Margin Call: Bill Shorten give special thanks to Leon Zwier

Bill Shorten also thanked Leon Zwier in his concession speech on election night. Stuart McEvoy/The Australian

There were only a few, mostly paid.

But when the politically vanquished now former leader of the opposition Bill Shorten took to the podium to address Labor caucus at lunch time today there was one name that stood out in his note of thanks.

Leon Zwier.

The Melbourne-based Arnold Bloch Leibler partner was the only non-staff member of Shorten’s inner sanctum to be singled out publicly for his role in the Member for Maribyrnong’s failed run at the top office.

Zwier and Shorten go way back.

Leon Zwier. Aaron Francis/The Australian

The top-of-the-town lawyer repre­sented Shorten pro bono in the 2015 trade union royal commission, that some argue was conceived for the sole purpose of bringing the trade unionist-turned politician down.

Shorten thanked the powerful lawyer publicly in his concession speech on election night too, describing his friend Zwier as an “incomparable” counsellor and adviser.

Zwier had been a discreet presence at Labor’s election night party that became a wake at Max Beck and Lindsay Fox’s Hyatt Place hotel at Essendon Fields.

For once the prominent lawyer was on the losing side.