Tim is an experienced commercial barrister and appears in a wide range of commercial disputes and professional disciplinary matters. He has extensive experience
in working on cases as part of a team made up of solicitors and other counsel. He is an experienced trial advocate.
In recent years, Tim has obtained significant experience in different areas including corporations, professional disciplinary and professional negligence matters. For example, he has:
Tim has appeared in a wide variety of jurisdictions, including the State Court of Appeal and Supreme Court Trial division, in relation to insurance disputes, equity proceedings, contempt proceedings and insolvency matters.
Tim's CV, including a selection of cases in which he has been involved, may be viewed via the CV link above.
From 1 July 2008 liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation
Jeremy acts in commercial disputes, mainly for clients involved with the construction industry.
He is also a nationally accredited mediator and accepts mediator engagements in all areas of commercial disputes.
Commercial disputes
Jeremy's commercial disputes experience encompasses contracts, insurance (Including coverage disputes), professional indemnity/negligence, property and equity.
He is regularly briefed on behalf of insurers, especially to defend claims against insured professionals (such as architects, engineers, building surveyors, fire engineers, project managers and superintendents), or to prosecute subrogated recovery actions.
Construction disputes
Jeremy's construction experience includes disputes arising during project delivery (including bank guarantee injunctions, security of payment, protection works), and end-of-project litigation or arbitration (including claims for money and time). 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).
Jeremy has been ranked in Doyles Guide (peer reviewed) as a Leading Construction & Infrastructure Barrister (Australia) in 2017 - 2018 and 2020 - 2025 and in the Victorian market in 2015 - 2025.
From 01 Jul 2008, liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.
Ben was admitted to practice in 2011 and called to the Bar in 2019. Prior to being called to the Bar, he practised as a solicitor in the Insurance and Corporate Risk Group at MinterEllison.
Ben has extensive experience in common law, administrative law, inquests, disciplinary and professional negligence proceedings. He has acted for state government entities, private companies, hospitals, doctors, manufacturers, as well as individuals.
Ben read with Robert Harper. His senior mentor was Jack Rush QC.
Matters in which Ben has been briefed include (non-exhaustively):
Ben is a member of the Common Law Bar Association.
From 25 October 2019, Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.
Senior Associate at Phillips Fox (Commercial Litigation). Associate to Chief Justice Mason, High Court of Australia.
From 10th April 2014, liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.
The Hon G (Tony) Pagone AM KC has extensive expertise across a range of legal disciplines, including commercial, taxation, administrative, constitutional, public and human rights law, as well as equity, wills, and estates law. His commercial practice encompassed high-value and complex disputes in revenue, banking and finance, insolvency, corporations law, and regulatory matters.
Tony is also an experienced mediator and arbitrator, with extensive involvement in the resolution of commercial and taxation disputes, both in Australia and internationally. His judicial background, combined with his specialist expertise in complex commercial and taxation matters, allows him to bring exceptional insight and authority to alternative dispute resolution. He is a member of Lincoln’s Inn in London and a Fellow of both the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and the Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration.
Admitted to legal practice in Victoria in 1980, Tony signed the Roll of Counsel in 1985 and was appointed Queen’s Counsel for Victoria in 1996. He served as a trial judge on the Supreme Court of Victoria from 2006, where he also became the judge in charge of the Commercial Court. In 2013, Tony was appointed to the Federal Court of Australia, where he was the judge in charge of the taxation national practice area. His published decisions span a wide array of legal fields, including finance, commerce, deceased estates, and migration, along with arbitral decisions and practice.
Tony retired from the Federal Court of Australia in 2018 and has since returned to private practice. He continues to be frequently briefed on significant legal issues and disputes for leading corporations and government bodies. Between 2002 and 2004, he served as Special Counsel to the Australian Taxation Office. He was also the chair of the Royal Commission into Aged Care (2019–2021) and conducted a review for Melbourne Water into a major flood event on the Maribyrnong River.
Tony holds a Bachelor of Laws from Monash University (1979), a Master of Laws from Cambridge University (1983), and a Doctor of Laws (LLD) from the University of Melbourne (2014), awarded for his research and published work on anti-tax-avoidance provisions.
He maintains strong international professional and academic connections. Tony is a Professorial Fellow at Melbourne Law School, where he lectures in postgraduate programs. He was also President of the International Association of Judges, a former board member of the International Association of Tax Judges, and Chair of the Business Law Section of the Law Council of Australia.
