Sandy Dawson

{{Short description|Australian barrister (1972–2022)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}

Alexander Tamerlane Sinclair Dawson{{cite web|url=https://nswbar.asn.au/the-bar-association/publications/inbrief/view/7fe49807df877cb7bb81940d2e6e98de|title=President's Message | New South Wales Bar Association|website=nswbar.asn.au|access-date=28 November 2022}} {{post-nominals|country=AUS|SC}} (c.1972 – 28 November 2022) was an Australian barrister who specialised in the law of defamation.

Dawson was educated at St Paul's College, University of Sydney.{{cite web | url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/laugh-cry-and-remember-him-fondly-sandy-dawson-farewelled-in-sydney-20221210-p5c594.html | title='Laugh, cry and remember him fondly': Sandy Dawson farewelled in Sydney | date=10 December 2022 }} He was called to the bar in 2003 and was a founding member of Banco Chambers, Sydney in 2004.{{cite web|url=https://www.watoday.com.au/national/nsw/rare-talent-sydney-defamation-barrister-sandy-dawson-dies-aged-50-20221128-p5c1tr.html|website=watoday.com.au|title=Sandy Dawson dies aged 50|date=28 November 2022 |access-date=28 November 2022}} In 2016 he was appointed Senior Counsel. He was involved in a process to reform Australia's defamation laws.

Dawson represented a variety of media organisations, as well as Labor MP Emma Husar against BuzzFeed in 2019.

Dawson's sister Katrina was also a barrister. She was shot dead in the 2014 Lindt Cafe siege.

Dawson was married with four children. He died of brain cancer on 28 November 2022, aged 50.{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-11-28/sandy-dawson-barrister-dies-age-50-from-cancer/101707852|title=Renowned Sydney barrister Sandy Dawson SC dies aged 50 - ABC News|newspaper=ABC News|date=28 November 2022 |access-date=28 November 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/rare-talent-sydney-defamation-barrister-sandy-dawson-dies-aged-50-20221128-p5c1tr.html|website=amp.smh.com.au|title='Rare talent': Sydney defamation barrister Sandy Dawson dies aged 50|access-date=10 December 2022 |date=28 November 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/courts-law/highprofile-defamation-barrister-sandy-dawson-dies-at-age-50/news-story/9a99818537d3f340d61bb26ffd772690|title=Sandy Dawson: Defamation barriste dies of brain cancer | news.com.au|website=news.com.au|access-date=28 November 2022}}