Tyson was admitted to practice in 1998 and signed the Bar Roll in 2005. He conducts a broad commercial litigation and advisory practice. A selection of matters in which Tyson has been briefed are referred to in the 'Cases' tab.
Areas of particular interest include:
He has substantial experience in litigation involving estate agents, medical practices and non-English-speaking clients. He has recently acted in a substantial dispute involving a cryptocurrency exchange.
Tyson is a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He holds a Masters Degree in Bioethics, a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance & Investment and has completed the Company Directors Course.
Outside his practice at the Bar, Tyson is:
Before coming to the Bar Tyson practiced as a solicitor (with Piper Alderman Lawyers and with Phillips Fox / DLA Piper) and was an executive in the technology industry. He was co-founder of an Internet-based financial services company.
Tyson has a strong interest in medical & scientific ethics and related issues. He spent 14 years as a member of the Ethics Committee of the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, retiring in December 2020.
Cases:
From 07 Aug 2008, liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.
Jeremy acts in commercial disputes, mainly for clients in the construction industry.
He is also a nationally accredited mediator, and accepts half day and full day mediation engagements in all areas of commercial disputation.
Commercial disputes
Jeremy's commercial disputes experience encompasses contracts, insurance (Including coverage disputes), professional indemnity/negligence, corporations, insolvency, property and equity.
Construction disputes
Jeremy has been ranked in Doyles Guide (peer reviewed) as a Leading Construction & Infrastructure Barrister (Australia) in 2017 - 2018 and 2020 - 2024, and in the Victorian market in 2015 - 2024.
Jeremy's construction experience includes disputes arising during project delivery (including bank guarantee injunctions, security of payment, protection works), end-of-project litigation or arbitration (including claims for money and time), and post-project disputes (often for insured professionals such as architects, engineers, building surveyors, fire engineers, project managers and superintendents) or subrogated recovery actions on instructions from insurers. Recent project settings have spanned LNG pipelines, a power station, freeways, solar and wind farms, specialised pavements (ports, distribution centre, racing car track), and commercial and residential developments (including flammable cladding cases).
From 01 Jul 2008, liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.
Stephanie has a diverse practice with a particular focus on insurance law, common law, personal injuries and public law. Stephanie is reading with Justin Hooper and her senior mentor is Jeremy Ruskin KC.
Prior to joining the Victorian Bar, Stephanie was a Senior Associate at Barry Nilsson where she built upon her extensive knowledge in the area of professional indemnity claims in addition to managing a number of public liability and institutional abuse claims. Prior to this, Stephanie was a Managing Principal Solicitor with the Victorian Government Solicitor’s Office (VGSO), where she developed a general and diverse litigation practice for a range of government clients and emanations of the State. Her portfolio spanned torts and breach of statute, general public law litigation, judicial review proceedings, and reviews pursuant to the Crimes (Mental Impairment and Unfitness to be Tried) Act 1997.
Before joining the VGSO, Stephanie spent five years at specialist insurance litigation firms, where she built her practice in professional indemnity, management liability claims and subrogated recoveries. Stephanie was admitted as a lawyer in the State of New York in 2009 and worked in a small reinsurance law firm for a number of years before moving to Melbourne in 2011.
Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.
Melanie practices in commercial, tort and consumer law in the Federal and State courts. She has particular experience in class actions.
Melanie is the Chair of the Class Actions Committee of the Commercial Bar Association.
Before commencing in law, Melanie worked as a scientific researcher, predominantly in synthetic organic chemistry.
Class actions
Clarke v JB Hi-Fi Group Pty Ltd – Supreme Court of Victoria, consumer class action
Bergman v Sportsbet Pty Ltd – Supreme Court of Victoria, consumer class action
Krakouer v AFL – Supreme Court of Victoria, racial vilification class action
Thomas & anor v The A2 Milk Company Limited – Supreme Court of Victoria, securities class action
Tham v Australian Capital Territory [2024] FCA 1508 – Federal Court of Australia, employment class action, settlement approval hearing
Laricchia v Wisetech Global Limited – Supreme Court of Victoria, securities class action
Gawler v Fleetpartners Group Ltd – Supreme Court of Victoria, securities class action
Stallard & anor v Treasury Wine Estates Limited – Supreme Court of Victoria, securities class action
Huang v Star Entertainment Group Ltd – Supreme Court of Victoria, securities class action
Lay v Nuix Ltd; Batchelor v Nuix Ltd; Bahtiyar v Nuix Ltd - Supreme Court of Victoria, securities class action, led by Simon Marks KC
Bogan v Estate of Peter John Smedley – Supreme Court of Victoria, securities class action
Crawford v ANZ & ors – Supreme Court of Victoria, unfair conduct claim, led by Michael Rush KC
McNickle v Huntsman Chemical Company Australia Pty Ltd & ors – Federal Court of Australia, negligence class action concerning Roundup
