Madeleine Avenell ('97) and Chloe Burnett ('98)

Two former Loreto Kirribilli students, Madeleine Avenell ('97) and Chloe Burnett ('98) were appointed as Senior Counsel (SC) by the NSW Bar Association at the same ceremony in Sydney in September 2020.

The Bar Association states that an appointment publicly identifies barristers who, “will provide outstanding service as advocates and advisers, to the good of the administration of justice”.

Madeleine Avenell, who graduated in 1997 and went on to Sydney University, progressed to the bar quickly after working as a tipstaff, a judge’s assistant. Madeleine worked in Maurice Byers Chambers, prosecuting and defending criminal and civil cases, before becoming a public defender.

She says this work is, “Much more challenging and rewarding,” and believes the social justice aspect of her Loreto Kirribilli education encouraged her interest in public defending. “As a public defender I only defend people charged with serious crimes. The defence is publicly funded or from the Aboriginal Legal Service.”

There are just 29 public defenders in NSW and Madeleine explains that the most serious or complex cases are offered to public defenders first so she has experience of defending terrorism, murder and manslaughter charges.

She enjoys the work and gaining insights into other peoples’ lives. Madeleine and Chloe both enjoyed being part of the Mock Trial team at Loreto Kirribilli and believe this sparked their interest in law as a career.

Chloe Burnett, who attended Loreto Kirribilli from Kindergarten through to Year 12, commented, “I did Mock Trial with Mr Bain and that was a real part of why I became a lawyer.”

Chloe specialises in taxation law and says her decision to take both Economics and Visual Arts in Year 12 gave her the experience of exercising both sides of the brain - analytical and creative. “In taxation law you have to think creatively and laterally and I was required to think critically and creatively in my subjects.”

She enjoys the technicalities of taxation law and explained, “It is constantly changing and you have to keep up to date and this means it never gets boring.”

High points in her career have been her involvement in the case of the Australian Tax Office against Chevron found to be mispricing billion dollar intercompany loans into Australia, which developed the law of transfer pricing around the world.

Chloe also does pro bono work and believes this ‘giving back’ is something she takes from her time at Loreto Kirribilli. “Social justice awareness from school is part of the values you take forward in life” One such case involved her successfully gaining access for an assistance dog named Boofhead to an RSL, with the canine himself listening every day in court. “He was so well behaved that I am sure that helped swing the balance in our favour,” she laughs.

Chloe has remained close to friends from her school days retaining the connection with the Loreto Kirribilli community and enjoyed her 20 year reunion.