By the Brief Editorial Committee
Brief acknowledges with sadness the passing of Gregory Robert Boyle, who was a valued and long-standing member of the Law Society’s Brief Editorial Committee at the time of his recent passing.
Gregory was a long-time servant and stalwart of the legal profession and the community. After an exemplary working career of 40 years as a partner of Jackson McDonald, Gregory retired from the firm at the end of 2013. He practised in property, securities and corporate areas of the law.
He embodied the notion that lawyers are not merely businesspeople but professionals who are called to serve. His service to his clients, the broader community and to the legal profession was significant, invaluable and enduring. He advised and lectured at UWA for more than 20 years. He was obviously active in the Law Society; he served as President in the year 2000. In 2002, he was elected Life Member. His community service also included time as Chair of the West Australian Opera Company, and as a council member and deputy chair of the Council of the National Trust.
Gregory’s commitment to the profession continued to the very end. His 2025 review of My Life in Crime, by the Hon John McKechnie, was insightful and erudite, and representative of his importance as a curator of professional knowledge. His contributions at Brief editorial meetings continued through late 2025 and were as apt and appreciated as ever.
Gregory was witty, kind, thoughtful, and wise. His colleagues on the Brief editorial committee proudly bear witness that his mastery of the English language was second to none, yet his editorial corrections were always gentle. Gregory’s colleague on the committee, the Hon John McKechnie, explained:
Gregory was, in a word, meticulous. He was careful in the use of every word in a document. [When I was a junior,] Gregory was kind in correcting my errors of drafting and from him I learned the importance of precision. He was the epitome of a solicitor, using his skill to guide and protect his clients.
He remained that way to the end, using his skills to guide us. He will be sadly missed.