Shimshon v MLC Nominees Pty Limited & anor – Supreme Court of Victoria, superannuation class action, led by Nicholas Owens SC and with Dr Shipra Chordia
Andrianakis v Uber Technologies Inc & ors and Salem v Uber Technologies Inc & ors – Supreme Court of Victoria, conspiracy by unlawful means
Turner v Bayer Australia Ltd & ors, product liability class action, led by Fiona Forsyth KC
ACN 117 641 004 Pty Ltd v S&P Global Inc – Federal Court of Australia, acted for the second applicant in a dispute concerning whether the proceeding ought to be stayed
Sister Marie Brigid Arthur (Litigation Representative) v Northern Territory of Australia, settled, administrative law class action, led by Dan Star KC
Court v Spotless Group Holdings Limited – Federal Court of Australia, settled, securities class action, led by Peter Collinson KC
Fernbrook (Aust) Investments Pty Ltd v AMP Limited – Federal Court of Australia, securities class action, led by Richard Attiwill QC (now the Honourable Justice Attiwill)
Fletcher v Lendlease Corporation Limited & anor – Supreme Court of New South Wales, securities class action
Caason Investments Pty Ltd v Simon Xiao Fan Cao – Federal Court of Australia, acted for applicant in dispute with funder
Bywater v Appco Group Australia Pty Ltd – Federal Court of Australia, settled, employment class action, led by Kristine Hanscombe KC
Money Max Int Pty Limited v QBE Insurance Group Limited – Federal Court of Australia, settled, securities class action, led by Bernie Quinn KC
Manus Island Class Action – Kamasaee v Commonwealth & ors
Murrindindi Black Saturday Bushfire Class Action – Rowe v AusNet Electricity Services Pty Ltd & ors
Kilmore Black Saturday Bushfire Class Action – Matthews v AusNet Electricity Services Pty Ltd & ors
Earglow Pty Ltd v Sigma Pharmaceuticals Ltd – Federal Court of Australia, securities class action (settled), led by Julian Burnside KC and Lachlan Armstrong
Commercial and Consumer Law
Alcoa of Australia Limited & ors v AusNet Transmission Group Pty Ltd & anor – Supreme Court of Victoria
Gold Coast Marine Aquaculture Pty Ltd v Aqua Star Pty Ltd & ors – Federal Court of Australia, led by David Collins KC
Riley v Riley – Supreme Court of Victoria, settled, partnership dispute
Cargill Australia Ltd v Viterra Malt Pty Ltd – Supreme Court of Victoria, sale of business, led by Richard Attiwill KC; Court of Appeal [2023] VSCA 304 – application for leave to appeal indemnity costs order
Riviera Farms Pty Ltd v Accensi Pty Ltd – Supreme Court of Victoria, settled, contaminated herbicides, led by David Collins KC
IOOF Holdings Limited v Maurice Blackburn Pty Limited – Supreme Court of Victoria, settled, confidentiality in whistleblower documents, led by Richard Attiwill KC and Fiona Forsyth
Other
Chief Commissioner of Police v Paterson [2023] VSC 172 – firearm prohibition
Inquiries
Hazelwood Mine Fire Inquiry 2015 – Investigation into increased incidence of deaths (report available at http://hazelwoodinquiry.vic.gov.au/201516-report/volume-ii-investigations-into-2009-2014-deaths)
Own Motion Inquiry of the Office of the Racing Integrity Commissioner – Investigation into Laming, Potgieter and Zeyaur Rahman (public summary of the report available at https://racingintegrity.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/164151/Public-Summary-Report-Own-Motion-June-2021.pdf)
Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.
Myles practises mainly in commercial law, with particular experience in contract, equity, class actions, trade practices, competition, corporations, insurance, professional negligence, telecommunications and technology matters. Myles also has experience in matters involving sports law and defamation.
Before coming to the Bar, Myles spent over 7 years as a solicitor and then senior associate in the Dispute Resolution group at King & Wood Mallesons, working on a broad range of commercial disputes.
Prior to undertaking his Articles, Myles spent a year as an Aide to two Governors of Victoria – John Landy AC MBE and Professor David de Kretser AC.
Myles is a member of the Bar’s Audit, Finance and Risk Committee.
Some representative matters include:
From 23 Oct 2014, liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation
Nicola was an Associate at Maddocks before coming to the Bar where she practised extensively in the local government, planning and environment field.
As a solicitor, Nicola regularly appeared at VCAT in relation to merits appeals, declaration applications, and enforcement order and contempt proceedings.
Nicola also had the carriage of appeals from VCAT to the Trial Division of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal in relation to questions of law arising from planning matters.In 2007, Nicola was seconded to the Department of Sustainability and Environment to prosecute summary and indictable wildlife, forestry, and environmental offences and matters on behalf of Heritage Victoria and in her final year at Maddocks Nicola was seconded to Yarra City Council as in-house counsel.
On her admission, Nicola worked for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Qld) and in the Advocacy Unit at Crown Law. Nicola also gained commercial litigation experience at a specialist property and litigation firm before joining Maddocks in 2005.
Nicola currently practises in the local government, planning and environment field. She also appears in liquor licensing matters and at the Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation.
Nicola lectures in health and environment law at Swinburne University and teaches statutory planning at RMIT.
Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.
Nicola is currently acting as junior counsel for Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria, the CFA volunteer firefighters representative association, in the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission.
Sarah's practice has a particular focus on professional negligence, disciplinary matters and costs disputes.
She is also regularly briefed in general commercial matters and particularly insurance disputes.
She also appears in guardianship, administration and Part IV proceedings.
Sarah appears in interlocutory applications, trials (in Melbourne, regional Victoria and interstate) and on appeals, as well as in mediations. She is regularly briefed to advise in costs disputes, potential disciplinary proceedings and general commercial matters. Her advice is practical and solution-focussed.
Before coming to the bar in 2005, Sarah was a solicitor for 9 years in Australia and the UK. She was the inaugural head of the Ethics Department at the Law Institute of Victoria and has lectured regularly on professional standards issues.
She is a former member of the panel of examiners for Monash University, an occasional tutor at the Leo Cussen institute, and a regular speaker by invitation at law practices and conferences.
Recent decisions include -
Costs disputes and appeals arising from costs proceedings
Russels v McCardel [2014] VSC 287 (instructed by the Australian Legal Costing Group before Bell J), successfully defending an appeal from the Costs Court involving provisions of the Electronic Transactions (Victoria) Act 2000 and Part 3.4 Legal Profession Act 2004.
GLS v Goodman Group Pty Ltd (2015) VSC 627 (instructed by Debra Paver Costs Lawyer before Macaulay J), successfully defending an appeal from the Costs Court involving complex arguments on the law of accord and satisfaction in the context of legal costs under the Victorian statutory regime and the right to review under Division 7 Legal Profession Act 2004.
Eagle Lawyers v Career Education Consultants Australia Pty Ltd & Anor [2013] VCC 1263 (before Anderson J), successfully obtaining judgment against the first defendant in an action for recovery of legal costs and a dispute as to the basis of charging.
Numerous costs disputes in VCAT, the Magistrates’ Court and the Supreme Court.
Disciplinary hearings and appeals
Tuferu v Legal Services Commissioner [2013] VSC 645 (instructed by the Office of the LSC before Zammit AsJ), successfully defending a judicial review and appeal as to sanction following findings of professional misconduct.
Numerous disciplinary proceedings since 2009. See most recently for example LSC v Rhoden (Legal Practice) [2015] VCAT 1546, LSC v Tuferu (Legal Practice) [2013] VCAT 1438, LSC v Khan (Legal Practice) [2013] VCAT 651.
General commercial
Cross Country Realty Victoria Pty Ltd & Anor v Ubertas 350 William Street Pty Ltd [2015] VCC 1012 (with T North SC instructed by Brand Partners before Lacava J), successfully striking out the plaintiffs’ claim and obtaining summary judgment on a counterclaim relating to payment and retention of commission in breach of mandatory disclosure obligations under the Estate Agents Act 1980, and opposing a subsequent successful application for leave to appeal with D Collins SC.
Solari v CGY Insurance Ltd (No.1) [2015] VCC 207 (before Misso J), considering the construction of contractual terms in a claim against a deemed manufacturer and brought directly against the insurer pursuant to s601AG Corporations Act 2001.
Probate, administration and Part IV
Matthews v Matthews [2009] VSC 308 (Osborn J) - successfully applying to remove an executor on grounds of serious misconduct.
Re will and estate of Angelo Marotta (dec’d) [2011] VSC 324 (Zammit AsJ) - successfully defending a claim for summary dismissal under Part 4.4 of the Civil Procedure Act 2010; the implications of “no real prospect of success†in the context of a Part IV claim.
From 19th July 2012, liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.
Chadwick practises primarily in public law, commercial and regulatory law, and white-collar crime. He has particular interest in corporate misconduct, class actions, international law and human rights.
Before coming to the Bar, Chadwick had a broad career spanning the public, private and not-for-profit sectors. He was most recently General Counsel at Grata Fund, a public interest litigation funder, working on cases involving climate litigation, gender discrimination and First Nations rights. Previous roles have included Acting Principal Solicitor and Senior Solicitor at the Public Interest Advocacy Centre specialising in strategic litigation, Associate at Allens working on regulatory investigations and disputes, and Adviser at the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, advising on public law and policy, including in national security.
Chadwick was also Associate to the Hon Justice Mortimer, now Chief Justice of the Federal Court.
Chadwick holds a Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours) and a Bachelor of Arts in Government and International Relations from the University of Sydney. He also has a Master of Laws specialising in International Law (with Distinction) from the Australian National University
Chadwick read with Fiona Batten. His senior mentor is Neil Clelland KC.
His recent cases include:
Public and regulatory
Class actions
Crime
Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.
Colette practises primarily in public and commercial law.
Before coming to the Bar, Colette served as Associate to Justice Edelman of the High Court of Australia.
Earlier, she practised as a solicitor at King & Wood Mallesons, predominantly in competition law, and served as Associate to Justice Katzmann of the Federal Court of Australia.
Colette holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws, with first class honours, from Monash University and a Master of Laws from Columbia University, which she attended on a scholarship and where she was named a James Kent Scholar.