Raph practises in torts, professional liability, class actions, judicial review, insurance and coronial law. He has significant experience in matters involving complex claims against legal practitioners, health practitioners, hospitals, product manufacturers and statutory authorities. He is regularly briefed in coronial inquests and in matters involving challenges to determinations by coroners under the Coroners Act 2008. He has experience in matters involving the Sheriff of Victoria. He has appeared in litigation involving the parens patriae jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of Victoria. He has significant experience appearing in court both led and unled.
Recent matters in which he has been briefed include the following:
Various tort claims including false imprisonment, assault and battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence and nuisance.
From 24 Oct 2013, liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.
Hayley has a broad insurance, administrative and injuries practice, appearing in all Victorian and Tasmanian Courts. She acts across the common law landscape, with a core practice in medical and tort law. She regularly provides advice in indemnity and coverage disputes, as well as policy interpretation. Hayley is frequently briefed to advise on procedural issues and appear in interlocutory applications.
In addition to her background in insurance litigation, Hayley has a particular interest in appellate matters, judicial review of Medical Panel determinations, sports law and bioethics.
Hayley holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Biomedical Science from Monash University.
Hayley read with Ben Jellis SC and her Senior Mentor is Dr Michael Rush KC.
In 2025, Hayley was named in Doyle’s Guide as in the Leading category for Professional Indemnity Junior Counsel.
Her recent cases include:
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Harry practises primarily in commercial law.
Before coming to the Bar, Harry was an Associate to the Hon. Justice McLeish at the Victorian Court of Appeal. He completed a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Sydney and a Juris Doctor at the University of Melbourne. Prior to studying for his Juris Doctor, Harry worked in London and Hong Kong trading Asian currency derivatives as a portfolio manager for a multi-billion-dollar hedge fund.
He has also completed a MSc in Law and Finance at the University of Oxford, graduating with Distinction and receiving the South Square Prize for the highest mark in Corporate Insolvency Law. The MSc in Law and Finance combines subjects from the Bachelor of Civil Law course with subjects from Oxford's Saïd Business School.
He is a current co-author of Thomson Reuters's Federal Court Practice. He is also a current co-author of the Securities chapter, and the current author of the Receivers and Managers chapter, in Thomson Reuters’s Laws of Australia.
Harry read with Dr Charles Parkinson KC and his senior mentor is David Batt KC.
Recent Cases
Victorian Department of Education v Roberts Co (Vic) Pty Ltd (Subject to Deed of Company Arrangement) – SCV S ECI 2025 04950 – application for declarations and orders under s 90-15 of Schedule 2 of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) regarding the interpretation of a deed of company arrangement or orders varying the deed under s 447A – led by Dr Oren Bigos KC and Roman Rozenberg.
Heloise Pratt v Alexander Waislitiz – SCV: S ECI 2024 06193 – acting for the Plaintiffs – application for the appointment of an independent trustee – led by Allan Myers AC KC and Joseph Carney.
Re Lynch Group Holdings Ltd [2025] FCA 1280 – acting for the Plaintiff – application for the convening and approval of a members’ scheme of arrangement for an ASX listed company – led by Dr Oren Bigos KC.
Re Richstone Plumbing Pty Ltd (in liq) – SCV: S ECI 2024 04285 – acting for the Defendant – defending a preference claim under s 588FE and s 588FF of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) – led by Dr Oren Bigos KC.
Ding Yong v Song Lihua [2024] VSC 720 – acting for a judgment creditor resisting an application to set aside the registration of a Hong Kong judgment under s 7 of the Foreign Judgments Act 1991 (Cth) – unled.
Monarch Tower Pty Ltd (in liq) v Sinoace Holdings Ltd [2024] FCA 716 & Re Monarch Tower Pty Ltd (in liquidation) [2025] FCAFC 137– acting for the Respondents to a voidable transaction claim under s 588FE of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) – whether the proceeding should be summarily dismissed for failure by the liquidator to promptly serve – whether the failure to give notice of the s 588FF(3)(b) extension to a respondent meant that the claim was statute barred – led by Christopher Brown KC.
N. & U. Nominees Pty Ltd v Larobina – SCV: S ECI 2024 02809 – acting for the trustees and directors of the trustees – claim for rectification of a group of trust deeds – defending allegations that trustees acted for improper purposes, in bad faith, and without real and genuine consideration – defending allegation that transactions occurred without mental capacity – led by Ian Percy.
