Michael Slattery QC was elected president of the New South Wales Bar Association in November 2005. He was educated at the University of Sydney, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1975 and Bachelor of Laws in 1978.

Michael was called to the Bar in May 1978, where his principal areas of practice have been commercial and equity. He took silk in December 1992. Michael has played an active part in the affairs of the association. He was elected to Bar Council in 19 of the last 26 years and served as chair of the Equal Opportunity Committee and Professional Conduct Committee #2 from 2000 to 2003. 

In February 1990 he was appointed an officer in the Royal Australian Naval Reserve and presently holds the rank of captain. Between 2002 and early 2006 Michael was the head of the New South Wales Navy Reserve Legal Panel. Michael has appeared in a number of inquiries. In 2004 he appeared for the Medical Research and Compensation Foundation in the commission of inquiry into the asbestos liabilities of James Hardie Industries. Since 2005 he has served as counsel assisting a navy board of inquiry into the helicopter crash on Nias Island, Indonesia on 2 April 2005.

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Hugh Macken is a solicitor with 20 years experience. He has been an accredited specialist in personal injury law for more than 10 years.  He has also represented victims of the Waterfall rail tragedy. Hugh is Junior Vice-President of the Law Society and a partner of Beston Macken McManis.  He holds a masters of laws degree.