HBA Legal partner Dr Andrew Lu (pictured) has been included on the Queen’s Birthday 2021 Honours List for his “significant service to the visual and performing arts, to the law and legal education” – making him the first Western Australian to be recognised for law services on the list.
Lu has over 20 years of experience representing the insurance industry, health practitioners, and the government.
A member (AM) of the General Division of the Order of Australia, Lu began his practice as a commercial insurance solicitor, for what is now known as Herbert Smith Freehills. He also managed professional indemnity and general insurance disputes at Minter Ellison and was a partner of what is now Sparke Helmore before joining HBA Legal as a partner in 2018, where he leads the firm’s national medical malpractice and health team.
Lu has appeared in the State and Federal courts, including the High Court of Australia, at inquests and inquiries, and before many tribunals. He has mediated vocational and commercial matters to early resolution and advised on contractual disputes, recoveries, the conflict of laws, and tortious claims.
This year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours List recognised 1,190 Australians, including:
Governor-General David Hurley noted the diverse honours list, with the highest ever percentage of women (44%) recognised through the General Division of the Order of Australia. The list also includes examples of “exceptional achievement in almost every field imaginable.”
“On behalf of all Australians, congratulations to all recipients. Each of these individuals is unique, and their story deserves to be shared widely and celebrated,” Hurley said. “Collectively, they speak to who we are as a nation. There are countless examples of selflessness, commitment, and dedication.
“It is important that the Order of Australia represents the diversity and strength of Australia – for this to happen, we need to ensure outstanding women, members of our multicultural community, and First Nations people are nominated by their peers in the community. I am prioritising increasing awareness of and engagement with the Order of Australia among groups that have been historically underrepresented. We are seeing positive progress, and I am determined that it continues.
Hurley encourages the industry to consider nominating someone outstanding from their community for recognition.
“The great strength of our system is that it is ‘bottom-up’ – everyone recognised through the Order of Australia has been nominated by someone else, considered through an independent process, and, today, celebrated by our nation,” he said.
“To the individuals being recognised today, many of whom Linda and I look forward to meeting over the coming year, thank you for your service and congratulations on being recognised by your peers and your nation.”