Re Amoma SÀRL [2023] FCA 1232 and Re Amoma SÀRL (No 2) [2023] FCA 1379 – Recognition of a Swiss insolvency proceeding under the Cross-Border Insolvency Act 2008 (Cth) – acting for the Bankruptcy Office of the Canton of Geneva – led by Dr Oren Bigos KC.
Tex Onsite Pty Ltd v Cornwalls (A Firm) – SCV: S ECI 2022 04677 – allegations of negligence and misleading or deceptive conduct in relation to companies’ entry into receivership – acting for the Second Defendant – led by Dr Oren Bigos KC. Interlocutory judgment:
Re SLKALT Pty Ltd (in liq) [2024] VSC 250 – privilege claim in response to liquidators’ summons to produce documents – joint privilege, waiver and crime/fraud exception to privilege – acting for the liquidators – led by Dr Oren Bigos KC:
AHG WA (2015) Pty Ltd v Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacific Pty Ltd – FCA: VID 604/2021 – application to set aside subpoenas against non-parties and claims arising from those subpoenas for legal professional privilege, joint privilege, common interest privilege and parliamentary privilege – acting for the subpoenaed non-parties – led by Dr Oren Bigos KC.
King v Linkage Access Ltd [2022] VSC 158 – common law recognition and enforcement of a United States Bankruptcy Court judgment in Australia – acting for the Plaintiffs – led by Dr Oren Bigos KC.
Beecham Motors Pty Ltd v General Motors Holden Australia NSC Pty Ltd [2025] VSC 125– class action by dealerships arising out of the retirement of the Holden car brand – acting for the Plaintiff and Group Members – led by Dr Charles Parkinson KC. Interlocutory judgments:
Gecko Australia Pty Ltd v Montagnese – FCA: VID597/2021 – claims for misleading & deceptive conduct and breach of directors’ duties in relation to a business sale and earn-out period – acting for the Plaintiffs – led by Dr Oren Bigos KC. Interlocutory judgment:
Custodian for Gerald and Debra Gray v Redman-Slater – FCA: VID739/2020 – claim by clients of authorised representatives against the financial services licensee for contraventions of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) and misleading or deceptive conduct – acting for the financial services licensee – led by Dr Charles Parkinson KC.
Harris v Financial Services Partners – SCV: S ECI 2022 04091 – claims by clients of authorised representatives against the financial services licensee – acting for the financial services licensee. Interlocutory judgment:
JDLF International Pty Ltd v Wood – VSC: S ECI 2022 02775 – interlocutory injunction application to enforce a contractual restraint and s 183 of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) against a former employee – acting for the Plaintiff – led by Patrick Wheelahan KC.
Re IPO Wealth Holdings No 2 Pty Ltd (in prov liq) [2021] VSC 821 – application to stay a liquidators’ examination as an abuse of process – acting for the Examinee – led by Michael Gronow KC and Angel Aleksov.
Castaway Avenue Pty Ltd v CSC1957 Investments Pty Ltd [2022] VSCA 238 and Castaway Avenue Pty Ltd v CSC1957 Investments Pty Ltd [2023] VSCA 30 – specific performance of a contract for the sale of land – whether contract validly terminated – application for security for appeal costs and an appeal stay – acting for the Respondent – led by Ian Percy.
Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation.
Maree has a busy trial and appellate practice, specialising in common law and public and administrative law disputes. She has particular expertise in appellate advocacy, historical abuse cases, judicial review, regulatory and disciplinary proceedings, as well public inquiries – both as counsel assisting and acting for interested parties.
Previously, Maree was an Associate to the Honourable Justice Neave of the Victorian Court of Appeal, and a Senior Associate in the Litigation practice group at Allens.
Maree completed a Master of Law degree at the University of Cambridge, on a scholarship from the Cambridge Trusts. She also has a First Class Honours undergraduate degree in law from the University of Tasmania.
A summary of Maree’s recent experience follows:
Public inquiries and commissions
Maree also has significant Royal Commission experience, having represented clients in the Banking, Aged Care and Disability Royal Commissions.
Appellate
Public and administrative law
In addition to the above appearance work, Maree is regularly briefed to provide advice to government departments and statutory authorities.
Personal injury and tort
Maree acts in personal injuries and property damage claims in the Supreme Courts of Victoria and Tasmania. She has particular experience in historical child sexual abuse and professional negligence cases.
Examples of recent cases that have run to judgment are:
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.
ATET v Melbourne City Council: Supreme Court of Victoria proceeding briefed by MCC 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: County 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."
Michael accepts commercial law and taxation law briefs.
