fiona mcleod AO SC
B.A, LlB, M.(Pub & Int) Law, GAICD
Fiona McLeod AO SC is an eminent Senior Counsel who has more than thirty years experience conducting trials, appeals, Royal Commissions and Inquiries.
With extensive experience appearing in complex commercial, class actions and public law matters, Fiona is recognised for her clear advice and expert advocacy in large-scale matters of national significance. She brings clear judgment, strategic insight, and ability to resolve multifaceted legal challenges.
In 2025 she was appointed to conduct Inquiries into embryo transfer by Monash IVF Group. She has contributed through extensive public service, chairing numerous professional inquiries, investigations and boards bringing independence, fairness and a deep understanding of public administration, corporate governance, regulatory systems, and executive accountability.
Her career has been defined by service to justice, integrity in public life, and the advancement of fairness and inclusion. As former President of the Law Council of Australia, Australian Bar Association, Victorian Bar and Australian Women Lawyers, Fiona has led at the highest levels of the legal profession and across civic institutions, earning deep respect for her compassion and principled leadership. She is presently a senior officer of the International Bar Association and the Commonwealth Lawyers Association and has taught advocacy across Asia and the Pacific contributing to capacity building and strengthening the rule of law.
Her work has shaped responses to complex legal and social challenges, representing the Commonwealth of Australia in major public interest cases including the Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission, Queensland Floods Commission and the Royal Commissions into Institutional Child Sex Abuse, Aged Care and Disability. She has acted in other notable public interest matters including the Torres Strait climate change case, Pabai v Commonwealth and as senior counsel assisting the Yoorrook Truth and Justice Commission. She has prosecuted the serious commonwealth offence of slavery and numerous civil penalty matters.
A selection of leading cases is available here.
Fiona has been acknowledged as an 'Outstanding Advocate and Leader of the Profession' and one of Melbourne's most "influential, inspirational, provocative and creative individuals". In 2017 she devised and led the Justice Project, a landmark research project undertaken by the Law Council into access to justice impacts on vulnerable groups in Australia.
Fiona is actively engaged in supporting government and institutional transparency and integrity, as former Chair of the Accountability Round Table, Transparency International Australia and the Open Government Partnership Forum.
She has been a champion for diversity and inclusion and has received numerous awards, including for her contribution to the advancement of women and human rights issues, in particular, human trafficking.
Fiona was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in the 2020 Australia Day Honours for ‘distinguished service to the law, and to the legal profession, at the national and international level, and to women lawyers’ . She was appointed to the Victorian Honour Roll of Women, was awarded the AWL Woman Lawyer of the Year in 2018 and the Victorian Bar Pro Bono Trophy for outstanding individual pro bono contribution in 2025.
Fiona graduated with Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Laws and Master of Public & International Law from the University of Melbourne. She completed the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Company Directors Course.