Awais was called to the NSW bar in 2011. He was admitted as a solicitor of the NSW Supreme Court in 2008. He is also a nationally accredited mediator.
He practices in commercial law, insurance law and criminal law from Maurice Byers Chambers. In addition, his reputation as a strong family lawyer has led him to also practice from a leading set of chambers, Family Law Chambers.
Awais has appeared (as lead counsel) in multiple appellate jurisdictions, including most notably succeeding in an appeal before the High Court of Australia concerning a question of statutory construction.
With a significant background in complex commercial matters (including a degree in applied finance), Awais has specialised expertise in personal insolvency and company liquidation which equips him with skills in financial matters involving trusts structures, bankruptcy, equitable relief and complex business valuations.
Moreover, given Awais’ experience as a criminal defence barrister he is most suited to complex parenting matters with an overlay of criminal allegations.
Finally, Awais is a nationally accredited mediator with a sound track record in assisting parties resolve their disputes at mediation, and a current sitting member of the NSW Bar Association’s Professional Conduct Committee, and the Family Law Committee.
Prior to his call, Awais worked in corporate law with a top tier national law firm. He has also experience in teaching law at Macquarie University and working as a tipstaff to the Honourable Justice George Palmer AM of the NSW Supreme Court (Equity Division).
He is passionate about continuing legal education in a wide and varied sense and has delivered papers/seminars on, amongst other things:
- Civil Procedure – Costs rules including offers of compromise indemnity costs;
- ADR Skills and the duties upon practitioners;
- Domestic Violence & parenting capacity, the intersection between Family Law and the Criminal Law;
- Drafting affidavits and preparing evidence;
- The introduction and application of the Bail Act 2013 (NSW);
- Res judicata and estoppel in the context of consent orders;
- The intersection between insolvency law and family law;
- The concept of legitimate forensic purpose in the issuance of Subpoena; and
- Family law challenges in advocacy and preparation.
Finally, Awais is an executive member of Australian Lawyers Cricket Council where he has also participated in the Lawyers Cricket World Cup in Columbo, Sri Lanka (2017) and Hamilton New Zealand (2019).
Awais can also be contacted at Family Law Chambers on (02) 8218 3000.