Zali Burrows: Bruce Lehrmann’s Lawyer and the Failed Appeal

Watching a lawyer forget key points mid-argument is not something you see every day in an Australian Federal Court. Yet that’s the picture painted of Zali Burrows, the Sydney solicitor who represented Bruce Lehrmann in his high-stakes defamation appeal against Network Ten. According to ABC News, Burrows advanced a procedural fairness argument but faced sharp judicial questioning that exposed gaps in her preparation. The outcome would not only end Lehrmann’s appeal but also raise questions about the gap between general criminal practice and specialist appellate litigation.

Costs ordered against Lehrmann: $2 million ·
Rent paid by Channel 7 for Lehrmann: $4,000 per fortnight ·
LinkedIn connections: 500+ ·
University attended: University of Sydney ·
Location: Greater Sydney Area

Six points of data, one pattern: Zali Burrows is a Sydney solicitor with a criminal‑law background who stepped into a Federal Court appeal – a role that typically demands specialist barrister‑level advocacy – and drew intense scrutiny for her preparation and presentation.

Who was Lehrmann’s lawyer?

Bruce Lehrmann’s lawyer for the defamation appeal was Zali Burrows, a Sydney solicitor who runs her own firm, Zali Burrows at Law. She appeared before the Full Court of the Federal Court on 20–21 August 2025, acting as a solicitor rather than a barrister (News clip).

Zali Burrows’ professional background

Burrows studied law at the University of Sydney and has primarily worked in criminal defence. Her LinkedIn profile lists her as principal of Zali Burrows at Law, with a focus on criminal law and traffic offences. She has over 500 connections on the platform.

Her appointment in the Lehrmann case

Lehrmann retained Burrows after his original legal team withdrew. According to ABC News (ABC News), Burrows told the court that Lehrmann could not afford a barrister, which may have contributed to the decision to handle the appeal herself.

What was the outcome of the Bruce Lehrmann appeal?

The Full Federal Court dismissed Lehrmann’s appeal on 3 December 2025 (Wikipedia). It went further than the original trial judge, stating that the only reasonable inference was that Lehrmann knew Brittany Higgins was not consenting but proceeded anyway.

Appeal refused

• Lehrmann argued he was denied procedural fairness because the version of events accepted by Justice Michael Lee differed from the case put by Network Ten. Burrows advanced that argument, but the Full Court rejected it (ABC News).
• The High Court later refused special leave to appeal on 9 April 2026, citing insufficient prospects of success (Wikipedia).

Costs ordered

• The Federal Court ordered Lehrmann to pay $2 million in costs to Network Ten (Wikipedia).
• Channel 7 had been paying Lehrmann’s rent during the saga – $4,000 per fortnight – a fact revealed during earlier proceedings.

The implication: Lehrmann now faces a personal debt he may struggle to repay, while Burrows’ decision to take the case without a barrister contributed to a costly loss.

What was the shock twist in Lehrmann’s appeal?

The “shock twist” that media outlets highlighted was not a surprise ruling but Burrows’ courtroom performance. ABC News reported that she “appeared to struggle” and “seemed to have forgotten key points” (ABC News).

The ‘remarkable’ twist

• Legal commentator Crispin Hull wrote that “Burrows’s legal best was not up to running an appeal” (Crispin Hull blog).
• The Federal Court judges were seen to interrupt Burrows frequently, querying the legal basis of her submissions.

What this means: The case became a public examination of solicitor‑led appellate work, with Burrows as an unintentional test case for the risks of self‑representation by omission – where a solicitor acts as both instructing solicitor and advocate.

How much will Bruce Lehrmann have to pay?

Lehrmann’s total legal bill is now at least $2 million in costs to Network Ten alone. Additional costs from the High Court proceedings may follow. Meanwhile, Channel 7 Australia reportedly paid $4,000 per fortnight in rent for Lehrmann during the defamation trial and appeal (Wikipedia).

Legal costs breakdown

• $2 million in costs to Network Ten (ordered 3 December 2025)
• Further costs for the High Court special leave application (dismissed 9 April 2026)
• Lehrmann’s own legal fees – likely unpaid, given he told the court he could not afford a barrister

Channel 7’s rent payments

• Channel 7 paid Lehrmann’s rent at $4,000 per fortnight for an undisclosed period – a payment that raised ethical questions but was not found to be improper.

The trade‑off: Even with Channel 7’s support, Lehrmann now faces a six‑figure debt that could follow him for years, while Burrows may see her practice affected by the publicity.

What is Zali Burrows’ legal background?

Zali Burrows is a Sydney‑based solicitor with a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Sydney. She was admitted to practice in New South Wales and has worked primarily in criminal law. Her firm, Zali Burrows at Law, is located at 1/299 Elizabeth Street, Sydney NSW 2000, according to a government submission (Infrastructure.gov.au).

Education

• University of Sydney – Bachelor of Laws

Experience

• Criminal defence solicitor (primary area)
• Principal of Zali Burrows at Law
• Previously appeared in Local and District Courts of NSW

Current practice

• Firm: Zali Burrows at Law
• Focus: Criminal law, traffic law, and general litigation
• Location: Sydney CBD

For Zali Burrows, the professional scrutiny from this appeal means her name is now synonymous with the risks of stepping outside one’s core expertise – a lesson for any solicitor considering an appellate run without a barrister’s support.

For Zali Burrows, the professional scrutiny from this appeal is not a passing headline – it’s a career inflection point. The choice is clear: either return to the criminal defence work she knows, or invest in the specialist appellate training required to ever step into a Federal Court again.