Search Results

  • Preston Rebecca

    Rebecca continues to be recognised in Doyle's Guide to the Best Barristers in Victoria (2017-2022) in the field of Employment and Work Health Safety and is one of two representatives of counsel sitting on the Fair Work Commission Unfair Dismissal Users' Group.

    Rebecca primarily practises in the areas of employment, industrial relations and anti-discrimination law. She also was junior counsel for the Department of Jobs Precincts and Regions in the Hotel Quarantine Inquiry.

    Rebecca is regularly briefed to provide prospects and strategic advice to clients, and has represented clients in VCAT, the Fair Work Commission, County Court, Supreme Court, Federal Circuit Court and Federal Court - at first instance and variously on appeal.

    Along with her undergraduate Honours degree in Law, Rebecca holds a Bachelor of Science (Genetics and Microbiology, Monash, first class Honours average), and a Master of Laws (Melbourne, first class Honours average, recipient of prize for the top Labour Relations student).

    A sample of matters in which Rebecca has acted as Counsel (parties represented are in bold type):

    - Tucker v State of Victoria & Anor [2022] VSC 760 - successful defence of application to be released from undertaking as to damages on grounds of fraud - breach of undertaking - application dismissed - proceeding stayed pending compliance with undertaking (with Justin Bourke KC)

    - Vergara v Bunnings Group Ltd [2022] FedCFamC2G - summary dismissal of claims - meaning of social origin under anti-discrimination law - whether s 351 FW Act applies to adverse action taken on the grounds of social origin

    - Tucker v Broderick [2022] FCAFC 174 - successful defence of appeal of summary dismissal of claims as an abuse of process - costs (also at first instance [2021] FCA 1492) (with Justin Bourke KC)

    - United Petroleum Pty ltd v Barrie [2022] FCA 818 - post employment restraint of trade - successful defence of application for interlocutory relief

    - BSL22 v BSM22 [2022] FCA 558 - successful application for suppression and non-disclosure orders for the benefit of respondents to sexual harassment claims

    - Mathew McGuinness v Woolworths Group Ltd T/A Woolworths [2022] FWC 727 - dispute about matters arising under enterprise agreement - proposed roster change enabled

    - Smith v Rodger Constructions Pty Ltd [2022] FedCFamC2G 204 - successful defence of adverse action and underpayment claims - meaning of "inquiry" - meaning of "able to make" - award interpretation - application of Surveying Award 2010

    - Judith Lanigan v Circus Oz and Others [2022] VSC 35 - application of Limitation of Actions Act 1958 to VCAT - statutory interpretation - historical context - meaning of 'court' in legislative context - meaning of 'tort'

    - Civil Air Operations Officers' Association of Australia v Airservices Australia [2021] FCA 1030 - alleged contraventions of s 50 FW Act - construction of enterprise agreement (with Richard Dalton QC)

    - Toby Tucker v State of Victoria [2021] VSCA 182 - s 570 FW Act - whether conduct amounted to unreasonable act or omission causing other party to incur costs – Conduct including failure to settle proceeding, bringing interlocutory applications and reliance on certain grounds of appeal – Discretion to award costs of appeal enlivened – Limited costs orders made against the applicant in respect of appeals (with Justin Bourke QC)

    - Toby Tucker v State of Victoria [2021] VSCA 120 - procedural fairness in workplace investigation process - privacy issues - construction of employment contract and incorporation of terms - jurisdiction of the Supreme Court to make declarations in respect of contraventions of enterprise agreements - s 570 FW Act and when a matter arises under the FW Act (with Justin Bourke QC)

    - Fair Work Ombudsman v C & H Entertainment Pty Ltd [2021] FCCA 1216 - findings of accessorial liability - failure to comply with compliance notice and other contraventions

    - Phillips v Boeing Aerostructures Australia Pty Ltd [2021] FWC 965 - unfair dismissal - genuine redundancy - reasonable redeployment - insourcing of work to provide a redeployment opportunity - consultation obligations and whether these extend to outcomes of a dispute resolution process - application dismissed

    - Grochowski v Kearney [2020] FCA 1248 - practice and procedure - successful defence of application for leave to appeal interlocutory decision - leave denied

    - Toby Tucker v State of Victoria (Undertaking as to Damages) [2020] VSC 121 - enforcement of undertaking as to damages (with Justin Bourke QC)

    - PG Nominees Pty Ltd atf Ryan Family Trust v WBHO Infrastructure Pty Ltd [2020] VSC 48 and [2020] VSC 149 -employee share plan - successful application to withdraw admission - successful defence of application to cross examine - successful application for indemnity costs (with Suresh Senathirajah QC)

