New Chair at Melbourne Law School to honour Allan Myers AC KC

The appointment of a new professorial Chair at Melbourne Law School is set to recognise the esteemed legacy of former University of Melbourne Chancellor, barrister, and philanthropist, Allan Myers AC KC.

In Mr Myers’ honour, a Chair in Equity and Trusts has been established with philanthropic support to acknowledge his longstanding contribution as a pre-eminent silk.

Melbourne Law School Interim Dean Alison Duxbury said: “Mr Myers’ contribution to this University, to Melbourne Law School and to the practice of commercial law is widely regarded across Australia.”

“Melbourne Law School looks forward to being able to expand our capability with a leader who will not only pursue their own teaching and research, but will also be able to nurture the next generation of scholars in a field of great relevance to commercial law.”

Allan Myers AC KC is the preceding University of Melbourne Chancellor (2017-2022) and is recognised as one of Australia’s pre-eminent barristers and philanthropists whose association with the University covers more than 50 years.

Mr Myers commented: “The University of Melbourne is, and has long been, a leading law school in Australia and the world, by reason of the outstanding scholarship of its teachers and students. The Chair in Equity and Trusts is consistent with the School’s pursuit of excellence and will benefit future generations of law students. The Law School is fortunate to be favoured by the generous and farsighted donors of this Chair.”

The Allan Myers Chair in Equity and Trusts will build on Melbourne Law School’s record of excellence in the field of equity and trusts and will strengthen the Law School’s ability to attract and retain world-class academic talent.

“Melbourne Law School is proud to soon onboard a Chair of Equity and Trusts in Mr Myers’ honour, a Chair that will service our comprehensive teaching and research capacity across this field of law,” said Interim Dean Alison Duxbury.

“This recognition of Allan Myers’ is further evidence of his eminent standing to Australian education and legal policy, and of his outstanding service to Melbourne Law School, to the University and to Australian legal society.”

Mr Myers remains one of the University’s most distinguished alumni, having graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws as a Supreme Court Prize Winner, edited the Melbourne University Law Review (1967-1969), later returning to the University as an academic and lecturer to teach future law students.

He was admitted to the Victorian bar in 1975 and took Silk in 1986, and has worked across all Australian jurisdictions and internationally, on many high-profile and complex cases including the 2009 Victorian Bushfire Royal Commission.

Funding a Chair is a time-honoured philanthropic tradition. An Academic Chair brings leadership and leverage to Melbourne Law School’s research environment, attracting and developing other excellent researchers and strengthening the School’s position in a competitive research funding landscape. The Allan Myers Chair in Equity and Trusts will enable the School to harness research capacity in this area and create positive and lasting change for society.

A global recruitment drive for the Allan Myers Chair in Equity and Trusts will commence in 2024, with a view to a suitable appointee bring in post for the 2026 academic year.