We’re so proud to share that our Partner, Shaun Marcus, has been named the Australian Lawyers Alliance National Member of the Year for 2026, receiving the Donoghue v Stevenson Award for Outstanding Contribution to the ALA.
Congratulations also to Susan Accary, who shared this year’s award. It’s wonderful to see her contribution to the ALA recognised, too.
Here’s what ALA National President Michel Margalit, GAICD, said when she presented the award to Shaun:
“It gives me great pleasure now to present our Member of the Year Award for 2026.
“Our Member of the Year Award, the Donoghue v Stevenson Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Australian Lawyers Alliance, was established in 2017 to recognise ALA members whose efforts have been pivotal in the ongoing success of the ALA.
“Tonight we are acknowledging two members who have both made an extraordinary contribution to our organisation.
“The first member that we would like to recognise tonight is a fellow Victorian who has dedicated significant time to the ALA and related causes for close to 20 years. He has served on his state committee for many years and has been a National President.
“Despite no longer being on National Council, he has stepped back up this year to assist us with our very important work to defend against the calls from insurers for civil liability reform.
“Our Member of the Year 2026 is… Shaun Marcus.
“Before I ask Shaun to speak, I would like to acknowledge Shaun’s extraordinary history of dedication to our cause – he is the definition of a ‘worker’s friend’.
“Shaun is a tireless and fearless advocate of justice for injured people, and his results and work over many years establish him as a real leader in our community.
“But on top of that, about this time last year when the Insurance Council first released their paper calling for reform to civil liability ‘settings’, Shaun was quick to recognise the threat to injured people.
“He has focused on the need for the ALA to defend access to justice and ensure that people who are injured through no fault of their own retain the right to fair and appropriate compensation.
“He has assisted Ian and myself to defend against the campaigning of the insurance industry and proactively advocate in Canberra to ensure that the voice of injured people is heard.
“Thank you for your contribution, Shaun, and for your support of me, the National Council and our state committee. Congratulations.”
Shaun, thank you for the care and conviction you bring to your clients and to this firm every day. This recognition is well earned. Congratulations from all of us at Arnold Dallas McPherson.