    - Application by Hays Specialist Recruitment (Australia) Pty Ltd [2020] FWA 404 - successful application to terminate an enterprise agreement after its nominal expiry date, opposed by the CEPU

    - Victorian Xray Group Pty Ltd v Ho [2020] FCA 27 - successful defence of claim as to competency - whether court at first instance was exercising jurisdiction under the Fair Work Act 2009 - whether court at first instance was exercising summary jurisdiction

    - Joseph Kearney v Accrue Property Pty Ltd and Anor [2020] FCCA 74 - successful defence of pleadings - interaction of legal construct of continuing breach and accessorial liability provisions of the Fair Work Act 2009

    - Toby Tucker v The State of Victoria [2019] VSC 635 - defence of application for stay/adjournment - no stay of proceedings pending determination of Fair Work Commission proceedings (with Justin Bourke QC)

    - Separator Technology Solutions Pty Ltd v Yin Han [2018] VCC 1922 - breach of confidence - successfully defended application for interlocutory injunction - no serious question to be tried

    - AC v St Joseph's Flexible Learning Centre [2019] FWC 6630 - successful unfair dismissal application - alleged misconduct - no valid reason found to exist

    - Nurses Kurucuk v Mining One Pty Ltd [2019] FWC 1236 - successful defence of costs application

    - Boeing Aerostructures Australia Pty Ltd t/a Boeing Aerostructures Australia v Gualano, Tuddenham and Anor [2018] FWC 7490 - dispute under DRP as to the interpretation of an enterprise agreement

    - The Police Federation of Australia v Victoria Police [2018] FWC 5695 - arbitration of request for flexible work arrangement - whether refusal was on reasonable business grounds

    - Larosa v Number 100 Pty Ltd & Anor [2018] FCCA 1312 - successfully defended claims for underpayments, breaches of general protections; existence of employment relationship

    - Dyke and Pedlar v Frank D'Urbano Management Services Pty Ltd (2018) H12194260, H12193631 - ordinary and customary turnover of labour associated with the loss of Australia Post delivery contracts

    - Yadav v Trustee for Maddingley Montessori Centre Unit Trust [2018] FWC 2883 - successful unfair dismissal claim, finding that conduct did not amount to misconduct and there was no valid reason for dismissal

    - In the matter of the Suitability Panel RIVE 17 (confidential) - acting for the employee, finding that the employee did not present an unacceptable risk to children under the Children Youth and Families Act 2005 (Vic)

    - United Firefighters' Union v Metropolitan Fire Brigade (2017) FCA - defending application for interlocutory injunction, alleged breach of consultation obligations under enterprise agreement (with Melinda Richards SC)

    - Kyle Bumpstead v Wyndham Central Secondary College [2017] FWC 5794 - successfully opposed a finding of jurisdiction, application dismissed

    - Communications, Electrical, Electronic, Energy, Information, Postal, Plumbing and Allied Services Union of Australia v Australian Postal Corporation [2017] FCA 1091 - successfully defended claims for breach of superannuation trust deed, s.345 FW Act (misrepresentations about workplace rights) and claims in estoppel and contract (with Jennifer Batrouney QC)

    - Darren Lacey and Chris Kandelaars v Murrays Australia Pty Limited; Andrew Cullen [2017] FWC 3136 - successfully opposed application for bullying orders

    - Knight v Visionstream Australia Pty Limited [2017] FCCA 980 - application to amend parties to a general protections claim dismissed where employer was not the entity named in the FWC certificate

    - Paul Baird v Airservices Australia [2017] FWC 1946 - successfully defended unfair dismissal claim - misconduct

    - Fair Work Ombudsman v Food Republic Pty Ltd [2017] FCCA 263 - underpayments - record keeping breaches

    - Abdul Soomro v Murrays Australia Pty Limited T/A Murrays Australia [2016] FWC 8211 - successfully defended unfair dismissal claim

    - Bendigo Health Care Group v Richard Logan [2016] FWCFB 7190 - successfully defended appeal and successfully prosecuted unfair dismissal claim at first instance - employee reinstated with backpay

    - United Firefighters' Union of Australia v Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services Board [2016] FWCFB 2894 - dispute about matters pertaining (with Melinda Richards SC)

    - Automotive, Food, Metals, Engineering, Printing and Kindred Industries Union v CBI Constructors Pty Ltd [2015] FWC 7460 - dispute about shift work allowances (with Richard Dalton)

    - Lion Dairy and Drinks Milk Limited v Peter Norman [2016] FWCFB 4218 - successful appeal of Peter Norman v Lion Dairy and Drinks Milk Limited [2016] FWC 840 - unfair dismissal - medical incapacity

    - Jahangir Farzady v Monochromatic Engineering Pty Ltd T/A MCE Lasers [2015] FWC 7216 - successful unfair dismissal claim - compensation cap awarded (6 months) - Monochromatic Engineering Pty Ltd T/A MCE Lasers v Jahangir Farzady [2016] FWCFB 1061 - successfully defence of permission to appeal application

    - Virata v NSW Motel Management Services Pty Ltd [2015] FWC 7932 - unfair dismissal - compensation cap awarded (6 months)

    From 1st May 2015, liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.