Colette has served as a Fellow at Melbourne Law School, where she lectured in constitutional law. She has also published work in the Public Law Review.
A selection of her recent matters is as follows:
Commercial law
Public law
Colette is also regularly briefed to advise government on questions of constitutional law and statutory construction.
Colette read with Kathleen Foley, now SC, and her senior mentor is Wendy Harris KC.
From 3 May 2019, Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.
Astrid Haban-Beer has a practice incorporating criminal law, public law and regulatory investigations. Astrid’s practice includes appearing in jury trials, royal commissions, inquests and investigation hearings.
Astrid has particular experience with matters involving organised crime, white collar crime including Federal Court criminal matters, corruption matters, Commonwealth Code matters, public interest immunity, and matters involving the intersection of criminal and civil law.
Astrid is on the panel of special counsel able to be appointed under the Terrorism (Community Protection) Act 2003 (Vic).
Astrid also has a special interest in mental impairment and hearings conducted pursuant to the Crimes (Mental Impairment and Unfitness to be Tried) Act. Astrid appears in special fitness hearings and supervision order/review proceedings.
Astrid has a strong civil regulatory background and has acted for and against regulators across jurisdictions, including in both civil and criminal proceedings in the Federal Court, and state courts and tribunals.
Astrid has a current high level security clearance and has capacity to undertake sensitive matters in a range of legal and/or investigatory contexts.
Astrid undertakes court appearances (trials, pleas, committals and applications) and advice work across all jurisdictions, in criminal, quasi-criminal and civil proceedings, covering areas of:
Astrid has frequently acted for government and institutional clients, and individuals in a number of Royal Commissions including:
Astrid is a Victoria Legal Aid Criminal Trial Preferred Barrister, and holds an Indictable Crime Certificate (ICC).
From 16 May 2013, liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.
Mr Moloney is a senior barrister in Melbourne and a member of the Victorian Bar who practises in corporate and commercial law, administrative and constitutional law, equity, professional discipline, professional negligence, common law, insurance, defamation, medical negligence and family law (appellate).
He holds a trial and appellate practice and an advice practice.
His specialisation in public law includes all aspects of the regulation of medical practitioners, particularly at a Commonwealth level.
He acts for both all Health Professionals and their regulatory Boards in disciplinary proceedings (trial and appellate).
He is experienced in Inquiries and Arbitration (both local and international) and he has chaired an Inquiry into the probity of scientific research under the NHMRC guidelines and appears in Inquiries, including as counsel assisting.
He has appeared and been retained in a number of large-scale commercial cases over the last twenty years.
He practises in the High Court of Australia, the Supreme Court of Victoria and the Federal Court (trial and appellate). He is a Member of the Australian Bar Association, is admitted in New South Wales and Western Australia and is a member of the Bar in each of those States.
He is the Chairperson of the Medicare Participation Review Committee of Australia, thrice appointed by the Federal Government. By this office he chairs a committee which makes determinations about whether certain health practitioners should retain the right to participate in the Medicare Scheme and whether their provider rights are to remain.
He is the immediate Past-Chairperson of the Australian Institute of Administrative Law (Victorian Chapter), and The Medico Legal Society of Victoria, and is a member of the Administrative Law Committee of the Law Council of Australia. He currently chairs a large private secondary school of 1200 students.
Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation.
Sarah practises primarily in commercial and public law. Sarah also accepts briefs in law enforcement, quasi-criminal and some common law matters.
Sarah is regularly briefed to advise and appear in trials, appeals and other hearings within those fields, including in competition and consumer, financial services, constitutional and statutory interpretation matters. In 2018, Sarah was part of the team of counsel assisting the Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry.
Before coming to the Bar, Sarah was an Associate to the Hon Justice Stephen Gageler AC at the High Court of Australia. Sarah also worked as a Trial Division Researcher at the Supreme Court of Victoria, a solicitor in the Dispute Resolution team of King & Wood Mallesons, and a sessional lecturer in the JD program at Melbourne Law School.
Sarah holds undergraduate degrees in Arts and Law (with First Class Honours) from the University of Melbourne, and a Master of Laws from Harvard Law School.
Recent matters in which Sarah has been briefed include:
Commercial and regulatory law
Sarah also has experience in: other aspects of Part IV of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth), including misuse of market power (Federal Court of Australia, led by R Orr KC, with D Roche) and informal merger clearances (led by P Collinson KC with S Hogan and S Rajanayagam); the Australian Consumer Law (led by M Hodge KC); and proceedings under the Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001 (Cth).
Constitutional law
Sarah also has experience in matters relating to ss 51(xxxi) (High Court of Australia, led by R Orr KC, with T Goodwin), 90 (High Court of Australia, led by K Walker KC, Solicitor-General for Victoria, R Orr KC and C Young SC) and 109 of the Constitution (Supreme Court of Victoria, led by P Hanks KC).
Other public law matters
Law enforcement and quasi-criminal matters
Sarah also has experience in foreign bribery matters (led by R Orr KC, with M Keks).
