Dion is a lawyer in the Forster office of Stacks. As well as an Honours degree in law, Dion has a Bachelor of Environment (Marine) Science and Management. He is a member of the NSW Environment and Planning Law Association.
Dion has a strong interest in the natural and built environment, with particular expertise in water rights and water law. He advocates for water security and sustainable development and is passionate about protecting the environment for future generations.
His interest in these areas was reflected in his law Honours dissertation paper, which discussed the concept of using Indigenous Protected Areas to provide a potential defence for Indigenous fishers charged with offences under the Fisheries Management Act.
While studying law, Dion worked for an environmental engineering firm specialising in water resources (groundwater, flooding, drainage and coastal environments), property development and geotechnical investigations.
Dion has experience in the resources industry, having worked for a marine engineering firm and gained further exposure and experience in resource extraction, dredging and manufacturing.
His experience follows his passions and includes water law (extraction entitlements, resource management, flooding and contamination), land management, renewable energy production and the sustainability of the resources sector.
Dion helps his clients find commercially sound outcomes to complex water and environment-based problems. He can assist you with a broad range of matters involving water rights, the environment and rural law, including the following.
- Water access licensing, rights and entitlements
- Groundwater extraction rights and entitlements
- Environmental compliance and auditing
- Resource extraction rights and approvals
- Rural/irrigation due diligence
- Compulsory property acquisitions
- Contamination
- Coastal development
- Native title
- Criminal law
In addition to water and environmental law, Dion assists his clients with local government, criminal law and personal injury matters. Dion believes everyone has a right to justice.
Dion is personable and empathetic. He likes to remember that legal work is an everyday event for lawyers – but for our clients, that same event often has life-changing real-world consequences.
Dion has strong research, writing, drafting and project management skills and a high level of business acumen. He is a problem solver and lateral thinker and enjoys finding unique solutions to complex problems.
Dion enjoys assisting a broad range of clients, particularly those who do not have the skills to navigate complex areas of law. For these reasons, he finds it rewarding to work not only in environmental law, but also for people who have been injured at work or are subject to the criminal justice system.
The same reasons motivated Dion chose to pursue law as a career. He has always stood up for the so-called “little guy” and tries to ensure that people are treated equally and fairly.
At university, Dion was active in the Student Law Society, holding various executive positions, including President, Education Officer and Online Student Support. He also volunteered his time as a student mentor and was a student representative on the SCU Academic Board.
Dion is very outdoorsy. In his spare time, he enjoys playing baseball, going to the beach, bushwalking and spending time with his wife on their boat. Otherwise, you’ll find him in the gym.
Dion grew up in Forster and has recently returned. He is interested in finding a way to volunteer and give back to the community that supported him while he was growing up.
