IR Legal Welcomes Iresha Herath as Special Counsel

27 January 2026

IR Legal is pleased to announce the appointment of Iresha Herath as Special Counsel, further strengthening the firm’s depth of expertise across regulatory, employment, corporate, and insurance law.

Iresha is a highly respected senior lawyer and executive with extensive experience spanning top-tier private practice and senior in-house leadership within the Victorian public sector. She is widely recognised for her ability to navigate complex regulatory frameworks and deliver clear, strategic advice on high-stakes legal matters for public, private, and not-for-profit organisations.

Her areas of practice include:

• Regulatory Law & Governance

• Employment Law

• Corporate & Commercial Law

• Insurance Law

Iresha has held senior legal and executive roles, including General Counsel, Executive Director, and Head of Legal, within major Victorian public sector organisations such as Western Health, Transport Safety Victoria, the Department of Justice and Community Safety, the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing, and the Social Services Regulator. Her practice encompasses regulatory enforcement and compliance, complex litigation, corporate and commercial advisory, employment law, and insurance matters, with a strong emphasis on governance, risk management, and executive decision-making.

Known for her practical and solutions-focused approach, Iresha is a trusted adviser to boards and senior executives on complex statutory obligations, sensitive employment and governance issues, and organisational risk. Her experience also includes ministerial advising and leadership roles within the Law Institute of Victoria, reflecting a deep commitment to legal excellence and ethical leadership.

Among her key achievements, Iresha established and led a legal team that received the Lawyers’ Weekly Corporate Counsel (Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals and Biotech) Team of the Year Award in 2019. She also led the implementation of Voluntary Assisted Dying legislation at Western Health, including the delivery of a landmark grand round attended by more than 3,000 staff members.

In addition to her role at IR Legal, Iresha serves as General Counsel and Company Secretary of the Love Your Sister Charitable Foundation, supporting the organisation’s governance, regulatory compliance, and strategic objectives.

Iresha holds a Bachelor of Laws from Monash University and the University of Melbourne, and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Melbourne. She is a values-driven leader with a proven track record of building high-performing, award-winning legal teams.

IR Legal is delighted to welcome Iresha to the firm and looks forward to the strategic insight, leadership, and expertise she brings to clients across a broad range of sectors.

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