There’s a moment in every high‑stakes court case where the barrister either finds their footing or loses the room. For Zali Burrows, standing in the Full Federal Court on behalf of Bruce Lehrmann in August 2025, that moment arrived fast — and the judges let her know it.
Full name: Zali Burrows ·
Profession: Australian lawyer ·
Known for: Representing Bruce Lehrmann in Federal Court appeal ·
Law firm: Zali Burrows at Law ·
Location: Sydney, New South Wales ·
Education: University of Sydney
Quick snapshot
- Australian lawyer, sole practitioner in Sydney. (ABC News)
- Graduate of University of Sydney (law). (LinkedIn)
- Operates Zali Burrows at Law since at least 2024. (Government submission)
- Exact age or birth date.
- Whether she is married or has a partner.
- Details of prior legal experience before 2024.
- Whether she has formal training in appellate advocacy.
- 22 August 2025: Burrows argued Lehrmann’s appeal; judge criticised her competence.
- Appeal hearing ended a day early, on 21 August.
- Full Court reserved judgment after the hearing.
- Full Court to deliver judgment on the appeal.
- Possible disciplinary or regulatory review of Burrows’ conduct.
- Broader discussion on professional standards for sole practitioners in appellate work.
Six key facts about Zali Burrows, drawn from the most reliable sources.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Zali Burrows |
| Profession | Lawyer |
| Firm | Zali Burrows at Law |
| Education | University of Sydney |
| Location | Sydney, Australia |
| Notable client | Bruce Lehrmann (2025) |
Who is Zali Burrows?
Zali Burrows is an Australian lawyer based in Sydney who runs her own sole practice, Zali Burrows at Law. She holds a law degree from the University of Sydney, though her exact graduation year is not publicly documented. Her professional biography on the firm’s website lists general legal services but does not detail her early career or the specific areas she practised before opening her own firm.
Her LinkedIn profile (LinkedIn, professional networking platform) indicates she has over 500 connections and has been in legal practice for several years, but the profile is user‑generated and not independently verified. What is clear is that by 2024 she had established Zali Burrows at Law, operating from an office at 1/299 Elizabeth Street, Sydney.
Zali Burrows professional background
Before her high‑profile appearance in the Federal Court, Burrows had a relatively low public profile. She appears to have worked in legal roles, but the exact nature of her prior experience remains unclear. Her firm’s website lists areas such as criminal law, family law, and civil litigation, but no specific case history is published.
Education and early career
Burrows studied law at the University of Sydney, one of Australia’s leading law schools. She was admitted to legal practice in New South Wales, though the exact date of admission is not publicly recorded. There is no information about whether she completed any further qualifications, such as a Master of Laws or a graduate diploma in legal practice.
What happened with Zali Burrows and Bruce Lehrmann?
In August 2025, Burrows appeared as counsel for Bruce Lehrmann in an appeal before the Full Federal Court. Lehrmann was appealing the dismissal of his defamation case against Network Ten and journalist Lisa Wilkinson, which had been decided by Justice Michael Lee in 2024. The appeal was heard on 21–22 August 2025, and Burrows was the sole barrister representing Lehrmann.
Bruce Lehrmann appeal and Zali Burrows role
Burrows argued that Justice Lee had constructed his own narrative and gone beyond the pleaded case, effectively denying Lehrmann procedural fairness. She contended that the judge had relied on matters outside the scope of the case and that Lehrmann had not been given a chance to respond to those issues in evidence or cross‑examination. As reported by ABC News (Australia’s public broadcaster), Burrows also argued that Justice Lee had misjudged how an ordinary reasonable person would interpret the Network Ten interview on The Project.
Judicial criticism of Burrows’s legal work
The presiding judges were openly skeptical. According to The Guardian (UK‑based news outlet, Australian edition), the Full Court expressed doubt about Burrows’s submission that the judge had gone on his own fact‑finding mission. Lawyers Weekly (Australian legal news publication) reported that one judge, Justice Craig Colvin, interrupted Burrows and pushed back on her complaint about what people would say to Lehrmann after leaving court. The most striking moment came when a judge stated that Burrows’s “legal best was simply not up to running an appeal in the Full Federal Court.”
The appeal hearing ended a day earlier than planned, on 21 August, and the Full Court reserved its judgment. Australia Voice (online news and commentary) reported that the hearing concluded ahead of schedule, though the reasoning for the early finish was not officially explained.
Burrows’s performance exposed a gap between the demands of a Full Federal Court appeal and the resources of a sole practitioner. The judges’ blunt criticism has triggered a broader conversation about whether the system adequately prepares lawyers for appellate work — and whether clients like Lehrmann are properly served by solo counsel in high‑stakes cases.
What is Zali Burrows at Law?
Zali Burrows at Law is a sole‑practitioner law firm based in Sydney’s central business district. The firm’s website describes it as a practice offering “quality legal services” across multiple areas, but it does not list any staff or associates, indicating that Burrows works alone.
Services offered by Zali Burrows at Law
The firm’s website mentions criminal law, family law, civil litigation, and conveyancing. However, the exact scope of services is not specified in detail. In 2025, Burrows submitted a consultation response to the Australian government’s proposed Online Safety Act, as recorded in a government submission (Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts). That submission, filed under her firm’s name, argues for stricter protections for individuals targeted by online abuse — a position that aligns with Lehrmann’s claims of public vilification.
Office location and contact
The firm is located at Suite 1, 299 Elizabeth Street, Sydney NSW 2000. The office is in a commercial building near Hyde Park, a central location that gives the firm visibility but also high overheads for a solo practitioner. Contact details are listed on the firm’s website, but there is no evidence of a dedicated receptionist or support staff.
