Thornton, Simon
Senior Executive Lawyer
As a senior member of the Constitutional Litigation Unit (CLU), Simon acts for and advises the Commonwealth on matters involving constitutional issues and instructs the Commonwealth Solicitor-General in significant constitutional cases, particularly in the High Court. He also provides high-level written advice to a number of departments and agencies on issues of constitutional law, statutory interpretation and international law.
Simon has also advised clients on issues relating to corporate governance and funding agreements. His work in this area included the preparation of an extensive legal risk audit for Tourism Australia and a legal evaluation of the documentation for Defence’s Public Key Infrastructure.
Prior to joining CLU in February 2008, Simon was a Lawyer in AGS’s Commercial practice, providing advice on commercial matters with a particular focus on ICT-related issues. His work included advising on licensing arrangements and the entire procurement process from the release of a Request for Tender through to contract negotiation.