There is another act in the Bruce Lehrmann defamation circus, with colourful lawyer Zali Burrows now representing the former political adviser in his appeal against findings that he raped colleague Brittany Higgins.

Ms Burrows, who is better known as a criminal defence solicitor for bikies and assorted Sydney identities, appeared for Mr Lehrmann in a directions hearing in the Federal Court on Thursday before Justice Wendy Abraham.