Penelope Giles is an experienced trial lawyer, having worked as a solicitor in litigation for 11 years, and then practised full-time at the Independent Bar since 1998.

In the field of family law, she has appeared as counsel in a number of first instance decisions and appeals concerning parental alienation. She appeared as counsel in a case in 2016 involving an international surrogacy arrangement which garnered international attention. She has also appeared in complex property and financial litigation in the Family Court involving large trusts, superannuation, farming properties and complex asset protection, and de facto claims.

She has written and presented many papers at family law meetings, most recently in the fields of evidence and parental alienation. She is a member of the Senior Members’ Panel of the Family Law Practitioners Association of WA, providing confidential advice and mentoring to other practitioners.

One of her particular areas of interest is the interface between the law and medicine. She has acted in some major medical disciplinary cases in the State Administrative Tribunal and the Supreme Court.

Penelope has been a Commissioner of the District Court, President of the Equal Opportunity Tribunal, and a legal member of the Medical Board. She is active in professional and community affairs, and mentors junior practitioners. She has lectured in industrial law in an MBA at the University of Western Australia and tutored in Evidence at the University of Western Australia’s Law School and Notre Dame Law School.

She has appeared as counsel in most major courts and tribunals, conducting complex and lengthy litigation, both as a solicitor and as a barrister, at first instance and in appeals. She is equally comfortable in common law courts and administrative tribunals and boards.

In 2020 she was appointed as Senior Counsel. While focussing on family law since being appointed as silk, Penelope also accepts instructions on inquests and disciplinary matters.

Penelope has acted as counsel in major anti-discrimination cases, including several high-profile harassment cases, a ground-breaking sex discrimination class action and, more recently, cases involving disability discrimination in education.

Penelope was Head of Murray Chambers from April 2021 to March 2024.

In July 2021 she was appointed Adjunct Clinical Professor at Curtin University Law School.

Penelope has a guide for briefing solicitors as to what is generally required in a brief. For a copy of that guide, please click here. 

Solicitors are also welcome to call Penelope’s Personal Assistant to discuss the preparation of briefs.

You can view Penelope’s credentials on her CV.

PRACTICE AREAS:

• CORONIAL INQUESTS

• DISCIPLINARY

• FAMILY LAW & DE FACTO