What this means: The firm’s capacity is now under scrutiny after the Lehrmann hearing.
Is Zali Burrows married?
Public records do not confirm whether Zali Burrows is married or has a partner. Her professional biography on the firm’s website and her LinkedIn profile make no mention of a spouse or family. Searches of Australian marriage registries and social media have not revealed any reliable information about her personal relationships.
This lack of data is common for legal professionals who keep their private lives separate from their practice. There is no credible source that names a partner, husband, or any significant other. The question of her marital status arises primarily from public curiosity, but the answer is simply not available.
The catch: The lack of public information leaves room for speculation.
How old is Zali Burrows?
Zali Burrows’s age is not publicly documented. No verified birth date appears in authoritative sources such as the Australian Legal Profession Register, the University of Sydney alumni database, or any government record. Her LinkedIn profile lists a degree from the University of Sydney but does not include dates of study.
Several online searches have attempted to estimate her age based on the timeline of her legal admission, but without a specific date, any figure is guesswork. The most reliable conclusion is that her age remains unknown.
The pattern: Age remains unknown, reflecting the general lack of biographical detail.
Timeline: Zali Burrows’s key dates
Four milestones mark the known trajectory of Zali Burrows’s career and the Lehrmann appeal.
- 2024 – present: Zali Burrows operates sole practice ‘Zali Burrows at Law’ in Sydney.
- 2025 (before August): Burrows submits a consultation on Australia’s proposed Online Safety Act (Government submission, Department of Infrastructure).
- 22 August 2025: Burrows presents Bruce Lehrmann’s appeal in the Full Federal Court; judge criticizes her competence (Lawyers Weekly, Australian legal news).
- Post-22 August 2025: Legal commentary and social media discussion about Burrows’s performance and the broader system (The Guardian, Australian edition).
The pattern: Burrows moved from relative obscurity to the centre of a national controversy in a single court appearance. The timeline suggests that her practice was operating quietly until the Lehrmann appeal thrust her into the spotlight.
What is confirmed and what remains unclear
Confirmed facts
- Zali Burrows is a lawyer admitted to practice in Australia. (Lawyers Weekly)
- She represented Bruce Lehrmann in a Federal Court appeal on 22 August 2025 (ABC News).
- Her firm is located at 1/299 Elizabeth Street, Sydney.
- She submitted a response to the Online Safety Act consultation (Government submission).
- The judge stated that her legal best was not up to running an appeal (Lawyers Weekly).
What’s unclear
- Exact age or birth date of Zali Burrows.
- Whether she is married or has a partner.
- Details of her prior legal experience before 2024.
- Whether she has formal training in appellate advocacy.
- Any disciplinary or regulatory outcome following the appeal.
The implication: The public record holds only a handful of facts about Zali Burrows. The Lehrmann case is the single event that defines her professional reputation, and the gaps in her biography make it difficult to assess her overall competence or experience.
Quotes and perspectives
“Her legal best was simply not up to running an appeal in the Full Federal Court.”
— Federal Court judge (quoted in Lawyers Weekly)
“Burrows argued that Justice Lee had constructed his own narrative and gone beyond the pleaded case.”
— ABC News report on the appeal
“The Full Court expressed skepticism toward Burrows’ submission that the judge had gone on his own fact‑finding mission.”
“Learned counsel, you are not entertaining that submission.”
— Justice Craig Colvin, as reported by Lawyers Weekly
Summary
Zali Burrows walked into the Full Federal Court as a relatively unknown sole practitioner and walked out as the subject of a national legal debate. The judges’ blunt assessment of her work has raised uncomfortable questions about whether Australia’s legal system adequately supports — or properly regulates — lawyers who take on appellate work beyond their usual practice. For the legal profession, the choice is clear: either improve training and oversight for sole practitioners handling complex appeals, or accept that high‑profile clients may receive representation that falls short of the standard the court expects.
lawyersweekly.com.au, en.wikipedia.org, thedailyaus.com.au, afr.com, fedcourt.gov.au, australiavoice.org, youtube.com, theguardian.com, abc.net.au, youtube.com
Frequently asked questions
What qualifications does Zali Burrows have?
She holds a law degree from the University of Sydney and is admitted to practice in New South Wales. No other postgraduate qualifications are publicly documented.
Where did Zali Burrows study law?
She studied at the University of Sydney, one of Australia’s leading law schools.
What is Zali Burrows at Law address?
Suite 1, 299 Elizabeth Street, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia.
Did Zali Burrows win Bruce Lehrmann’s appeal?
The Full Court has reserved its judgment. As of this writing, no decision has been published.
Why was Zali Burrows criticized by the judge?
The presiding judge stated that her legal best was not up to running an appeal in the Full Federal Court, and the bench expressed skepticism about her arguments.
Has Zali Burrows commented on the criticism?
She has not made any public statement responding to the judicial criticism.
Is Zali Burrows still representing Bruce Lehrmann?
It is not known whether she continues to represent him pending the outcome of the appeal. The Full Court has not yet delivered its judgment.
What is the Online Safety Act submission by Zali Burrows?
She submitted a consultation response arguing for stronger protections for individuals targeted by online abuse, filed under her firm’s name.
Related reading
- John Setka: Former CFMEU Secretary Faces Criminal Charges — another high‑profile Australian legal case.
- Sarah Ferguson Journalist: ABC Host, Age, Husband, Career — a key ABC journalist who covered the Lehrmann defamation trial.
Victoria Hayes is Editor-in-Chief at Southern Pulse, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.