  • Horan Tony

    Tony is a specialist mediator (Victorian Bar Advanced Mediator and AMDRAS accredited) and facilitator of expert witness conclaves. He has practised in commercial litigation for over 30 years, and as a mediator for the past 17 years.

    Tony has extensive expertise in resolving disputes concerning commercial contracts and torts, insurance, construction, professional liability, government liability, environmental law and proportionate liability law.

    Tony’s work has been referred to both by the High Court of Australia (Tesseract International Pty Ltd v Pascale Construction Pty Ltd [2024] HCA 24; P-Value Pty Ltd v Wellara Holdings Pty Ltd & Ors [2017] HCATrans 78) and in leading texts (including Cheshire & Fifoot, Law of Contract (12th Aust ed.) and Thomson, Warnick and Martin, Commercial Contract Clauses (4th ed.)). He is currently recognised in Doyle’s Guide in the following categories:

    • Leading Construction & Infrastructure Junior Barrister – Australia 2018-2025
    • Leading Construction & Infrastructure Junior Barrister – Victoria 2018-2025.

    Tony has advised government and others on law reform, particularly on proportionate liability, insurance, building regulation and professional liability. Tony’s report: ‘Proportionate Liability: Towards National Consistency’ was produced for a working group of the Standing Committee of Attorneys-General to review the national legislative framework on proportionate liability.

    Tony is a Sessional Member at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (primarily Building and Property List and Legal Practice List) where he frequently conducts compulsory conferences, hearings and conclaves of technical experts. He is a Senior Fellow at the University of Melbourne Law School where he lectures on construction and insurance law.

    Prior to coming to the Bar, Tony was a partner at DLA Piper (Phillips Fox) for 10 years.

    Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.

  • Gronow Michael

    Appointed as a Judicial Registrar of the Federal Court of Australia, effective 30 June 2025.

  • Houghton William

    Retired from practice on June 30th 2025

  • Hannah Canham

    Hannah has a broad practice in public, commercial and criminal law.

    Before coming to the Bar, Hannah was an associate to the Hon Justice Stephen Gageler AC at the High Court of Australia (now Chief Justice of Australia). Hannah also worked as a Senior Lawyer in the Appeals and Strategic Litigation team at Victoria Legal Aid, an Associate Public Defender in Victoria Legal Aid Chambers and an associate to the Hon Justice Richard White in the Federal Court of Australia.

    Hannah holds a Master of Laws from Columbia Law School and a Bachelor of Laws with First Class Honours from the University of Adelaide. She is a reporter for the Commonwealth Law Reports.

    Hannah read with Catherine Boston SC. Her senior mentor is Kathleen Foley SC.

    Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation.

  • Sam Crock

    Sam practises in all areas of public and commercial law.

    Since coming to the Bar, he has appeared and advised in a range of commercial and regulatory disputes involving corporations, financial services, contract, equity, consumer protection, and domestic building and construction. Sam has a particular interest in administrative and public law and has appeared unled in the Federal Court of Australia in judicial review proceedings under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) and the Migration Act 1958 (Cth). He has also appeared in the AFL Appeals Tribunal.

    Before coming to the Bar, Sam worked as Counsel Assisting the then Solicitor-General for Victoria, Rowena Orr KC (now the Hon Justice Rowena Orr). He was also an Associate to the Hon Justice Steward of the High Court of Australia.

    He commenced his career as a solicitor in the litigation team at Arnold Bloch Leibler, where he practised in general commercial disputes and corporate insolvency.

    Sam holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) and a Juris Doctor from the University of Melbourne, where he ranked second in his graduating cohort and was an Editor of the Melbourne University Law Review.

    Sam read with Fiona Batten. His senior mentor is Philip Solomon KC.

    Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.

  • Brenker Stephanie C.B.

    Stephanie Carmela Batsakis Brenker has a broad civil practice, practising in commercial law, public law and tort.

    Before coming to the Bar, Stephanie was an Associate to the Hon Justice M M Gordon AC at the High Court of Australia.

