Well-known and respected in his field, media and commercial lawyer Lyndon Sayer-Jones passed away on April 8. He was 62.
Lyndon was larger than life himself so his passing did not seem to be on the cards despite his ongoing battle with rheumatoid arthritis that he had since childhood.
He was a man of strong character, humorous stories and boundless energy. He was not one to give up in an argument and took on his clients' issues as his own. Perhaps his personality traits were what made him approachable to his clients and much appreciated by his colleagues.
Lyndon was an ambassador for putting his advice in non-legalistic form and was always considering creative solutions for clients working in the media.
His business Lyndon Sayer-Jones & Associates was one of his prides, especially because of his clientele and variety of work. Recent clients included prominent advertising agencies, government film bodies, media production companies and celebrity talents.
Lyndon attended Fort Street High School and graduated from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws. He commenced work as a solicitor in 1979 in a medium-sized commercial firm while also working as a part-time photographer. His photography was published in Vogue and Mode.
In 1984 he became an in-house lawyer for the New South Wales Film Corporation and was appointed the first Director of New South Wales Film and Television Office (which had replaced the Corporation).
He was always a very keen writer, having published many legal articles in several publications. His very popular column Law Brief in Encore magazine furthered Lyndon’s motivation to explain the complexities of media law to non-lawyers. The current 2014 edition of his book Media Law for Non-Lawyers (sold on his website) is a legacy that very effectively conveys Lyndon’s personality on paper.
Lyndon is survived by his wife Rhonda, a well-known and accomplished wedding dress designer in Sydney, and much-loved children Katherine and Robert.
He will be forever missed by his family, friends and colleagues, as shown by the extraordinary turn-out and humorous eulogies at his funeral on Thursday. As all the attendees made clear, Lyndon left a large impression in the lives of those who knew him and for that we are all grateful.
*Lyndon Sayer-Jones and Associates