Philip Sutherland

Philip Sutherland serves as Special Counsel at Penklis Lawyers, where he has been an integral part of the firm alongside his spouse, Angela Penklis, since 2011. Philip offers a wealth of expertise across planning and sustainable development, environmental and local government law, property law, administrative law, as well as litigation and dispute resolution, including mediations and arbitrations. His practice extends to compulsory acquisitions and providing strategic legal advice and documentation for transactions. Philip holds an LL.B (Hons) and an LL.M (Hons) and is equipped with a current Australian practising certificate, enabling him to serve as a solicitor. He is on the roll of practitioners of the High Court of Australia and actively participates as a member of the Law Society of New South Wales, contributing to its Costs Committee. His career is marked by notable achievements including securing a right of way easement for a mining company, resolving a multi-million dollar bank claim through favourable mediation, and protecting a client’s interests in a high-stakes international hotel property case by identifying critical legal defects. Philip has also been instrumental in international legal advice concerning maritime seizures and has advocated in high-profile Supreme Court cases. His pro bono contributions are exemplified by his efforts in a landmark case that saw a death row inmate in Malaysia released. Philip is also acknowledged for his contributions to legal literature, including authoritative texts on the New South Wales and Commonwealth Evidence Acts, and numerous articles in esteemed law journals in Australia and the UK. His extensive legal writing underscores his deep understanding and thought leadership within the field.