    Stephanie also practised in London and Tokyo as a solicitor in commercial litigation and arbitration: first, as a graduate solicitor at Herbert Smith Freehills LLP and then as an associate in general commercial, and banking and finance, litigation at Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP.

    Stephanie holds a Bachelor of Civil Law from the University of Oxford, where she attended on an Allan Myers QC Scholarship. She also holds two first class honours degrees from the University of Melbourne: an undergraduate degree in Arts, which she attended as a Melbourne National Scholar, and a Juris Doctor degree in Law, where she was awarded the Joan Rosanove QC Memorial Prize.

    Stephanie read with Meg O’Sullivan KC and her senior mentor was Rowena Orr KC.

    Selected cases:

    Class actions (commercial and common law)

    • Raeken Pty Ltd v James Hardie Industries Plc, Supreme Court of Victoria, ongoing (acting for respondent in shareholder class action) (led by Dr M Rush KC, K Loxley and A Batrouney).
    • KTM24 v Rio Tinto Ltd; KXO24 v BHP Group Ltd, Federal Court of Australia, ongoing (acting for applicants in two class actions alleging negligence and sex discrimination at mining sites) (led by K Foley SC and A Edwards).
    • Janssen & Anor v OnePath Custodians Pty Ltd & Ors, Federal Court of Australia, 2024, settled (acting for applicants in superannuation class action) (led by Dr K Hanscombe KC and A Folie, with J Page and M Agnoletti).
    • Yasmin v Commonwealth [2023] FCA 1661 (acting for Indonesian youth applicants in class action alleging negligence, false imprisonment and breach of Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth) due to age assessments based on wrist x-ray analysis. Successfully obtained Court-approved settlement of AU$27.5 million) (led by A Strahan KC, P Tierney and T Jeffrie, with E Brumby and H Canham).
    • Southernwood v Brambles Limited, Federal Court of Australia, 2022 (acting for respondent in five-week trial of shareholder class action) (led by M Borsky KC and K Loxley).
    • Agnello v Heritage Care Pty Ltd; Fotiadis v St Basil's Homes for the Aged [2021] VSC 838 (successfully defended strike-out applications in class actions acting on behalf of plaintiffs against aged care facilities) (led by A Broadfoot KC)
    • Sharma v Minister for the Environment [2021] FCA 560; Sharma v Minister for the Environment (No 2) [2021] FCA 774 (class action on behalf of Australian children, successfully arguing at first instance that Minister owed a duty of care to avoid causing harm to Australian children from climate change by the exercise of her statutory powers). Reversed on appeal: Minister for the Environment v Sharma [2022] FCAFC 35 (led by N Hutley SC, E Nekvapil and K Brazenor, with N Petrie).

    Commercial (other)

    Public law

    Common law (other)

    • Tziotzis & Anor v Nine Digital Pty Ltd & Ors, Supreme Court of Victoria, 2025 (acting for defendants in five week defamation trial) (led by S Mukerjea, with C O'Beirne).
    • We R Somewhere Pty Ltd & Ors v Legal Practitioners' Liability Committee, Supreme Court of Victoria, 2025 (acting for plaintiffs in professional negligence case, settled part-way through trial) (led by N Andreou then M Tehan).
    • Healy v Bird [2022] VSC 823 (successfully defended strike-out application in proceeding alleging novel duties against Catholic Diocese of Ballarat) (unled for hearing of application; led by L de Ferrari SC in matter generally).
    • Jackson v Jones [2021] VCC 638 (acting for successful plaintiff in seven-day personal injury and battery trial, obtaining judgment and damages for the plaintiff) (led by P Hayes KC).
    • Chen v Gibson Importing Co (Aust) Pty Ltd, Supreme Court of Victoria, 2020 (acting for plaintiff pro bono in 10-day personal injury trial, settled on the 10th day) (led by F McLeod SC and B Johnson).


    Awards:

    Daniel Pollak Readers’ Award for first-year pro bono advocacy (2021).



    From 8 May 2020, liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation

     

  • Briggs Daniel


    Daniel is a commercial barrister with a practice focussing on insurance, corporations, equity and trusts, professional negligence, consumer protection, trade practices, and building and construction law. He is regularly briefed to appear in State and Federal jurisdictions, both unled and as a junior, and provides practical and considered advice to clients involved in complex disputes.

    Daniel commenced his legal career at Arnold Bloch Leibler in Melbourne, gaining a strong foundation in commercial law. He holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws from Monash University, and a Master of Laws from the University of Melbourne.

    Daniel's approach to practice is grounded in a clear understanding of the law and a commitment to delivering results through careful case preparation and thoughtful advocacy. Whether working independently or as part of a team, he is focused on providing clients with clear, strategic advice and effective representation.

