About the scholarship
Since 1993, the BFSLA is proud to have awarded 38 scholarships to law degree graduates from Australian and New Zealand universities, enabling them to undertake postgraduate study in banking, finance and/or insolvency law at premier global universities around the world, such as Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard and Columbia.
The scholarship recipients have gone on to practise at the bar and top law firms around the world, to teach at prestigious universities and to share their knowledge through other career paths.
The BFSLA John Stumbles Scholarship honours John, who had one of the finest minds in Australian banking and finance law. He was renowned not only for his legal brilliance but also for his love of teaching and mentoring law students and young lawyers. He was a long-time member and supporter of the BFSLA, as well as a mentor and dear friend to many within the BFSLA. The BFSLA was privileged to have known John.
2026 recipients
The 2026 BFSLA John Stumbles Scholarship was awarded jointly.
Harmanjot is currently a Senior Associate at Allens and is planning to attend the University of Oxford to study a Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL). He was previously Associate to the Hon. Justice Anderson in the Federal Court of Australia.
Amy recently served as Associate to Justice Peter Brereton in the Corporations and Commercial Lists of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, and previously practised in the Restructuring & Insolvency Disputes team at MinterEllison. She holds a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and a Bachelor of Commerce from UNSW, graduating in the top 3% of her law cohort.
Recent recipients
“Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL), University of Oxford”
First recipient of the Professor John Stumbles Scholarship
“I am honoured to have been awarded the BFSLA Professor John Stumbles Scholarship to support my studies. It was especially meaningful to be the first recipient of a scholarship bearing the name of the late Professor Stumbles, whose extraordinary contribution to banking and finance continues to shape the discipline. I am sincerely grateful to Matt Cunningham, Katrina Gardiner, the scholarship committee, and the BFSLA community for their guidance, kindness, and support.”
“Master of Laws (LLM), University of Cambridge (2025)”
Completed the Cambridge LLM in 2025
“The BFSLA scholarship has enabled me to undertake the University of Cambridge LLM, which has been the most insightful, rewarding and transformative experience of my academic and legal career.”
“Master of Laws (LLM), University of Cambridge (2024)”
Ranked 18th of 230 students
“With assistance from the BFSLA, I have spent the last year studying the LLM at the University of Cambridge. It has been an unrivalled experience in my life.”
| Year | Recipient | University | Degree |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Harmanjot Singh | Oxford | BCL |
| 2026 | Amy O'Reilly | — | — |
| 2025 | Jessica Wood | Oxford | BCL |
| 2024 | Bianca Hawkins | Cambridge | LLM |
| 2024 | Nick Bartlett | Oxford | BCL |
The BFSLA is very grateful to Mallesons for their support of the Scholarship.
