Raelene SharpKC is an Australian barrister. She was solicitor appointed as the Director of the Office of the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions in December 2023.[1] Sharp's diverse work has seen her advise and act in domestic and international investigative and regulatory matters, including in Lebanon for the United Nations.[2]
Sharp was called to the Victorian Bar in 2010, reading with Mark Rochford QC and Stephen DonaghueQC.[7] Sharp has been awarded an Indictable Crime Certificate[8] and was appointed senior counsel ("took Silk") in 2022, with letters-patent for King's counsel the following year.[9]
Sharp "has over 20 years of experience in both domestic and international legal domains,"[12] specialising in criminal law, investigative law and administrative law. After completing her articles, Sharpe moved to the Netherlands to further her legal education.[12]
Raelene Sharp's career began as a prosecutor at the state Director of Public Prosecutions (Victoria) (DPP). After two years, Sharp moved to the Netherlands to complete a Master's in public international law, specialising in international criminal law.[11]
Sharp represented Leiden University as an advisor to John Dugard, the Special Rapporteur to the UN Commission on Human Rights on violation of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law. In the "International Law Commission Annual Report (2003)" the Special Rapporteur John Dugard "acknowledged, with gratitude" the work undertaken by Sharp on the report into the "Diplomatic protection of corporations and shareholders".[13]
Sharp returned to Melbourne and the OPP for a short time before moving to the Australian Crime Commission (ACC) in 2004.[14] From 2006 until 2009, Sharp was legal officer at the United Nations in Lebanon, working on the investigation into the assassination of Rafic Hariri, the former prime minister, and a number of other related assassinations under the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.[10] Upon her return to Australia in 2009 she resumed her work at the Victoria DPP for a short time, before moving to the Australian Crime Commission (ACC).[a] The ACC appointed her their principal specialist lawyer in 2005.[15][16]
Sharp was asked to return to the Middle East as a Special Rapporteur and a member of an independent fact-finding commission, instituted by the Arab League, looking into Israel's Gaza War "Operation Cast Lead", under the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. The investigation focused on the Israeli operation in December and January 2009.[17]
Barrister & Taking Silk
Sharp was called to the Victorian Bar in 2010, reading with Mark Rochford QC and Stephen DonaghueQC.[18] Peter Hanks QC was Raelene Sharps senior mentor. Raelene Sharp experience and seniority has now seen her read for applicants seeking to become barristers & being called to the Bar.[19][20][21]
Described as the "ultimate prize for most barristers",[22] "taking silk" and obtaining the "coveted"[23] title Kings Council/Senior Council is an extremely detailed and rigorous process. The Victorian Bar tells us it involves the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria,[24] the Chief Justice (https://www.supremecourt.vic.gov.au/news/announcement-of-the-retirement-of-the-chief-justice-of-victoria) Anne Ferguson,[25] consults the heads of over 15 national and state judicial bodies to determine whether a legal professional whose skill, integrity, independence, and standing in the profession justify an expectation on the part of the public and the judiciary that they will provide outstanding services, as counsel, to the administration of justice.[26][27]
Special Investigator
Sharp has also worked at the Office of the Special Investigator (OSI) – under former CDPP and criminal law guru Mark Weinberg KC. Sharp also worked as counsel assisting the special investigator appointed to investigate possible breaches of the laws of armed conflict allegedly committed by members of the Australian Defence Force in Afghanistan from 2005 to 2016.[28]
Crown Prosecutor
Sharp was already experienced in the CDPP prior to being appointed as director, appearing for the CDPP in many complex and sensitive cases.[29] Sharp was appointed by the CDPP to be the crown prosecutor for the prosecution of a $100M+ tax fraud scheme, the largest tax fraud case in Australia's history.[30][31][32][33] The investigation and prosecution of the conspiracy syndicate resulted in seven guilty pleas and seven found guilty at trial.[32]
Sharp sits on the Criminal Justice Law Enforcement Forum, the Serious Financial Crime Taskforce.[34] and the Commonwealth Association of Directors. She meets regularly with the heads of Commonwealth law enforcement agencies, National Legal Aid.[35] and the various partner agencies who refer matters for prosecution to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (CDPP).
^Dreyfus, Mark (14 November 2023). "New Director appointed" (Press release). Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions. Archived from the original on 14 October 2024. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
^Moussa, Amre (12 May 2009). "Letter dated 12 May 2009 from the Permanent Observer of the League of Arab States addressed to the President of the Security Council". Report of the Independent Fact-Finding Committee On Gaza(PDF) (Report). United Nations Security Council. p. 2. (S/2009/244). Retrieved 11 December 2024.
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