitor for the Fire Brigade Employees’ Union of New South Wales. Part of his work included advocating for firefighters diagnosed with occupational cancers and trauma-related illnesses.

He was previously employed by the Public Service Association of South Australia (PSA), where he represented many public sector workers, including solicitors employed by Legal Aid, the Crown Solicitor’s Office and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Milo holds a Bachelor of Laws and Legal Practice, a Bachelor of International Studies and an Advanced Diploma of Public Safety (Emergency Management). He is the Chair of the Workplace and Safety Law Sub-Committee, and is also a proud member of the United Services Union, the union for community and private sector lawyers.

Robert Breckenridge

Robert has been a member of the Young Lawyers Criminal Law Sub-Committee since 2018 and has been the Chair since 2024. He is currently the Young Lawyers representative to the Law Society’s Criminal Law Committee, and has previously served as the Young Lawyers representative to the Children’s Legal Issues Committee.

Robert was admitted to practice in 2015 and worked for an insolvency practitioner in Sydney before joining the NSW Police Force in 2018 through the Accelerated Prosecutor Recruitment Program. He is currently working as a Police Prosecutor in Sydney where he holds the rank of Senior Constable and appears in the Local, District, Drug, and Childrens’ courts.

Robert completed his undergraduate studies at Macquarie University and his postgraduate studies at the Australian National University. Outside of work, Robert is a volunteer firefighter with the NSW Rural Fire Service.

Elena (Yiyi) Su

Elena is an Accredited Specialist in Immigration law and is currently working as a Senior Associate at Ajuria Lawyers, where she provides legal and compliance advice to high-net-worth individuals, multinational corporations, and highly skilled industry professionals seeking migration solutions. She also leads the Entertainment Practice in the firm, where she guides domestic and international production companies in bringing talented individuals (and quite a few celebrities) to Australia for exciting projects.

Elena's involvement with the Law Society commenced in 2023 when she was appointed a member of the Human Rights Committee. 

Outside of her professional life, Elena enjoys true crime podcasts and Pilates and is now a proud cat mum. 

Claudia Robinson

Claudia is a solicitor at the Financial Rights Legal Centre, providing free legal advice to people with credit and debt insurance law issues. Admitted to practice law in both Australia and New Zealand, Claudia's work is focused on supporting marginalised communities and fostering systemic change. Claudia holds a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of International Studies (Distinction) from the University of Wollongong, and is currently studying her Master of Laws (LLM) through the University of London specialising in human rights. Claudia has been involved with NSW Young Lawyers since 2022, and is currently the Vice Chair of the Human Rights Subcommittee. 

Claudia undertakes a range of volunteer activities in the not for profit sector. She is part of the Australian Lawyers for Human Rights' Executive Management Committee, as well as a Board Member for YWCA Australia and UN Youth Australia. 

Claudia’s work has garnered international recognition, including receiving the Education Leadership Award from the Legacy Project. She also received the Early Career Lawyer of the Year Award from the Law Society of NSW in 2024. 

Caity Suchanow

Caity is a Federal Prosecutor and was admitted to the Supreme Court of New South Wales in 2022. She has a strong background in legal and political affairs, with experience in international law, human rights, and advocacy.  Additionally, Caity volunteers as a Chief Operating Officer of a youth-led human rights organisation, leading initiatives, supporting queer youth leadership, policy development, and access to justice. Caity is passionate about community engagement, working with diverse groups to create meaningful change. She is particularly interested in the intersection of law, policy, and social justice, ensuring that minority communities are heard in legal and political spaces. 

Caity joined the NSW Young Lawyers as a law-graduate in 2022, actively contributing to submissions and engaging with like-minded peers. Now serving as Chair of the International Law Sub-Commitee, she continues to foster a strong community and support new professionals entering the field. 

Outside of work, Caity enjoys painting, soccer, loves to read (especially history and fantasy!) and to travel! Exploring the world as much as possible, having lived in many different countries, embracing all different experiences, cultures and people. She brings this same enthusiasm and curiosity, and fresh perspectives to her legal career, advocating for dynamic and inclusive leadership within the profession. 

Caity holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Criminology and recently completed her Master of International Law (Distinction). 

William Glowrey

Will was admitted as a lawyer of the Supreme Court of NSW in 2019. He completed a Bachelor of Arts majoring in philosophy and literature at Monash University in 2015 before completing a Bachelor of Laws at Deakin University in 2018. 

He practiced for 4 years at Cater & Blumer Solicitors in Griffith before moving back home to Deniliquin in 2023 to become a Director at Glowreys - The Riverina Law Firm. 

His practice is predominantly in Criminal Law and has appeared in the Local Court, District Court, Supreme Court, and Court of Criminal Appeal of NSW. He also appears in the Victorian Magistrates Court. Will also practices in general litigation as well as anything that crosses his desk. 

He has been involved in Young Lawyers since 2024 and has been a member of the Criminal Law Subcommittee, and was elected as Chair of Bushweb Subcommittee in 2024. He is the current Treasurer of the Riverina Law Society and was the Young Lawyers Representative from 2021-2025. He is also currently a Director of Western Riverina Community College in Griffith. 

Outside of work (if such a thing exists), Will plays the piano, sings in a choir, and tries to flee the jurisdiction to visit friends.

James Read

James practices in Criminal Law at Legal Aid in the Wagga Wagga Local and District Courts, where he advocates on behalf of individuals who are often substantially disadvantaged, and who are from a diverse range of backgrounds.

James was admitted as a Lawyer of the Supreme Court of NSW in 2021. He completed a Bachelor of Laws at the University of New England via distance education whilst working as a law clerk at Farrell Goode Solicitors in Temora NSW.

James continued to work as a Solicitor at Farrell Goode Solicitors practicing primarily in Commercial and Property Law, before developing a passion for Criminal Law and advocacy. James’ particular area of interest is the intersection of mental health and Criminal Law.

James became involved with NSW Young Lawyers through the South-West Slopes Law Society, where he has been the Regional Delegate since 2022.

Outside of work, James enjoys cooking and taking his wire-haired Dachshund, Winston, for walks around the local Lake.