‘Highly talented’ lawyer Mitch East identified as man found dead on street in Sydney

The body of a top Sydney lawyer has been found on a street in the city’s east, with cops now looking for a Subaru SUV.

A “highly-talented” lawyer was left to die in the street after being run down by a car in what police are calling a "cowardly act”.

Harvard-educated Mitch East, 28, was found outside a home in Tamarama in Sydney’s east at 4am on Sunday with critical head and chest injuries.

It is believed he was the victim of a hit and run just after getting out of a taxi, according to the Daily Telegraph.

Police are now looking for information about a white Subaru Outback which was seen in the area at the time.

Mitch East has been remembered as a popular and talented lawyer.

Mitch East died in Tamarama on Sunday.

The driver who hit Mr East was urged to come forward by NSW Police inspector Jason Hogan.

“It is a cowardly act to drive away after colliding with another human,’ he said.

“They really need to attend their local police station before we knock on their door.”

Emergency services were called to the scene on Fletcher St after he was found by a passer-by.

New Zealand-born Mr East graduated with a First Class honours degree from Otago University, before working as a clerk at the New Zealand Supreme Court and a senior adviser for the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Christchurch Terrorist Attack.

Mr East then received full scholarship offers for post-graduate study at Cambridge Law School, New York University Law School and Harvard Law School.

“One individual receiving such offers from all of these institutions is truly exceptional,” Shelley Griffiths, Dean of Law at Otago University told news.com.au.

“Beyond his outstanding academic accomplishments, Mitch was quite simply a lovely person. “Far from being arrogant or self-congratulatory about his achievements, he was easy-going and friendly to all. He had a smile that could brighten any room.

“The quality of his friendship is spoken to by the outpouring of grief from his classmates here at Otago - he built bonds that time and distance could not loosen.

As a faculty, we mourn Mitch and his passing away from the shores of his home here in Aotearoa New Zealand: Tukua mai he kapunga oneone ki ahau hei tangi māku (‘send me a handful of soil so that I may weep over it’).”

Mitch East grew up in the Hamilton area of New Zealand.

The Sydney solicitor was found critically injured.

Police want to speak to the driver of this car seen in the area around the time Mitch East died.

Described as a “talented lawyer”, an email was sent to all staff of his workplace, Arnold Bloch Leibler, this morning.

Managing Partner Henry Lanzer and Managing Sydney Partner Paul Rubenstein called Mr West “a highly talented lawyer and popular and valued member of the firm, whose loss will be deeply felt”.

“The partners expressed heartfelt condolences to Mitch’s parents, his partner and many close friends, both within and outside of Arnold Bloch Leibler,” a statement released by his employer said.

Police have called on anyone with CCTV or dashcam from the area to come forward.

Detective Assistant Superintendent Adam Solah said on Sunday the man’s family were “distraught” at the news.

Mitch East’s family were informed on Sunday.

Specialist officers from the Crash Investigation Unit are leading the inquiries, with police having already obtained “extensive” footage from the area.

“We don’t believe the deceased was on any sort of vehicle, it appears that he may have been a pedestrian,” Asst Superintendent Solah said.

“The family are obviously very upset and distraught and our hearts go out to them having to find out such difficult news, so they are aware of what’s occurred.”

A witness told 9 News they heard a thud and a car alarm go off about the time pedestrians found Mr East out on the street.

Police established a crime scene on Fletcher Street, near the corner of Silva St. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers

A neighbour said she woke to see a blue forensic tent stationed in the middle of Fletcher St on the Sunday.

“I got a bit sick to my stomach seeing this actually,” Therese Jahnsen said.

“Just seeing this set up. I’ve never seen this set up before.”

Asst Superintendent Solah said police were appealing for people with any details about the incident to contact Crime Stoppers.

“If you’ve been involved in anyway or have information, we want you to contact police,” he said.