Richard Cavanagh was born to Kevin and Mary Cavanagh, and his family lived on Sydney's North Shore. He is the middle child of five siblings: Peter, Judy, Susan and Joanne. He is married to Francine Cavanagh and has three children, Tom, Harry and Rose.
Cavanagh graduated from the University of New South Wales with degrees in Arts and Law. His legal education was followed by admission as a solicitor in 1982, practice as a solicitor, and later admission to the New South Wales Bar.
Cavanagh was admitted as a solicitor in 1982 and worked as a solicitor for six years. In 1988 he became a partner of the Sydney law firm Henry Davis York Solicitors, where he remained for a further ten years. He was called to the New South Wales Bar in 1998 and practised for 21 years, taking silk as Senior Counsel in 2010. His barrister's practice covered commercial litigation, insurance, personal injury, professional negligence, property, construction and equity matters, and he appeared regularly in appellate proceedings, including approximately 80 matters in the New South Wales Court of Appeal. He was sworn in as a Judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales on 16 September 2019 and sits in the Common Law Division.
Built a 37-year legal career spanning solicitor practice, partnership at Henry Davis York, 21 years at the New South Wales Bar, Senior Counsel appointment and judicial service on the Supreme Court of New South Wales.
Appeared in approximately 80 cases in the New South Wales Court of Appeal during his practice as a barrister.
Cavanagh has participated in the professional administration of the New South Wales legal profession. He served on the New South Wales Bar Council and as a director of Bar Cover, an organisation providing sickness and accident income-protection insurance for Australian barristers. As a Supreme Court judge, he has served on the Legal Qualifications Committee of the Legal Profession Admission Board, including as chairman, and has participated in the City Link Mentor Program and Legal Services Council legal-admissions committees.
Served as a member of the Bar Council.
New South Wales Bar Council , Australia
Served as a director of the organisation providing sickness and accident income-protection insurance for Australian barristers.
Bar Cover , Australia
Chairman of the committee.
Legal Qualifications Committee, Legal Profession Admission Board , Australia
Participated in the mentor program.
City Link Mentor Program , Australia
Served on the Admissions Committee, Law Admissions Consultative Committee and Foreign Lawyers Working Group.
Legal Services Council , Australia
2020
Cavanagh is the son of Kevin and Mary Cavanagh and the brother of Peter, Judy, Susan and Joanne. He is married to Francine Cavanagh. His children are Tom, Harry and Rose; Tom is a lawyer and Rose has pursued acting studies in New York.
Cavanagh's wife of 36 years was present at his 2019 swearing-in ceremony.
A lawyer.
Pursued acting studies in New York.
