Nicki Lees

After completing a LLB (with Honours) and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Melbourne, Nicki completed a Masters in Law (LLM), for which she was awarded a distinction in International Law at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, Switzerland.

Nicki joined Maurice Blackburn in 2011 as a trainee lawyer, and was admitted to practice in 2012. She spent several years fighting for the rights of individuals and groups of people, before leaving to work with women’s empowerment projects and undertake rule of law consultancies in East Africa and Europe. Nicki's passion for defending peoples' rights made returning to join our social justice team an easy transition.

Nicki has run and led strategic public interest litigation for over 10 years. Her cases have included acting as the lead solicitor in a class action challenging the legality of the detention of asylum seekers and representing a First Nations community in their fight against a Radioactive Waste Facility being placed on their land.

“All people should be equally protected by the law and respected within society regardless of nationality, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation or other status,” says Nicki.

Nicki also works within the Claims Funding International Team at Maurice Blackburn.

Nicki is passionate about finding creative and innovative solutions to legal issues, including using AI technology. She most recently co-developed a project titled ‘Exhibit AI’, which takes the witness testimony of refugees in Australia’s offshore processing facilities and uses AI technology to turn the witness statements into images.

Accreditations & memberships

• Law Institute of Victoria member
• Victorian Women Lawyers member
• Australian Lawyers Alliance, Chair of Human Rights Committee
• Stateless Children's Australia Network, Advisory Council Member

Awards

• Lawyers Weekly Australian Law Awards Pro Bono Program of the Year, 2018