22/10/2025

A Queensland solicitor who is responsible for a landmark ruling in the High Court of Australia this year has won a national award for justice from the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA).

Ms Kirsten Van Der Wal has been awarded the ALA national Civil Justice Award for 2025. Ms Van Der Wal was presented with the award during the ALA’s National Conference held in the Hunter Valley last week.

“Kirsten is a truly deserving recipient of our annual Civil Justice Award,” said Mr Ian Murray, National President, ALA. “Kirsten was the lead solicitor at Maurice Blackburn in Stewart v Metro North Hospital and Health Service and this decision will now shape how courts consider the rights and care of Australians living with severe injuries.”

The ALA Civil Justice Award recognises individuals or organisations who have displayed outstanding advocacy in their support for human rights and justice.

“Kirsten and her team have worked for the plaintiff, Michael Stewart, since 2018. It has taken years of hard work, persistence, no doubt some disappointments and a lot of resilience to reach this result,” said Mr Murray. “This decision is an important step for the development of the common law, establishing that damages in catastrophic injury cases should genuinely reflect the circumstances and wishes of the injured person. It will have far-reaching implications for Australians living with catastrophic injuries - clarifying that restoration, not cost efficiency, is the guiding principle.

“Kirsten worked with an incredible team to get this result including another ALA member, Gerry Mullins KC, who played a critical role in achieving this victory.”

Since 1996, the ALA has awarded the national Civil Justice Award to an individual or organisation who has made a significant contribution to the pursuit of civil justice in Australia. Previous recipients of the ALA’s Civil Justice Award include former prime minister Malcolm Fraser AC, Indigenous rights activist Eddie Mabo, lawyer Bernard Collaery and politician Andrew Wilkie MP.