    Committee positions

    • Member of the Commercial Bar Association (CommBar) Executive
    • Secretary of the Building & Construction Section of CommBar
    • Member of the New Barristers Committee


    Recent matters

    Commercial and Corporations Law

    • Abaris Printing & Publishing Co. Pty Ltd and Swisslog Australia Pty Ltd: briefed on behalf of purchaser of a multi-million-dollar factory automation system in relation to a contractual dispute with the supplier (led by Jeremy Twigg KC)

    Insurance

    Building and Construction

    • Nicholas Snart v Victorian Building Authority: briefed on behalf of the VBA in relation to a review of a decision to take disciplinary action against a registered building practitioner (part-heard) (led by Peter Murdoch KC)
    • Central Pier (Docklands) Pty Ltd & Anor v Schiavello (Vic) Pty Ltd & Ors: briefed on behalf of the plaintiffs in relation to a claim for alleged breaches of contract and duty of care by the defendants resulting in a fire at the Woolshed Pub in Melbourne (settled before trial) (led by Peter Murdoch KC)

    Consumer Law

    • Hopkins v Daou & Ors: briefed on behalf of a defendant real estate agent in a claim for misleading and deceptive conduct (awaiting judgment) (unled)

    Trusts and Equity

    • Maradox Pty Ltd & Ors v Lipins Partners Pty Ltd: briefed on behalf of the accountant defendants in relation to a broader trusts dispute between members of a large family-owned business (ongoing) (unled)


    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.

  • Blidman Victoria
    Victoria practices in a broad range of civil and commercial matters.

    Prior to coming to the Bar, Victoria completed her graduate training at DLA Piper and practiced as a solicitor in their Litigation and Dispute Resolution group, predominately in professional indemnity and commercial matters.
      
    In this role, Victoria acted for a range of professionals including accountants, financial planners, valuers, real estate agents, liquidators, receivers and members of various medical professions on instructions from a number of professional indemnity insurers.  She has also acted in a range of large commercial matters involving claims for breach of contract and actions arising out of the Australian Consumer Law.  Further, Victoria has experience acting in disciplinary matters against health professionals.    

    In addition to having completed her Bachelor of Law (Hons), Victoria is currently undertaking a Masters of Law at Monash University.
     
    Victoria read with Anthony Strahan and Michael Rush. Her senior mentor was the Honourable Justice Peter Riordan.

    Examples of recent matters:

    • The Lacrosse Apartment litigation relating to the installation of external cladding (ongoing). Represented the building surveyor (led by Jonathan Evans QC).
    • Acting for the plaintiff in a claim in the Supreme Court of Victoria concerning the collapse of a crane during construction of a shopping complex (led by David Collins QC).
    • Various oppression proceedings in the Supreme Court of Victoria, the Federal Court and in a private arbitration (led by Neil Young QC and Philip Crutchfield QC).
    • Various commercial disputes relating to property development ventures with claims made in contract, equity and pursuant to the Australian Consumer Law (both led and unled);
    • Dispute relating to transfers of funds between family members in the County Court of Victoria (unled).
    • Dispute relating to the application of the Insurance Contracts Act and claims for indemnity under a public liability policy commenced against an insurer, broker and solicitor (led by Michael Thompson QC).
    • Acting in claims made against architects (both led and unled).
    • Seven Creeks Equine Veterinary Clinic Pty Ltd v Brooks (Civil Claims) [2018] VCAT 1301. Appearing for the plaintiff in a contractual dispute about equine IVF services (unled).
    • UIZ v BUC (Human Rights) [2018] VCAT 572.Breach of privacy complaint in the Human Rights division of VCAT (unled).
    • Security for costs applications including Citius Property Pty Ltd v Logos Australia Group Pty Ltd [2018] VSC 74 (unled) and Coonwarra Pty Ltd v Cornonero Pty Ltd [2018] VSC 333 (unled).
    • Applications for freezing orders in the Supreme Court of Victoria (both led and unled).

     
    From 1st May 2014, liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.
  • Ahern Greg

    A. Overview of Court and Mediation practice

    Greg came to the Bar in 1995 following 5 years as a corporate advisory and transaction lawyer with Freehills (now Herbert Smith Freehills).

    Over his 29 years at the Bar, Greg has acted in a broad range of commercial and corporate law matters.

    Greg is a specialist in schemes of arrangement and has acted in some 43 schemes of arrangement to effect corporate takeovers, mergers, demergers and internal corporate restructures. Greg also teaches in this area as part of the Melbourne Law Masters program and regularly gives seminars to national law firms on recent developments in this field of the law. Greg is often retained where the proposed scheme of arrangement or trust acquisition proposal is complex or novel or where shareholder activism is anticipated. Further details are set out below regarding Greg’s practice in this area.