Common law
Sarah was a reporter for the Commonwealth Law Reports from 2016-2022.
From 27 Oct 2016, liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.
Ben appears in common law, public law (administrative and constitutional law) and insurance, often in appeals and for judicial review.
Before coming to the Bar, Ben completed the Bachelor of Civil Law at the University of Oxford, graduating with Distinction (highest honours). He was the associate to Justice Redlich at the Court of Appeal of the Supreme Court Victoria. He practiced as a solicitor at King & Wood Mallesons.
Ben has particular expertise in the regulation of the medical profession and in medical negligence. Ben has appeared in many reported insurance cases. He was counsel in the Banksia class action.
Ben has a national practice in administrative law, with a focus on the regulation of health practitioners.
Ben's current reader is Shane Dawson. His is a former member of the Victorian Bar Council and the Counsel Committee. He is currently a member of the Ethics Committee of the Victorian Bar.
Some matters in which Ben has appeared as counsel:
Judicial Review
T v Coroners Court of Victoria and Northern Health [2022] VSC 70
Zhao v Medical Board of Australia [2021] VSC 763
Kew v Director of Professional Services Review [2021] FCA 1607
Nursing and Midwifery Board v Robinson [2021] VSC 823
Appanna v Medical Board of Australia [2021] VSC 679
Gilhooley v Health Complaints Commissioner [2021] VSC 232
Municipal Association of Victoria v VWA [2021] VSC 128
Ridd v JCU [2021] HCAtrans 15
CDC v Health Complaints Commissioner [2020] VSC 597
JCU v Ridd (2020) 382 ALR 8; [2020] FCAFC 123
CFMMEU v Anglo American Australia Ltd (2019) 164 ALD 451 [2019] FCAFC 109 (Full Court) (unled)
RIdd v JCU (Peter Ridd Academic Freedom Case) [2019] FCCA 997
AWU v ROC (the AWU Raids Case) [2019] FCA 188
AMMA v CFMMEU (CFMEU and MUA Amalgmation Case) (2018) 363 ALR 343 (Full Court)
Adams v Dr Wadesley [2018] VSC 604 (with J Noonan QC)
SDA v AIG (the Penalty Rates Case) (2017) 253 FCR 368 (Full Court)
Rajendran v The Heritage Council (2017) 220 LGERA 303; [2017] VSCA 48 (Court of Appeal)
Sevdalis v PSRC (Medicare) [2017] FCAFC 9 (with C Winneke QC) (Full Court)
Cremorne Commercial v Arnold Prince [2017] VSC 714 (with J Pizer QC)
McDermott v AWU (2016) 255 IR 146 (Full Bench)
Sevdalis v PSRC (Medicare) (2016) 241 FCR 266 & [2016] FCA 433 (with C Winneke QC)
Rajendran v The Heritage Council (No 2) [2016] VSC 286
Just Group Ltd v Nicole Peck [2016] VSC 432
CSR Ltd v CSR and Holcim Staff Association (2015) 232 FCR 302 (Full Court)
CFMEU v Boral (2015) 256 CLR 375 (High Court)
Baytech Trades v Coinvest [2015] VSCA 342 (Court of Appeal)
CFMEU v Grocon [2014] VSCA 298 and (2014) 47 VR 527 (Court of Appeal)
CFMEU v John Holland (2015) 228 FCR 297 (Full Court)
Energy Australia Yallourn v CFMEU (2014) 218 FCR 316 (Full Court)
Dr Bruce Reid v Australian Football League (Defence of Dr Reid/ AFL ASADA) (with R Gillies QC)
Insurance
Delta Pty Ltd v Team Rock Anchos [2019] 3 QD R 438 (Queensland Court of Appeal)
Delta Pty Ltd v Team Rock Anchors [2018] 1 QD 564 (with J Gleeson QC) (Supreme Court Qld )
Daffy v MLC [2017] VSCA 110 (with P Murdoch QC) (Court of Appeal)
Service v Post Super Pty Ltd [2017] VCC 1500
Montclare v Metlife (2016) 344 ALR 685 [2016] VSCA 386 (with J Gleeson QC) (special leave refused) (Court of Appeal)
Linfox Australia v TAC (2016) 78 MVR 177 [2016] VSC 592 (with P Solomon QC)
Montclare v Metlife [2015] VSC 306 (with J Gleeson QC)
Common Law, Inquests and Health Practitioners
Acciarito v Anthony Parcel Services [2022] VSCA 13
Fischer v Brown [2021] VCC 108
Appanna v Medical Board [2021] VCAT 277
Medical Board v Arulandarajah [2021] VCAT 85
Nursing Board v Meek [2021] VCAT 68
Fischer v Brown VCC [2020] VCC 2041
Belgrave Heights Christian School v Moore [2020] VSCA 240 (with J Ruskin QC) (Court of Appeal)
Billington v Sussan Corporation [2020] VSCA 12 (with S O'Meara QC) (Court of Appeal)
Medical Board of Australia v Islam [2020] VCAT 994
Medical Board of Australia v Ellis [2020] VCAT 862
Nursing Board of Australia v Keenoo [2020] TASHPT 3
Leow v Medical Board of Australia [2019] VSC 532 (appeal)
CJE v Medical Board of Australia [2019] VCAT 178