Before coming to the Bar, Michael was a Managing Solicitor in the Tax Controversy and Dispute Resolution team at PricewaterhouseCoopers. Michael was involved in some of Australia’s largest and most complex tax disputes. He advised on a variety of technical areas including income tax, Part IVA, transfer pricing, capital/revenue, land tax, GST and R&D. He worked with a diverse range of clients from multinational corporations to individual taxpayers.
Michael has twice been recognised as a finalist in Lawyers Weekly 30 Under 30 awards for Tax (2019, 2020). He was recently a member of the Tax Institute of Australia’s Young Professionals Board where he organised panel discussions on the topic of dispute resolution.
After graduating, Michael worked at Telstra as a Product Strategy Analyst focusing on the development of new consumer products. While at Telstra Michael spent time as in-house-counsel where he provided legal advice to Telstra’s operational divisions.
A former Senior Student of Trinity College, Michael graduated with a Juris Doctor and Bachelor of Arts from the University of Melbourne. He is a candidate for the Master of Laws program at the University of Melbourne.
Michael read with Charles Parkinson SC and his senior mentor is Philip Solomon QC.
Recent cases:
Toma v Workforce Recruitment and Labour Services Pty Ltd [2022] FCAFC 100;
McConvill & Associates v Carbone [2022] FCA 265;
From 22 Oct 2021, liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.
Karen practices primarily in common law and administrative law, with a focus on health law and personal injuries.
Her practice includes medical negligence claims, workplace injuries, transport accidents, class actions, public liability claims and institutional abuse claims. She is also briefed in professional disciplinary proceedings, insurance and indemnity disputes, and judicial reviews of medical panel determinations. In these areas Karen has appeared in damages trials, final hearings, serious injury applications, appeals and interlocutory applications.
Karen has a particular interest and expertise in novel duties of care, particularly relating to conflicts between common law and statutory duties, medical consent cases as well as claims arising out of obstetric and gynaecological treatment.
Prior to coming to the bar, Karen was a solicitor at K&L Gates where she acted on behalf of hospitals, public authorities, medical practitioners and their insurers in civil, coronial and disciplinary proceedings.
Karen read with Robert Harper and Roslyn Kaye KC is her senior mentor.
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 Criminal 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 is also on the Serious Crime Prevention Order Special Counsel Panel.
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 holds a current 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.
Brittany has a broad practice across criminal and quasi-criminal law (including disciplinary and regulatory matters), common law, and administrative law. She has experience acting for individuals, companies, and government agencies.
In her criminal law practice, Brittany regularly appears as sole counsel in the Magistrates’ and County Courts. She has appeared as junior counsel in trials in the County and Supreme Courts. She also has appellate experience, having appeared as junior Counsel in the Court of Appeal and the High Court.
Brittany is a Victoria Legal Aid Criminal Trial Preferred Barrister, and holds an Indictable Crime Certificate (ICC).
Brittany regularly acts in disciplinary proceedings involving healthcare practitioners, and tortious claims involving police misconduct.
She also accepts briefs in coronial and judicial review matters.
Before coming to the Bar, Brittany was an Associate to the Hon. Justice Jane Dixon in the Supreme Court of Victoria.
Prior to her Associateship, Brittany practised as a solicitor in summary crime at Victoria Legal Aid, in civil law at the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA), and in both civil and administrative law at the Victorian Government Solicitors’ Office.
Brittany sits on the Committee of the Women Barristers’ Association.
Brittany read with Astrid Haban-Beer. Her senior mentor is Ruth Shann SC.
Selected recent cases include:
Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.
The Hon. Peter Riordan KC has recently retired from the Supreme Court where he was the Principal Judge of the Commercial Court and the Judge in charge of the Arbitration List. He also served as a Judge nominated by the Chief Justice to manage the Technology, Engineering and Construction List.
He is a former Chairman of the Victorian Bar and President of the Australian Bar Association.
He now practices in the areas of arbitration and mediation.
Prior to his appointment to the Supreme Court, he practised extensively as a mediator and arbitrator (including International Arbitrations) throughout the States and Territories of Australia.
He has published articles and conducted seminars and training on mediation.
Enquiries regarding Mr Riordan can be made via his clerks; details on this page.