    Greg is also a nationally accredited mediator. Over the course of his career at the Bar, Greg has acted in numerous mediations across all State Courts and the Federal Court for both plaintiffs and defendants involving a broad spectrum of commercial and corporate disputes. This has included acting in multi-party mediations (often over several days). Greg brings this extensive experience and understanding to his role as mediator. Further details are set out below.

    B. Schemes of Arrangement

    Overview of expertise

    Greg has acted in 43 schemes of arrangement (and trust acquisition proposals) including schemes to effect corporate takeovers, mergers, demergers and internal reconstructions. These have included schemes of substantial transaction value such as the 2023 $9.5b acquisition by BHP of OZ Minerals Limited (in which Greg acted for OZ Minerals).

    For many years Greg has acted and appeared alone in substantial and complex schemes of arrangement. Greg has also led junior barristers in schemes of arrangement. While Greg continues to work, from time to time, with leading silks (from both Melbourne and Sydney, including in some of the schemes referred to below) in schemes of arrangement, he predominantly acts and appears alone in these matters. Greg has acted and appeared in a broad range of schemes of arrangement encompassing takeover (or change of control) schemes, demerger schemes, merger schemes, top-hatting restructure schemes, destapling restructure schemes involving share schemes and a trust scheme and internal reconstruction schemes involving orders under section 413 of the Corporations Act. Greg’s experience in this field of the law extends beyond the issues and challenges that commonly arise in schemes and includes navigating schemes through the court process in the context of complex transaction structures, bidding contests, shareholder activism and in one case acting for the acquirers where the target company was the subject of a class action proceeding.

    Greg has acted for target companies, acquirers and for ASIC.

    Schemes (and trust acquisition proposals) in which Greg has acted include the 2025 proposed acquisition, by scheme of arrangement, of PointsBet Holdings Ltd by MIXI Australia Pty Ltd (in which Greg acted for MIXI Australia - which scheme of arrangement did not proceed to the court approval stage), the 2024 acquisition of Capitol Health Limited by Integral Diagnostics Limited (In which Greg acted for Capitol Health), the 2023 acquisition by BHP of OZ Minerals Limited (in which Greg acted for OZ Minerals), the 2023 acquisition of SILK Laser Australia Limited by Wesfarmers (in which Greg acted for SILK Laser Australia), the 2023 Carbon Revolution Limited scheme (involving a scheme and a “de-SPAC” merger transaction in which Greg acted for Twin Ridge Capital Acquisition Corp, a special purpose acquisition company (known as a SPAC) listed on the New York Stock Exchange), the 2022 acquisition of Angel Seafood Holdings Ltd by Laguna Bay (in which Greg advised Angel Seafood in respect of certain aspects of that transaction), the 2021 acquisition by JBS Australia of the shares in Huon Aquaculture Group Limited (in which Greg acted and appeared for Huon and which involved two alternative but concurrently proposed schemes of arrangement, a simultaneous takeover bid and an associated share sale agreement in relation to the major shareholder), the 2021 acquisition proposal by NorthWest Healthcare Australia RE Limited for the units in the Australian Unity Healthcare Property Trust (an unlisted managed investment scheme) in which Greg acted for NorthWest and where the acquisition proposal was opposed by the responsible entity, the 2020 takeover of OptiComm Ltd by Uniti Group Limited (in which Greg acted and appeared for Uniti Group and which involved two competing proposals by Aware Super Pty Ltd) and the 2020 takeover of Village Roadshow Limited by BGH Capital (private equity) (in which Greg acted and appeared for Village Roadshow Corporation Pty Ltd – the largest shareholder in Village Roadshow Limited – which involved two alternative but concurrently proposed schemes of arrangement and an associated share sale agreement in relation to the major shareholder).

    Further details (by category) of some of the schemes of arrangement in which Greg has acted can be found here.

    Role extends beyond the Court process

    Greg's work in this field extends beyond the court process and includes pre-announcement review of transaction documents, advice on discrete transactional issues, advice and input regarding the structure and content of the scheme booklet, advice regarding recourse to the Takeovers Panel and the consideration of, and proposed response to, issues raised by ASIC.

    In addition to being retained by national law firms who practice in this area, Greg is also retained by boutique commercial law firms in these types of transactions.

    Complex scheme structures and shareholder activism

    Greg is often retained where the proposed scheme of arra where Greg acted for Huon).