Dental Board of Australia v Ho [2019] VCAT 467
XDH v Medical Board of Australia [2019] VCAT 377
CDC v Health Complaints Commissioner [2019] VCAT 171
CDC v Health Complaints Commissioner [2018] VCAT 1844
Hunt & Numurkah District Health Service v Holcombe [2018] VSCA 248 (Court of Appeal) (with P Solomon QC)
Medical Board of Australia v Farschi [2018] VCAT 1617 with Dr I Freckleon QC
Pharmacy Board of Australia v Hanna [2018] VCAT 1817
Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia v Macrae [2018] VCAT 1707
Pharmacy Board of Australia v Hopkinson [2018] VCAT 982
Hunt v Hunt [2018] VSC 55 (with P Solomon QC) 5970
Inquest into the death of Campbell (COR 2014 5828)
Inquest into the death of Ljepojevic (COR 2015 5970)
Holcomb v Mr Hunt & Numurkah Hospital District Health Service [2017] VSC 666 (with P Solomon QC)
Northern Health v Kuipers [2015] VSCA 172 (with R Gillies QC) (Court of Appeal)
Stapleton v Central Club Hotel [2016] VCC 91 (with S O'Meara QC)
Swansson v Harrison & Ors [2014] VSC 118 (with R Gillies QC)
Curran v Loddon and Campaspe Centre Against Sexual Assault [2017] VCAT 999
E v Physiotherapy Board of Australia [2017] VCAT 1401
Khouri v Business Licensing Authority [2015] VCAT (with J Pizer QC)
CMJ v Crewdson [2015] VCAT 402
DPP v JPH (No 2) (2014) 239 A Crim R 543 [2014] VSC 177 (for the Attorney General) (part trial)
Commercial Law
Roohizadegan v Technologyone [2020] FCA 1571, [2020] FCA 1734, [2020] FCA 1729
Mandie v Memart Nominees Pty Ltd [2017] VSCA 177 (Court of Appeal) (with R Gillies QC)
McCarthy v Camil Holdings Pty Ltd [2016] VSCA 235 (Court of Appeal) (for the respondent)
Mandie v Memart Nominees Pty Ltd [2016] VSC 267 (with R Gillies QC)
Bolitho v Banksia Securities Ltd (Banksia Class Action) [2014] VSC 8 (with T Kelly QC)
Bolitho v Banksia Securites Ltd (No 2) (2014) 100 ACSR 161; [2014] VSC 184
Cosmopolitan Hotel v Crown (2014) 45 VR 771 (Court of Appeal) (with N Hopkins QC)
Shaw v MAB Corporation Pty Ltd (2014) 220 FCR 425
Shaw v Yarranova Pty Ltd [2014] VSCA 48 (Court of Appeal)
Crown v Cosmoplitan Hotel [2013] VSC 614 (with N Hopkins QC)
Shaw v MAB Corporation Pty Ltd [2013] FCA 1231 (with T Kelly QC)
Point of Pay Pty Ltd v Darryl Roots [2012] VSC 380 (with P Solomon QC)
MP Investments Nominees Pty Ltd v Bank of Western Australia [2012] VSC 43 (with P Solomon QC)
Werner Motoring Group Pty Ltd v NMX Pty Ltd [2012] VSC 211
Select Publications
"Making Sense of Project Blue Sky" Melbourne 21 March 2012 (with Peter Hanks QC)
"The Intersection between Administrative and Constitutional Law" Melbourne March 2013 (with Peter Hanks QC)
"Preventative Detention. Constitutional Issues" March 2014 (with Peter Hanks QC)
"Challenging Administrative Decisions; Constitutional Considerations" March 2015 (with Peter Hanks QC)
"Constructive Jurisdictional Error" March 2016 (with Peter Hanks QC)
"The Obligation of Procedural Fairness During Multistage Decision Making Processes" March 2017 (with Peter Hanks QC)
Administrative Law: Disciplinary and Statutory Investigations September 2021 (with S Dawson)
Reporter, Commonwealth Law Reports 2012-2015
From 27 Oct 2011, liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation approved under Professional Standards legislation.
Advises and appears in cases at interlocutory, trial and appellate levels, (common law litigation, commercial & equity litigation, international law & arbitration, large scale litigation, constitutional & administrative law and sporting disputes), conducted in multiple jurisdictions, but primarily in Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, London, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Lausanne. Frequently appears in common law jury cases and causes conducted in the Supreme and County Courts of Victoria, including in the field of defamation.
Appointed a Senior Fellow (Course Director of the subject 'International Sports Arbitration') at Queen Mary University of London (School of Law) in 2022. Previously a Senior Fellow at the University of Melbourne (Faculty of Law), 2010-2022. Recognised internationally in Who's Who Legal (2016-2025 editions) as a leading lawyer in the specialty of sports law and listed by Doyle’s Guide as a leading senior counsel in arbitration and administrative & public law.
