PENNICOTT WEIR LAWYERS - Key Persons

During the 1990's, John worked as a Prosecutor within the Local and Children's Courts of NSW, appearing in criminal proceedings as well as related application proceedings. He also regularly appeared assisting the Coroner in numerous inquests/inquiries in the Coroners Court. In 1999 he commenced employment as a solicitor with the Legal Aid Commission of NSW at it's Wagga Wagga Regional Office. Whilst employed in that capacity, he travelled to numerous Courts on different magistrate's circuits within the Riverina area of NSW. His responsibilities as a solicitor with the Legal Aid Commission were principally concerned with the representation of those prosecuted for offences dealt with in the Local and Children's Courts, as well as representation in committal proceedings. He also appeared in numerous severity/conviction appeals in the District Court for clients of the Commission, as well as instructing Public Defenders and members of the private Bar in numerous trials and sentence proceedings within the District Court of NSW. He commenced practice as a Barrister in NSW in 2002, and became a member of the NSW Bar Association. His practice at the Bar was principally in criminal law and has appeared in over 100 jury trials in the District and Supreme Courts. He has also appeared in numerous District Court severity/conviction appeals, sentence proceedings and interlocutory matters. He has appeared in countless Local and Children's Court hearings, sentence and committal proceedings. He has provided written advice to clients on briefs, including merit advice for appeals. John is a member of the Criminal Law Committee of the Law Society of NSW. John is an Accredited Specialist in Criminal Law. Specialist accreditation is a structured peer to peer assessment process enabling legal practitioners to be recognised for their expertise. To be accredited, specialists must pass a series of meticulous assessments on both legal knowledge and its application in practice. To retain their accreditation specialists must undertake significant additional professional development in their area of expertise each year. In 2019 John completed a Master of Forensic Mental Health degree through the School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW. He was awarded the David Greenberg Prize in March 2020 for Highest Academic Achievement in that Degree. In 2021 John was appointed a part-time member of the Mental Health Review Tribunal of NSW. John is currently the president of the South West Slopes Law Society.

Shannon is a highly experienced lawyer and offers her comprehensive legal knowledge developed over many years, ensuring she provides quality assistance to her clients in advising, negotiating, or litigating matters. Family Law, Child Protection, Wills and Estates, Personal Injury and particularly Child Historical Sexual Assault compensation, are regular areas of practice for Shannon. Following graduating from the University of Tasmania with a double degree of Bachelor of Arts (Political Science) and Bachelor of Laws, her post-graduate studies were completed at the Australian National University. Shannon began her legal career in 2003 in the ACT working for various sections of the ACT Government, and later moving to Wagga Wagga as a Care & Protection Specialist, then rapidly progressing to a senior solicitor in private Litigation. Having quickly establishing herself as a well-respected and reputable Senior Associate in litigation, it is her advocacy skills and personable nature that appeal to her clients as she meets their legal needs and expectations. Over the years Shannon has also established and maintained an excellent selection of barristers for instructing in complex court trials and hearings both in civil and criminal law. Shannon presently advises and represents clients in Court in the following areas: Family Law (children & property), Wills & Estates (including family provision claims), Child Historical Sexual abuse claims, Care & Protection, Personal Injury and other general civil litigation matters. Shannon's practice generally extends from the South Coast of NSW, though to Canberra, and to the South Western/Riverina area of NSW.