    Lecturing, seminars and submissions to Government and to the Court on potential areas of reform

    Greg co-lectures on the subject of "Schemes of Arrangement" (as a senior fellow) in the Melbourne Masters Program (University of Melbourne Law School) (having recently taught the course in 2023 and 2024) and has often given seminars about recent developments in this area to law firms who practice in this field.

    Greg was primarily responsible for the preparation of the submission made by the Commercial Bar Association of Victoria to the Treasury in June 2022 in response to the Treasury's consultation paper entitled " Corporate control transactions in Australia: consultation on options to improve schemes of arrangement, takeover bids, and the role of the Takeovers Panel".

    Greg also co-authored the joint submission made by the Victorian Bar and the Commercial Bar Association to the Federal Court on its consultation letter dated 15 May 2023 regarding potential changes in the manner in which schemes of arrangement are dealt with by the Federal Court.

    Greg is available to act in schemes of arrangement both in Victoria and interstate.

    C. Mediation

    Greg is a nationally accredited mediator and is available to act as a mediator both in Victoria and interstate.

    Greg has acted in numerous mediations across all State Courts and the Federal Court for both plaintiffs and defendants involving a broad spectrum of commercial and corporate disputes, including in the following areas - partnership disputes, franchising, Corporations Act oppression proceedings, share sale agreements, misleading and deceptive conduct claims in various contexts, professional negligence claims, investor class actions following a corporate collapse, guarantee claims, insolvency (including preference claims and trading while insolvent claims), rural law matters, contractual disputes (including complex and document heavy disputes), building and construction disputes and Aged Care.

    Greg has acted in multi-party mediations and understands the dynamic operating between multiple parties in the context of seeking to reach an overall settlement of a dispute. Greg has also acted in multi-day mediations and mediations which have been adjourned to enable further steps or actions to be taken by one or more of the parties in the context of the mediation process.

    Greg brings this extensive experience and understanding to his role as mediator.

    D. Committees and Associations

    Greg is a member of:

    - the Corporations Committee of the Business Law Section of the Law Council of Australia; and

    - the Commercial Bar Association of Victoria.



    Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.

  • Herzfeld Perry

    Perry was Associate to the Hon. Justice Susan Crennan of the High Court of Australia in 2008-2009.

    Before his Associateship, Perry was a lawyer in the litigation department at Allens Arthur Robinson. In addition to general commercial litigation, his work included construction and insurance litigation as well as insurance advice. While at Allens, Perry also spent time in mergers and acquisitions, where he worked on various takeover bids and schemes of arrangement.

    Perry has a First Class Honours law degree and a Master of Laws from the University of Melbourne, and was awarded the Spero Wilson Memorial Scholarship for the student placed second on the Final Law Honours List. He is an author of the text Interpretation (3rd ed, 2024), which covers statutory interpretation, constitutional interpretation, the interpretation of private legal documents, interpretation of court orders and the rules of precedent. He has been published in national and international law journals, including in the areas of insurance, arbitration, private international law and constitutional law. He is a fellow of the Australian Academy of Law.

    Perry is the editor of the New South Wales Law Reports.


    Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation

  • Goldblatt Mark

    Practises extensively in Intellectual Property, Commercial Law and Mediation (both as mediator and counsel).

    Also practises in Property, Information Technology, Trade Practices, Communications Law and Entertainment areas as well as general commercial work including Contractual, Landlord and Tenant, Building, Property, Trusts, Securities, Probate, Corporations and also Immigration, Defamation and Industrial/Employment.


    From 09 Oct 2014, liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.

  • Fowler Norman S.

    Available as a mediator. 

  • Tony Kelly KC

    Tony has a broad practice in commercial and public law. He has appeared in numerous complex trials, appeals and arbitrations.

    Tony appears in Federal Courts and State Supreme Courts.

    Professional Associations: International Council for Commercial Arbitration


    Liability limited by scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation

    • Audrey Capasso

      Audrey practices in all areas of common law, with a particular focus on personal injury (including industrial accidents, transport accidents, institutional abuse, public liability, and medical negligence). She has special interests in health and medical law, professional indemnity, and intentional torts.

      Audrey has experience acting in appeal and judicial review proceedings.

      Before coming to the Bar, Audrey was a Senior Associate at Russell Kennedy where she acted on behalf of the Victorian WorkCover Authority and Transport Accident Commission in the defence of statutory benefits, serious injury, and common law damages claims.

      As a solicitor, she developed a particular expertise in psychiatric injury claims, industrial deafness and occupational disease claims, and complex multi-defendant matters. She has also undertaken training in the interpretation and application of the American Medical Association Guides 4th Edition.

      Audrey holds a Bachelor of Laws (with Honours) and a Bachelor of Arts from Monash University. In February 2023, she was named a Rising Star by Australasian Lawyer.

