Law firm dumps Catholic Church after 60 years, but won't say why

It comes amid growing tensions within the legal fraternity over the balance between social responsibility and commercial imperatives.

The decision to cut ties with the church also raises questions about the future of prominent partner Richard Leder, who served articles at the firm in 1988, and has worked on behalf of the Catholic Church for 30 years.

Corrs Chambers Westgarth Partner Richard Leder.Credit:Justin McManus

Leder did not return calls from Era, but several friends and associates confirmed that he was considering his options and had received interest from other companies.

“He is highly respected. What people ask is, ‘If you’re leaving, and a client is coming with you, then we’d like to chat,’” said an old friend.

The Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne declined to confirm whether they would remain with Leder or seek legal representation elsewhere.

“Richard Leder is still a partner at Corrs Chambers Westgarth and we have great respect for him and his team. We are working through the transition process,” said a spokesman for the archdiocese.

“Our main goal now is to ensure that this decision, and the transition, has no impact on survivors.”

Leder played a key role in developing the legal framework around the archdiocese’s compensation scheme known as Melbourne Response, which was introduced by former Melbourne archbishop George Pell in 1996.

Under the scheme, payments were limited to $50,000, later raised to $75,000, but it required victims to sign a deed of settlement waiving their right to take civil action against the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne.

Leder defended the Melbourne Response when he appeared before a royal commission in 2014 following repeated claims that the church is primarily concerned with avoiding litigation and minimizing payments.

Cardinal George Pell in 2018.Credit:Only McManus.

Between 1996 and 2014, the Archdiocese of Melbourne made $17.2 million in ex gratia payments to 326 victims of clerical abuse under the Melbourne Response, with plaintiffs receiving an average payment of $36,100.

Serial pedophile pastor Kevin O’Donnell was responsible for the largest amount of payments, to 50 victims, including Emma and Katie Foster for abuse when they attended Oakleigh Sacred Heart elementary school in the 1980s.

Their mother, Chrissie Foster, accused Corrs of profiting from the misery of the victims.

“The Catholic Church has become a cash cow for these people [Corrs Chambers Westgarth] for more than 50 years. The perpetrators of these crimes are protected by bishops and archbishops and allowed to continue raping children, and then you have law firms fighting to stop compensation,” he said. Era.

During his appearance before a royal commission in 2014, Leder apologized to Foster and his late husband Anthony for insensitive and untruthful remarks he made in correspondence with senior figures in Melbourne’s Catholic Archdiocese.

In a letter submitted to the commission, Leder claimed the abuse suffered by Emma Foster at the hands of O’Donnell was “relatively minor” and cast doubt on the sexual assault that was responsible for her drug problem.

“On the one hand, the relationship between what appears to be relatively minor abuse and treatment for heroin addiction might be considered weak,” Leder wrote.

In another correspondence, Leder falsely accused Fosters of kicking Emma out of the house.

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Chrissie Foster urged the church and its future lawyers to adopt a more compassionate approach in dealing with victims.

In 2018, the Victorian government dismantled Ellis’ defenses when it passed legislation to close legal loopholes. Dozens of victims who received small payments under the Melbourne Response have launched new litigation.

Lawyer Michael Magazanik, a partner at Rightside Legal, has represented several clients who have successfully sued the church.

“One of Mr Leder’s key achievements for his client (Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne) was helping to design Melbourne Response, a scheme that provides very modest payments to victims of sexual abuse by legally powerless clergy. Now, thanks to legal reform, there is a level playing field and the church has to face reality. Shock, horror, can actually be sued. It lost at trial earlier this year for the first time – it had to pay our client more than $2.2 million,” said Magazanik.

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