Holds degrees from the Queensland University of Technology (LLB) and the University of Cambridge (MSt). Prior to commencing practice at the Bar, practised as a Lawyer (1986 to 1990) at: Power & Power, Brisbane; Allen Allen & Hemsley (Allens), Sydney; and Baker & McKenzie, Sydney.
Chambers located in Melbourne (Owen Dixon Chambers West, Level 9 - Dever's List) and London, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur (39 Essex Chambers).
Ed has a broad commercial practice, including financial services, international arbitration, professional negligence, civil fraud, class actions, corporations, insolvency, and regulatory matters. He also acts in media / defamation matters and disciplinary proceedings.
Ed has been recognised in Doyle's Guide as a leading commercial litigation and dispute resolution barrister since 2020.
Ed has also been called to the Bar of England and Wales and is a member of Essex Court Chambers, a leading international law and arbitration set.
Ed graduated with first class honours in law from Melbourne University and completed the BCL (Distinction) at the University of Oxford.
From 1st May 2015, liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.
Paul practises in common law for both plaintiffs and defendants / insurers.
Paul has particular experience in medical negligence and also appears in public liability, product liability, class actions, professional disciplinary matters for medical practitioners and appeals. He frequently appears unled or leading.
He is recommended by Doyle’s Guide in Insurance and Personal Injury Law and has been since 2019.
Before coming to the bar, Paul was a senior associate at DLA Piper. He read with Judge Patricia Riddell and his senior mentor was Ross Gillies KC.
From 27 Oct 2016, liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.
Keith practises in commercial and public law.
He remained a Member of the Bar while serving as the Federal Member for Menzies (2022-2025), during which he sat on the Economics and National Anti-Corruption Commission Committees. Before coming to the Bar in 2010, he was a solicitor at King & Wood Mallesons and Ashurst.
From 03/06/2010, Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation.
Seb practises in commercial litigation, including contracts, class actions, corporations, equity, insurance, and insolvency. He has experience appearing, both led and unled, in the Federal Court of Australia and Supreme Court of Victoria, as well as other courts and tribunals.
In addition to his commercial practice, Seb regularly appears to prosecute matters on behalf of the Commonwealth and also practises in sports law.
His experience before coming to the Bar includes:
Seb commenced his legal career as Associate to his Honour Judge William Everson of the District Court of Queensland. He graduated from the University of Queensland with degrees in Law (with Honours) and Science.
He read with Banjo McLachlan. Philip Crutchfield KC is his senior mentor.
Selected cases:
Appellate
Australian Grand Prix Corporation v World Touring Melbourne Limited – Court of Appeal, Supreme Court of Victoria – alleged breach of contract (led by Philip Crutchfield KC and Geoff Kozminsky)
Commercial law
Indi Pty Ltd as Trustee for the Hewitt Business Trust vs InComm TCN Holdings Pty Ltd – Supreme Court of Victoria – alleged breach of contract (led by Nicholas De Young KC)
Newman & Anor v Chubb – Supreme Court of Victoria – insurance dispute (led by Hamish Austin KC and Jessica Apel)
Intellectual property
Deakin University v Peter Macreadie & Anor – Federal Court of Australia – alleged breach of consumer law and trademark dispute (led by Luke Merrick KC)
Roller Networks Australia Pty Ltd v Rat Pack Adventures Pty Ltd & Ors – Federal Court of Australia – alleged breach of copyright and misuse of confidential information (led by Luke Merrick KC)
Interlocutory
Ryan Meuleman v Slater & Gordon Ltd – Supreme Court of Victoria – return of subpoena (led by Philip Crutchfield KC)
Stuart Smith (Liberal Party of Australia) v City of Boroondara – Supreme Court of Victoria – urgent interlocutory injunction concerning election materials during the 2025 Federal Election (led by Dean Luxton)
Sports law
AFL – providing written advice to the Board of an AFL Club
AFL – preparing written submissions to the AFL Tribunal on behalf of players
Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.
Ben practises in commercial, public law and discrimination matters. He has a significant practice in work-related areas, including employment law, industrial law and occupational health and safety.
Ben appears at trial and appellate level for a diverse range of clients. He regularly appears for corporations, government departments, individuals and associations at State and federal levels. He acts for clients in a variety of industries, including healthcare, education, manufacturing, construction and banking and finance.
Before coming to the Bar, Ben worked in private practice at Holding Redlich, predominantly in the workplace relations and safety team. He also practised in-house at KDR Victoria Pty Ltd (trading as Yarra Trams) and accepts briefs directly from in-house counsel.
Ben holds a Bachelor of Laws (with Honours) and Bachelor of Arts from Monash University.
Ben read with Jack Tracey KC. His senior mentor is Jonathan Kirkwood SC.
Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.
Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.
Jonathan practices in commercial litigation.
He has a broad commercial practice involving trial and appellate advocacy, pleadings, opinion work and mediations principally in the Supreme Court and County Courts of Victoria.
He practices primarily in contracts, corporations law, insurance, real and personal property, partnerships and trusts, consumer law, banking and finance.