Simon Molesworth delivered his final judgment in the Land and Environment Court of New South Wales in May 2019. He was first commissioned to be a Judge of the LEC from January 2017. The Land and Environment Court of NSW was the first specialist environmental superior court in the world, when established in 1980. The judges of the Court have the same rank, title, status and precedence as the Judges of the Supreme Court of NSW. The Court’s jurisdiction includes merit review, judicial review, civil enforcement, criminal prosecution, criminal appeals and civil claims about planning, environmental, land, mining, water, heritage, valuation, compensation, Aboriginal land, tree disputes and related matters.
Molesworth, who in 2020 marks twenty-five years as a QC, had remained in active practice until his judicial appointment, regularly appearing before the Victorian Civil & Administrative Tribunal and in the Supreme Court in Victoria in cases within his specialty. He is recognized nationally and internationally as a leader in the fields of environmental law, heritage law, natural resources law and the law and policy relating to climate change. After initially practicing as a solicitor (from 1978) with Blake & Riggall (now Ashursts), Molesworth became a barrister in Victoria in 1984 and was appointed a Queen's Counsel in 1995.
Molesworth, qualified and experienced as a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, the Australian Institute of Managers and Leaders and the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand, has led delegations to successive United Nations COP conferences. His advisory work increasingly focuses on climate change strategies, corporate governance, risk management and corporate social responsibility. Molesworth is uniquely positioned to advise corporate Australia and public sector entities on the development of strategies and policies, together with related risk and compliance issues, in a world required to adapt to and mitigate climate change. With experience chairing commissions of inquiry and a wealth of experience chairing and participating in consultative committees, Molesworth is well-skilled to be a mediator.
Amongst his previous legal appointments Molesworth, in the 1980s, was a Senior Legal Member of the Planning Division of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal of Victoria and a Senior Legal Member of the previous Victorian Planning Appeals Board. He was also in 1994 the Victorian State Mining Warden, a statutory appointment under the then Mineral Resources Development Act. He has chaired commissions of inquiry and advised successive governments and their authorities on legislative reform.
Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.
Erin’s practice includes all major jurisdictions: prosecution and defence work in criminal law, plaintiff and defendant work in common law, including institutional liability matters, and family law.
Erin has extensive experience appearing in Royal Commission and inquiry work, including as counsel assisting.
From 25th Oct 2012, liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.
Brittany practises in common law, insurance law and administrative law (judicial review), with a special interest in class actions. She is available to appear in all metropolitan and regional courts.
Before coming to the Bar, Brittany was Associate to the Honourable Justice J Forrest and the Honourable Justice Tsalamandris at the Supreme Court of Victoria. Brittany assisted their Honours in the hearing and management of civil trials (both jury and judge alone), appeals and a range of interlocutory matters. Prior to this, Brittany worked at a national firm in the area of professional indemnity insurance.
In November 2025, Brittany was elected as a member of the Victorian Bar Council for 2025-2026. She is the Bar Council representative on the New Barristers' Committee and the Readers' Course Committee, and is also a committee member of the Women Barristers' Association.
Brittany read with Ben Jellis KC and her senior mentor is Jeremy Ruskin KC.
Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation. The information referred to above has been supplied by the barrister concerned. Neither Victorian Bar Inc nor the barrister's clerk have independently verified the accuracy or completeness of the information and neither accepts any responsibility in that regard.
Sarah has been a barrister for over 35 years. She has a busy criminal practice and is available for both prosecution and defence work. She has held an Indictable Crime Certificate since its inception.
She is on the list of preferred counsel for Victoria Legal Aid; the list of counsel retained by the OPP; and the panel of barristers briefed by the Commonwealth DPP.
Sarah appears in complex jury trials in the Supreme and County Court, as well as the Indictable and Summary streams in the Magistrates’ Court, and the Court of Appeal. She appears regularly on circuit. She also has longstanding experience in coercive examinations and inquisitorial jurisdictions including IBAC and the Coroners’ Court.
Sarah has lived and travelled in the Pacific region and has a strong interest in engagement with our neighbours in that region. An active member of the Bar’s International Advocacy Training Committee since 2021, she has provided pro bono in-country advocacy training to lawyers in Vanuatu (2022 and 2024, as team leader), Tonga (2024) and Papua New Guinea (2025). She has coached and mentored Pacific lawyers in person as part of the IATC’s Train the Trainer programs held in Melbourne (2024-5) and online to PNG, Tonga and Solomon Islands during 2021-2, and coached in the Victorian Bar Readers' Course.
Sarah has served on the Criminal Bar Association Committee (2009-2010) and the Equality and Diversity Committee of the Victorian Bar (2018).
Sarah enjoys mentoring future and present law students and Readers, and welcomes enquiries from future Readers.