      Audrey read with Matthew Hooper SC and her senior mentor is Michelle Britbart KC.


      Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation

    • Robson Ross KC
      • Strategic Advice
      • Arbitration Mediation ADR

      The Hon Ross Robson QC was admitted in 1972, signing the Victorian Bar Roll in 1973.

      He had a very busy practice as a barrister and later as a silk, appearing in some of the important trials in and out of Victoria.

      In addition to his practice Ross was chairman and director of Barristers Chambers Limited and Barfund Pty Ltd and a trustee of the Victorian Bar Superannuation Fund for over twenty years.

      He was appointed a Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria in 2007, where he was the Head of Corporations List until 2016.

      Ross returns to the Victorian Bar to provide strategic advice to clients and as a Mediator or Arbitrator.



    • Christophersen Angus

      Angus has appeared in the High Court, Federal Court and state Supreme and County Courts. He regularly advises and appears in relation to complex commercial disputes. Angus is listed as one of Australia's leading class actions junior counsel in Doyles Guide.

      Angus's published appearances include:

      Angus previously served as Associate to the Hon Justice David J Ashley AM at the Victorian Court of Appeal. Angus also worked in commercial disputes at Allens Linklaters and in the USA at Kaggle Inc (a Google subsidiary) managing contracting, intellectual property, and business development. Angus holds honours and masters degrees in law from the University of Melbourne.

      Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.

    • Crutchfield Philip

      Philip holds Commerce and Honours Law Degrees from the University of Melbourne and a Master of Laws from the London School of Economics and Political Science. 

      He did articles at Mallesons Stephen Jaques in 1987 and was admitted to the partnership on 1 January 1996. He signed the Bar Roll in November 1998 and took silk in 2009.

      Philip is a former Senior Fellow in the Law Faculty of the University of Melbourne, a member of the University of Melbourne Law School Foundation Board, a member of the University of Melbourne Humanities Foundation Board, a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law, a board member of the Victorian Bar Foundation and a former President of the Commercial Bar Association of Victoria.

      He was a reporter for the Commonwealth Law Reports and the author of a text book, Corporate Voluntary Administration Law, now known as Crutchfield’s Voluntary Administration.

      Outside of the law, Philip is a public company director and the Chair of the Bell Shakespeare Theatre Company.


      From 01/07/2008, Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation.

    • Warren Marilyn

      Judicial Background

      The Hon Marilyn Warren AC QC is the former Chief Justice of Victoria (2003-2017).
      At the time she stepped down she was the longest serving of the then state and
      federal Chief Justices.
      Earlier she was a Judge of the Supreme Court of Victoria (1998-2003) including
      sitting as the Judge in Charge of the Commercial List and the Corporations List (now
      combined as the Commercial Court). She presided over hundreds of commercial
      trials and appeals.

      Arbitrations


      The former Chief Justice presently sits as a domestic and international arbitrator.
      She is a member of the Dawson Chambers Senior Arbitration Group.
      She is co-author with Croft and Stamboulakis of the major arbitration text,
      International and Australian Commercial Arbitration (LexisNexis 2021).
      As a former elite athlete (Squash), and former sports appellate tribunal member, she
      also sits on international and national sports arbitrations and mediations.

      Academia

      She is a Vice Chancellor’s Professorial Fellow of Monash University and a member
      of the Monash University Global Leaders’ Summit.
      As a Professor, she is involved in teaching advanced commercial law, international
      arbitration and transnational dispute resolution in the Monash University Faculty of
      Law postgraduate programs.
      She was the Judge in Residence 2020-21 at the University of Melbourne Law
      School.

      Professional Life


      The former Chief Justice has been a member of the Victorian Bar since 1985. She
      was appointed a Queen’s Counsel (QC) in 1997. At the Bar she practised in
      commercial and administrative law including environmental, town planning and local
      government law.

      Appointments


      Lieutenant Governor of Victoria (2006-2017)
      Companion of the Order of Australia (AC)
      Former Chair: Courts Council of Victoria; Judicial Commission of Victoria; Judicial
      College of Victoria; Victoria Law Foundation; Council of Legal Education; and
      Council of the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine
      Founding Member of the Board of Governors of the Asian Business Law Institute

      Contact c/- Dever’s List, Sir Owen Dixon Chambers, 205 William St, Melbourne,
      Victoria, Australia, 3000; telephone +61 3 92257999;
      email jdever@vicbar.com.au or pdever@vicbar.com.au

    • Crennan Susan

      Experience

      The Hon. Susan Crennan AC is available to be appointed to as a Mediator.

      Please contact one of her Barrister’s Clerks for any further information.



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