SELECT CASES:
SUPREME COURT OF VICTORIA
NAB v ANEW Climate LLC: Supreme Court of Victoria proceeding briefed by NAB regarding international account transfers, “Know Your Customer” regulations, freezing order, default judgment, garnishee application (with Hamish Austin KC)
GFL Developments Pty Ltd v SJ Moore Road Pty Ltd: Supreme Court of Victoria proceeding about real estate agent’s exclusive auction authority, whether certain and binding, entitlement to commission.
Manpreet Singh v Singh Associates Pty Ltd: Supreme Court of Victoria proceeding regarding unit trust dispute, alleged manufactured debts, oppression. Related subpoena disputes.
Candibon Pty Ltd v Nameplan Pty Ltd: Supreme Court of Victoria proceeding about partnership profits from greenfield site development projects. Security for costs application, subpoena dispute with implied waiver issue, further discovery applications, application to amend pleadings regarding contribution for “same damage”, application to withdraw admissions in pleadings.
Alco Aluminium Pty Ltd v Ferny Creek Store Pty Ltd & Ors: Supreme Court of Victoria proceeding briefed by lender about secured debts, consolidated loans, variations and oral terms.
Melbourne City Council v ATET: Supreme Court of Victoria proceeding briefed by MCC insurer about licence revocation, damages claim by licensee.
Tom Gibbons Pty Ltd v Vantage Integrated Services Pty Ltd & Ors: Supreme Court of Victoria proceeding about shareholder oppression.
M&R Transport (Vic) Pty Ltd v ISR Truck City Geelong Pty Ltd & Ors: Supreme Court of Victoria proceeding about shareholder oppression.
Gordion Holdings Pty Ltd v Ionnides & Ors: Supreme Court of Victoria proceeding regarding setting aside foreign default judgment, indemnity costs.
Kanyon Pty Ltd v Brett Hartwig: Supreme Court of Victoria proceeding about supplier indemnity under s 274 of ACL. Application to join third party supplier.
Archery Capital Pty Ltd v Rujan Properties Pty Ltd: Supreme Court of Victoria proceeding about enforcement of loan agreement, deed of forbearance, possession order, indemnity costs.
Frog Swamp Pty Ltd v Statewide Secured Investments Pty Ltd: Supreme Court of Victoria proceeding to set aside statutory demand; genuine dispute regarding valuation evidence (and many other statutory demand and creditors petition matters, not listed here)
Davison v Kempson: Successful appeal in Victorian Court of Appeal regarding testator family maintenance provision claim.
Secretary to the Department of Justice v YEE: Successful appeal in Victorian Court of Appeal from VCAT decision (with Phillip Solomon KC).
COUNTY COURT OF VICTORIA
SNH Products Pty Ltd (Veganpet) v Advanced Pet Care of Australia Pty Ltd: Supreme Court of Victoria proceeding about breach of supply contract, fitness for purpose, misleading and deceptive conduct, loss and damage.
Veneziano Coffee Roasters Pty Ltd v Appliance Maintenance Company Pty Ltd: County Court of Victoria proceeding briefed by insurer about applicability of Goods Act to commercial coffee roaster from USA, expert evidence about fitness for purpose.
Uebergang v AAI Limited: County Court of Victoria proceeding briefed by insurer about policy of insurance for property damage, remediation costs, inconvenience damages.
Palomares v Insurance Manufactuers of Australia Pty Ltd & Ors: County Court of Victoria proceeding briefed by insurer about policy of insurance for property damage, mould expert dispute, inconvenience damages.
Ashford v AAI Limited: County Court of Victoria proceeding briefed by insurer about policy of insurance for property damage, remediation costs, inconvenience damages (with Tyson Wodak).
Real Estate Institute of Victoria Ltd v Realestateview.com Pty Ltd: County Court of Victoria proceeding about breach of contract to produce real estate TV series, loss and damage, misleading and deceptive conduct, estoppel, quantum meruit, unjust enrichment.
Melbourne Facades Pty Ltd v CPB Contractors Pty Ltd and Lendlease Engineering Pty Ltd: County Court of Victoria proceeding about breaches of level crossing removal works contracts, written and implied terms, variations and waiver, misleading and deceptive conduct, estoppel and quantum meruit.
30HM SDA1 Pty Ltd v Accelerated Loans: County Court of Victoria proceeding about debt recovery by private lender.
Maersk Line A/S v Fertinvest Australia Pty Ltd: County Court of Victoria proceeding regarding breaches of bills of lading for shipping and freight costs.
OTHER EXPERIENCE
Brightgreen Pty Ltd v Marcott Pty Ltd: VCAT dispute regarding unlawful re-entry of leased premises, whether ‘retail premises’, whether land tax payable, whether unjust enrichment (with Robert Hay KC).
Jonathan also has extensive experience with interlocutory applications associated with all commercial disputes, including caveat removals, security for costs, subpoena applications, freezing and Mareva orders, and costs applications.
He runs The Commercial Law Barrister blog and endeavours to run a paperless practice.
"From 20th May 2011, liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation."