Damian practices in all jurisdictions in Australia.
He specialises in criminal law in each of the appellate and trial divisions of the Superior Courts and the Magistrates Court.
He further specialises in inquests, sports law and thoroughbred and harness racing.
He also appears generally in professional and trade disciplinary tribunals, liquor licensing and VCAT.
Before signing the Bar Roll, Deborah was a solicitor at Corrs Chambers Westgarth practising in employment and industrial law. Prior to that Deborah was the Associate to Justice A.M. North in the Federal Court of Australia.
Since coming to the Bar Deborah has practised in administrative law, public law, employment/industrial and general commercial law.
Deborah has an Honours and a Masters degree in law.
Rose has a broad practice with a focus on common law, class actions, coronial inquests and public law. She is ranked by Doyles Guide as a Leading Class Action Junior Counsel in Australia (2025).
Matters in which Rose has a particular interest include:
A selection of the matters in which Rose has recently acted include:
Rooke v AFL (AFL Concussion Class Action) (led by Philip Crutchfield KC and Ben Ihle KC for the AFL) — Supreme Court class action involving negligence claims against the AFL in relation to concussion injuries.
McNickle v Huntsman Chemical Company (Roundup Class Action) (led by Andrew Clements KC, Melanie Szydzik SC and Rebecca Howe, for the Applicant and the class) — Federal Court class action involving negligence and safety defect claims against Monsanto parties in relation to alleged carcinogenicity of Roundup products.
Anne-Maree Johnston v Hyundai Motor Company Australia Pty Limited / Jane Victoria Moroney v Kia Australia Pty Limited (led by W Edwards KC and P Strickland for the plaintiffs and class) — Supreme Court class action in relation to allleged ABS defects.
Alcoa of Australia Ltd & Ors v AusNet Transmission Net & Powercor (led by Bernie Quinn KC, Melanie Szydzik SC and T Barry, for the Alcoa parties) — Supreme Court negligence claim for economic loss in relation to power outage at the Portland aluminium smelter.
Riddle v State of Victoria; Trickey v State of Victoria; Beyer v State of Victoria (led by Robert Heath KC and Roslyn Kaye KC, for the State of Victoria) — multiple Supreme Court proceedings involving claims of negligence and occupier’s liability relating to alleged organochlorine pesticide soil contamination.
Dani Laidley v State of Victoria (led by Sam Hay KC, for the State of Victoria) — Supreme Court proceedings involving claims in negligence.
Chief Commissioner of Police v Paterson [2023] VSC 172 (led by Melanie Szydzik SC, for the Appellant) — application for leave to appeal and appeal of VCAT decision to make a firearm prohibition order.
Inquest into the death of Nick Panagiotopoulos (led by Roslyn Kaye KC, for 000VIC) — high profile inquest relating to death in context of COVID-19 000 call delays.
Various, multi-party County Court proceedings involving claims of negligence and occupier’s liability seeking damages for death and injuries in relation to a residential balcony collapse (led by Roslyn Kaye KC, for the landlord of the property).
Rose also provides advice (both led and unled) including in relation to public interest immunity, tortious liability, the exercise of public powers and statutory interpretation.
Before coming to the Bar, Rose was a Principal Solicitor at the Victorian Government Solicitor’s Office, where she had carriage of high profile and sensitive proceedings on behalf of government clients. Before this, Rose worked in the Trials Chamber of the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and Center for Death Penalty Litigation in North Carolina.
Rose read with Ben Ihle KC and her senior mentor is Rachel Doyle SC.
Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation.
Renee is an experienced trial and appellate advocate with a broad practice incorporating general commercial and contractual disputes, consumer law, media and defamation, and merits review. Renee also has experience at inquiries.
Renee regularly appears for both plaintiffs and defendants in defamation actions and claims for injurious falsehood. She advises on pre-litigation strategy including choice of jurisdiction, having regard to factors such as the nature and extent of publication and whether a jury or non-jury trial is appropriate. She is experienced in managing defamatory disputes arising from publications in national print publications as well as online and social media including Twitter and Facebook.
Renee represents clients in a breadth of consumer protection matters under the Australian Consumer Law including claims for misleading or deceptive conduct, false or misleading representations, unconscionable conduct, and unfair contract terms.
Before the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, Renee has unparalleled experience acting on behalf of Registered Training Organisations and Higher Education Providers. She regularly advises and appears at stay hearings, dismissal applications and final hearings.
A sample of cases in which Renee has appeared in a variety of jurisdictions, both led and unled, is set out below.
Renee is a member of the Commercial Bar Association and the Women’s Bar Association.She read with Georgina Schoff QC and her senior mentor is William
Houghton QC. Renee has had two readers – Geoff Lake (2018) and Sanjay Schrapel (2020).
Before coming to the Bar, Renee practised in the Dispute Resolution group at Phillips Fox (now DLA) and Cornwall Stodart.
From 01 Jul 2016, liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.
Tanya has a broad practice with specific experience and interest in criminal, quasi-criminal, and regulatory matters.
She provides merits and strategic advice on all aspects of these matters.
Tanya's criminal practice is comprised of predominantly defence work in indictable proceedings. She appears both led and unled in trials and committals.
Tanya also appears in civil and migration matters where the subject matter involves criminal offending.
She came to the Bar with almost 10 years of experience in criminal law, which included appearance work and and the conduct of the prosecution of complex financial, sexual and homicide cases from initial stages through to trial.
Tanya worked as Associate to the Honourable Justice Kaye of the Victorian Supreme Court (then sitting in the Trial Division). She also worked for the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
She has strong written advocacy skills and is able to produce high-quality and timely advice and written submissions.
Tanya also holds a Master of Science (Criminal Justice) from the University of Alabama, with a specialist focus on sexual offences.
Tanya is a member of the VLA Preferred Barrister List.
She read with Ben Ihle KC.
From 03 May 2018, liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.
Scott was admitted to practice as a solicitor in NSW in 1996 and to the NSW Bar in 1999, being admitted to the Victorian Bar in 2002.
His practice includes workers compensation, personal injuries, common law, commercial and employment/industrial relations acting for both applicants/plaintiffs and respondents/defendants.
Scott has presented papers to the NSW Law Society continuing legal education programs on areas including third party recovery matters and differentiation of employment/subcontract relationships.
Philip has a significant practice, regularly appearing in both appeals and trials: in the High Court of Australia, the Federal Court of Australia and the Supreme Court of Victoria. His principal areas of practice comprise: administrative law, contracts, commercial and corporations law, taxation, equity and trusts, insurance (including personal injury), and negligence.
Philip is listed as a leading Australian Queen’s Counsel by Chambers and Partners (Asia-Pacific: 2018, and then each year following); as a leading commercial litigation and dispute resolution Queen’s Counsel in Victoria in Doyles Guide (2015, and then each year following); and as a Leading Silk (Class 1) in The Legal 500.
Chambers and Partners described Philip as follows:
Philip Solomon is widely acknowledged by interviewees as an “outstanding barrister”, a number noting that, as one source puts it, he is “a silk who involves himself as much in the detail as in the broad strategic direction of the case.” Several of his most valuable qualities are listed by a client who reports that he is “very strong in the commercial area, has great financial literacy, takes control of the situation without getting distracted by all the noise, and can spot what is going to happen.” Particularly noted for his busy appellate practice, he is also seen in tax disputes, on large commercial cases and in high-level cross-border litigation.
Legal 500 described Philip as follows:
Excellent written and oral advocate; crisp, clear and concise. A pleasure to deal with in running cases and works well behind the scenes with junior Counsel.
Philip graduated from the University of Melbourne with the degree of Bachelor of Laws with First Class Honours in 1991; and was awarded a Master of Law Degree with First Class Honours from the University of Cambridge in 1994.
Details of Philip’s previous appearances may be seen via the CV link.
Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation.
Ria has extensive experience in Australian and international tax having practised in the field for more than 20 years, including 15 years as a barrister at the Victorian Bar.
Ria has worked at law firms (Arnold Bloch Leiber and Clayton Utz) and large accounting firms (Ernst & Young and Deloitte) where she advised a range of clients including multinationals, large private groups and high-net-worth individuals on the spectrum of tax issues from “front-end” to “back-end”.
In 2017, the former Minister for Revenue and Financial Services, the Hon Kelly O’Dwyer appointed Ria as a part-time Board member of the Tax Practitioners Board. During her extended term, she advised on strategy, policy and legal matters. She also acted as an administrative decision-maker in over 270 cases making determinations on various matters, including whether tax practitioners had breached the Code of Professional Conduct and if so, she imposed appropriate sanctions.
Upon invitation, Ria has advised the United Nations Tax Committee on dispute avoidance and resolution mechanisms at the domestic and international level, including the Mutual Agreement Procedure.
She has appeared for taxpayers and the Commissioner of Taxation in various courts and in alternative dispute resolution processes.
Ria has provided advices and opinions to national and international law firms (e.g., based in Switzerland, Brazil, New York, Cayman Islands and Hong Kong) on various issues, including:
Ria has a Bachelor of Science (Pharmacology and Biochemistry), a Bachelor of Laws from Monash University, and a Master of Laws (Hons) with First Class Honours in Tax Litigation and Current Issues in Tax Avoidance from the University of Melbourne.
She is a Chartered Tax Adviser of The Tax Institute, a member of the Tax Bar Association (former Committee member for 13 years), a member of the International Fiscal Association and a former member of the United Nations Subcommittee on Dispute Avoidance and Resolution.
Upon invitation, Ria regularly participates in discussions with global tax leaders, advisers and policy-makers on current and emerging Australian and international tax issues.
Ria has actively contributed to, and was the nominated lead drafter of Chapter 2 of the United Nations Handbook on the Avoidance and Resolution of Tax Disputes (United Nations, 2021).
Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.
Since coming to the Bar Carmelina has predominantly appeared in personal injury related matters. She regularly appears in damages trials, serious injury applications, review hearings and appeals. Carmelina prepares advice and paperwork in relation to transport accidents, workplace injuries, medical negligence and public liability matters
Some recent matters and appearances include:
Prior to coming to the Bar Carmelina was a Senior Solicitor at the Transport Accident Commission.
From 23 Oct 2014, liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation
Richard has wide experience appearing in the Supreme Court, County Court, VCAT and the Coroner’s Court. He appears regularly for both Plaintiffs and Defendants in Melbourne and on circuit.
In 2010 Richard was a member of the Victorian Bar Council.
Bill practises primarily in commercial disputes, with a particular focus on building and construction, insolvency, and consumer law litigation, as well as arbitration.
Before joining the bar, Bill worked at the Supreme Court of Victoria as an associate to Justice Sloss of the Commercial Court where he assisted in the hearing and conduct of complex commercial disputes and urgent applications. In his role as an associate, Bill was involved in a wide variety of commercial matters involving insolvency, bankruptcy, banking, consumer protection and property law.
Bill also practised for two years as a solicitor at MolinoCahill Lawyers, a specialist law firm providing legal advice to clients involved in the construction, infrastructure, technology, defence, and energy and resource sectors. During his time at MolinoCahill, Bill was involved in large scale Supreme Court and Federal Court litigation, as well as mediation and arbitration, related to the construction of road, rail and pipeline infrastructure.
Bill holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Melbourne, where he graduated in the top 10% of his class. He is reading with Robert Craig and his senior mentor is Nicholas Hopkins QC.
From 03 May 2018, liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.
Tom has a broad common law practice with a focus on personal injury and insurance law.
He has particular expertise in matters involving complex psychiatric injuries, spinal and other orthopaedic injuries, as well as dust-related conditions.
Tom also has expertise in aviation insurance matters, acting for private and government clients in relation to aircraft accidents involving death and serious injury.
He accepts briefs to appear in trials alone (or led) before judge and/or jury in the Supreme Court of Victoria and County Court.
Tom provides written advice, prepares paperwork, attends settlement conferences and mediations.
Before coming to the Bar, Tom worked as a solicitor advising government and corporate clients across a broad range of insurance-related matters.
Tom was awarded a scholarship to attend Bond University to study Law. He graduated with Honours and class prizes, including first place in Trial & Appellate Advocacy.
He read with Dugald McWilliams and his Senior Mentor is Andrew Clements KC.
From 6th May 2016, liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.
James has nearly 20 years' experience in corporate, taxation and commercial matters.
James was most recently a partner in the corporate tax practice of PwC - where he advised major Australian and multi-national clients in relation all aspects of their Australian taxation affairs. James' experience includes advising on mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructuring and insolvency, equity and debt raising, cross-border investment and dispute resolution - including extensive dealings with senior officials within the Australian Taxation Office.
James has particular experience in the Energy and Mining industries, and most recently lead PwC's Global Energy & Mining Taxation practice.
- depth of technical expertise
- understanding of the commercial context in which a client's issues arise
- understanding of the broader commercial landscape
- energy and passion in working with clients to find the best possible outcomes based on their circumstances.
James holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from the University of Melbourne and a Master of Laws (LLM, Commercial law) from Monash University.
From 27 October 2017, liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation
Scott has an active commercial practice regularly appearing in trials and appeals in the Supreme and Federal Courts as well as in the County Court and VCAT and private arbitrations. His areas of practice involve commercial law, contractual and partnership disputes, equity and trusts, the domestic building insurance regime, VWA premium calculations and commercial negligence actionsin the agricultural sector and generally.
Scott graduated from the University of Melbourne with a degree of LLB (Hons) and BA (Hons). Having completed articles at Freehill Hollingdale & Page he acted as associate to McGarvie J prior to his appointment as Governor of Victoria and to Harper J until 1993.
Hamex Corporation Pty Ltd v Latrobe Street Ventures Pty Ltd (No 2) [2020] FCA 199 (25 February 2020)
Clementi v Rossi [2019] VSC 725 (7 November 2019)
Pinnacle Runway Pty Ltd v Triangl Limited [2019] FCA 1662 (10 October 2019)
Demetrios v Lehmann [2019] VSC 301 (10 May 2019)
Gabelich v Donaghey [2018] VSC 184 (10 May 2018)
Bauer Consumer Media Ltd v Evergreen Television Pty Ltd [2019] FCAFC 71 (3 May 2019)
Blanalko Pty Ltd v Lysaght Building Solutions Pty Ltd [2017] VSC 97 (10 March 2017)
Jovanovic v Magri [2017] VSCA 373 (14 December 2017)
Bauer Consumer Media Limited v Evergreen Television Pty Ltd [2017] FCA 507 (12 May 2017)
Luhan v Micallef [2017] VSC 246 (10 May 2017)
Victorian WorkCover Authority v Divadeus Pty Ltd (in liquidation) [2016] VSCA 81 (28 April 2016)
Alpine Petroleum Pty Ltd v Jonmac Transport Pty Ltd & Anor [2016] VCC 136 (25 February 2016)
Feiglin v Ainsworth [2015] VSCA 326 (7 December 2015)
Gann v Hosny [2015] VSCA 43 (16 March 2015)
Mayer v Mayer [2015] VSC 2 (20 January 2015)
Divadeus Pty Ltd v Victorian WorkCover Authority [2014] VSC 578 (5 December 2014)
Feiglin v Ainsworth & Ors [2014] VSC 233 (22 May 2014)
ACCU Ltd v Fellows [2014] VCC 581 (9 May 2014)
Feiglin v Ainsworth (No 2) [2014] VSC 376 (20 August 2014) Luong & Anor v Du (No 2) [2014] VSC 37 (14 February 2014)
Luong & Anor v Du [2013] VSC 723 (19 December 2013)
Kalenik v Apostolidis & Ors (No 2) [2013] VSC 395 (8 August 2013)
Feiglin v Ainsworth (No 3) [2013] VSC 560 (21 October 2013)
Samil Power Company Limited v Schneider & Ors [2013] VSC 382 (1 August 2013)
Java Gold Australia & Ors v Java Gold Coffee & Ors [2013] VCC 645 (26 July 2013)
Feiglin v Ainsworth (No. 2) [2013] VSC 83 (5 March 2013)
Anderson v QBE Insurance (Australia) Ltd [2013] VCC 77 (22 February 2013)
V & D Zurcas Holdings Pty Ltd v K & S Coolstores Pty Ltd & Anor [2013] VCC 75 (20 February 2013)
The Solicitors' Trust v Oxenbould [2013] TASFC 2 (1 February 2013)
Emu (Aus) Pty Ltd v Victorian WorkCover Authority [2012] VSC 610 (12 December 2012)
King v Lynpete Australia Pty Ltd & Ors [2012] VSC 140 (18 April 2012)
Oxenbould v The Solicitors' Trust (No 2) [2011] TASSC 63 (2 December 2011)
Oxenbould v The Solicitors' Trust [2011] TASSC 57 (3 November 2011)
Feiglin & Anor v Ainsworth & Ors [2011] VSC 454 (19 September 2011)
Winter v Equuscorp Pty Ltd [2010] VSC 419 (17 September 2010)
Cibalevski v Ristevski (No. 2) [2010] VCC 503 (19 May 2010)
Pearsons Barristers and Solicitors v Avison [2009] VSCA 54 (27 March 2009)
Cibalevski, Robert v Ristevski, Saso [2009] VCC 1270 (16 October 2009)
Aylett v Peter Rowland Catering Pty Ltd & Ors [2008] VSC 467 (11 November 2008)
Foster v Galea & Anor [2008] VSC 317 (22 August 2008)
Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v Douralis & Ors [2008] VSCA 72 (8 May 2008)
Zephyr Property Developments Pty Ltd v Contractors Bonding Limited [2008] VSC 122 (24 April 2008)
Ryan & Anor v Victorian Managed Insurance Authority [2007] VSC 474 (23 November 2007)
Macdonald v Australian Wool Innovation Ltd [2005] FCA 105 (18 February 2005)
Housing Guarantee Fund Ltd v Ryan [2005] VSC 214 (23 June 2005)
Kalenik v Apostolidis [2005] VSC 27 (18 February 2005)
In the matter of Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourneand Victoria [2003] FCA 1269 (7 November 2003)
Tamas v Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal & Ors [2003] VSCA 113 (21 August 2003)
Spitfire Nominees Pty Ltd and Anor v Hall & Thompson (a firm) [2001] VSCA 245 (20 December 2001)
Victorian WorkCover Authority v I R Cootes Pty Ltd [2001] VSCA 85 (6 June 2001) Aliferis v Kyriacou [2000] VSCA 123 (20 July 2000)
Croft v McNamara [1999] VSC 495 (7 December 1999)
Northgate Valley Pty Ltd v Westpac Banking Corporation [1999] VSC 373 (15 September 1999)
Gibson v ANZ Banking Group Ltd [1999] FCA 1327 (14 September 1999)
Alan Chalmers v Deakin University [1997] FCA 766 (11 August 1997)
Price Higgins and Fidge v Alexander J Drysdale [1995] VSC 208; [1995] VICSC 208 (27 October 1995)
Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation.
TYPE OF PRACTICE
Robyn has a national practice, and acts principally in industrial relations and employment law matters in both State and Federal jurisdictions.
EXAMPLES OF RECENT CASES (the party Robyn represented is indicated by asterisks below):
Dikele Diawara v National Australia Bank* - Federal Court of Australia (Sydney) - application for relief under the Australian Human Rights COmmission Act in relation to allegations of discrimination on the basis of sex, race and national origin - ongoing (leading Catherine Pase of Counsel)
Pricilla Atkins v North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency* - Federal Court of Australia (Darwin) - interlocutory application for relief from termination or purported termination in contravention of Part 3-1 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) (leading Catherine Pase of Counsel)
United Firefighters Union v Fire Rescue Victoria* - Fair Work Commission - application for the Commission to deal with a dispute in accordance with a dispute settlement procedure - claim for increase in allowances - decision pending (leading Matt Garozzo of Counsel)
G4S* v United Workers Union - Fair Work Commission - application for an order for suspension of protected industrial action - s 424 of the Fair Work Act - resolved by consent (leading Catherine Pase of Counsel)
JDL v Siemens Mobility Pty Ltd* - Supreme Court of Victoria - claim for breach of employment contract - incorporation of policies into contract - decision at https://aucc.sirsidynix.net.au//Judgments/VSC/2023/T0028.pdf
AA v Startrack Express Pty Ltd* - Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal - claim of sexual harassment under the Equal Opportunity Act 2010 - decision pending
CC v Australian Unity Home Care Services* - Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia - application for summary dismissal - (No 4) [2022] FedCFamC2G 824
CP v Commonwealth of Australia (Australian Taxation Office)* - Federal Court of Australia - claim of age and disability discrimination - general protections claim (with Andrew Crocker) - [2021] FCA 1624 (liability); [2022] FCA 135 (costs)
The Police Federation of Australia (Victoria Police Branch) v Victoria Police* - Fair Work Commission Full Bench - appeal against decision of DP Colman regarding application to deal with a dispute regarding VicPol's capacity to transfer officers holding "maximum time in position" roles - [2021] FWCFB 4161
Fink v Secretary, Attorney-General’s Department* – Administrative Appeals Tribunal – application for redundancy pay under the Fair Entitlements Guarantee Act following the insolvency of an employer - [2021] AATA 734
Lunt v Victoria International Container Terminal Pty Ltd* - Full Federal Court of Australia - appeal from decision dismissing appellant's proceeding as an abuse of process (with Stuart Wood AM QC and Nico Burmeister) - [2020] FCA 40
Lunt v Victoria International Container Terminal Pty Ltd*- Federal Court of Australia - application for constitutional writs (with Stuart Wood AM QC and Nico Burmeister) - settled
SR v Australian Postal Corporation* – Federal Court of Australia – application for compensation and penalties - settled
JW v Australian Postal Corporation* - Federal Circuit Court of Australia – application for compensation and penalties - settled
Upton v Australian Federal Police* - Federal Court of Australia – application for compensation and penalties - settled
De Sousa v Newcrest Pty Ltd*– Supreme Court of Victoria – proceeding for damages arising from alleged breach of contract – misleading and deceptive conduct
RS v Amazon Commercial Services Pty Ltd* - Federal Circuit Court of Australia – application for compensation and penalties - misleading and deceptive conduct - settled
Katherine Morton v Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation*– Federal Court of Australia – application for compensation and penalties
Hutchinson v Comcare*– Federal Court of Australia – application for relief under the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2013 (Cth)
Australian Building and Construction Commission* v CFMMEU– Full Court of the Federal Court - appeal – liability and penalty orders
Psychology Board of Australia* v Wilkinson -Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal - disciplinary proceedings under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law.
TP v Rio Tinto Shipping Pty Ltd* - Federal Court of Australia - misleading and deceptive conduct - breach of contract - settled
Director, Fair Work Building Industry Inspectorate* v CFMEU - Federal Court of Australia (Queensland Registry) - application for injunctive relief and penalties
Maritime Union of Australia v Fair Work Ombudsman* - Full Court of the Federal Court - appeal - liability, penalty and compensation orders
Robyn sat on the Victorian Bar Council for two years and is the immediate past Assistant Honorary Treasurer of the Victorian Bar (2021, 2022).
From 07 Aug 2008, 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
John has an extensive commercial practice and has conducted numerous trials, complex applications and appeals. Since 2015, he has been a Senior Fellow of Melbourne Law School, where he lectures in liability insurance law for the masters program.
John has acted in multiple class actions and other major litigation following high-profile corporate collapses, including the Timbercorp and Cosmetic Institute class actions. His practice areas include professional liability, insurance, contractual disputes, corporations law, equity and trusts, building and construction, property, torts and personal injuries, trade practices, insolvency, banking and finance, and disciplinary hearings.
Previously, John was a solicitor at Freehills and a special counsel at Norton Rose Australia. He is experienced in mediation and other forms of alternative dispute resolution, and is firmly committed to obtaining timely and cost-effective outcomes for clients.
John was the inaugural author of The Taxation of Partnerships (The Laws of Australia). He has published articles on many aspects of commercial law including directors’ duties, trade practices and professional liability.
Click here to view John's CV, including a selection of cases in which he has been involved.
Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation.
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 the region. An active member of the Bar’s International Advocacy Training Committee since 2021, she has provided pro bono in-country advocacy to lawyers in Vanuatu (2022 and 2024, as team leader) and Tonga (2024). 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 lawyers in PNG, Tonga and Solomon Islands during 2021-2.
Sarah has also served on the Criminal Bar Association Committee (2009-2010) and the Equality and Diversity Committee of the Victorian Bar (2018).
Jack has a broad practice, focussing on industrial and employment law (including discrimination) matters, administrative law matters, commercial law matters and common law matters.
Jack is an experienced trial and appellate advocate who appears in courts and tribunals in Victoria and nationally. He also appears as an advocate before military tribunals on behalf of members of the Australian Defence Force, and for parties in connection with Royal Commissions and inquiries.
Jack has particular expertise in all matters involving the interpretation and application of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) and other industrial and anti-discrimination legislation; and applications for judicial review under the Fair Work Act. He has acted for private individuals and corporations (including ASX listed corporations), the Commonwealth and the State of Victoria, other States and their agencies, regulators and other government bodies.
Jack has appeared for clients across a broad range of industries including health and aged care, education, manufacturing, construction, transport and logistics, and banking and finance.
Before coming to the Bar in 2007, Jack served as an associate to Callaway JA of the Court of Appeal of the Supreme Court of Victoria. He read with Stephen O’Meara (now O’Meara J). Jack has mentored four readers: Emma Harold, Patrick Tiernan, Niko Kordos and Ben Holding.
Jack is a former member of the Victorian Bar Council and has served on other Committees of the Bar. He is also a member of the Industrial, Commercial, Common Law and Military Bar Associations.
Examples of cases in which Jack has appeared can be found below.
For further information about his availability, fee rates and other information, please contact his clerk on 9225 7999 or by email to dever@vicbar.com.au.
Cases in which Jack has appeared
(Jack’s client is in bold text)
Ambulance Victoria v Richardson [2024] FWCFB 366 (appeal)
Application by Mining and Energy Union re Goonyella Riverside Mine [2025] FWCFB 134 (arbitration; appearing for the Commonwealth Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations)
Australasian Meat Industry Employees' Union v Meat Inspectors Pty Ltd [2025] FedCFamC2G 1128 (trial)
Australian Municipal, Administrative, Clerical and Services Union v Helloworld Travel Limited, Viva Holidays II Limited [2021] FWC 6535 (arbitration)
Australian Workers' Union v Chemring Australia Pty Ltd [2019] FCA 750 (interlocutory application)
Blue Rock Australia Pty Ltd v Kaushik [2025] FCA 176 (interlocutory application)
Buckeridge v Littlepay Pty Ltd [2023] FCA 1036 (trial)
Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union v Geocon Constructors (ACT) Pty Ltd [2020] FWCFB 5208 (appeal)
Ermel v DuluxGroup (Australia) Pty Ltd (No 2) [2015] FCA 17; (2015) 67 AILR 102-332 (trial)
Ezy Accounting 123 Pty Ltd v Fair Work Ombudsman [2018] FCAFC 134; (2018) 282 IR 86; (2018) 360 ALR 236 (with Jenny Firkin; appeal)
Gender-based undervaluation – priority awards review [2025] FWCFB 74 (arbitration)
Johnson v CUB Pty Ltd (2021) 287 FCR 520; (2021) 313 IR 44; [2021] FCAFC 219 (judicial review)
Lacson v Australian Postal Corporation (2019) 268 FCR 314; (2019) 284 IR 449; [2019] FCA 51 (trial)
Larobina v Melbourne Health trading as Royal Melbourne Hospital [2024] FCA 1393 (interlocutory application)
Laverton Cold Storage Pty Ltd v National Union of Workers [2018] VSC 503 (interlocutory application)
Maric v Ericsson Australia Pty Ltd [2020] FCA 452; (2020) 293 IR 442 (trial)
MCLT v Director-General of Security [2018] AATA 1359 (merits review)
Monash Health v Singh [2023] FCAFC 166; (2023) 327 IR 196 (appeal)
Nuttall v Hatch Pty Ltd [2024] FCA 339 (trial)
Perpetual v Epplett & Ors [2025] VSC 193 (interlocutory application)
Printing Industry Association of Australia v Jurkin [2018] FCA 1001 (appeal)
Qube Ports Pty Limited v Mr Rudy Burkhardt [2022] FWCFB 65 (appeal)
Roberts-Smith v Fairfax Media Publications Pty Limited (No 28) [2022] FCA 115 (interlocutory application)
Roberts-Smith v Fairfax Media Publications Pty Ltd & Ors (No 40) [2022] FCA 1614 (interlocutory application)
Roohizadegan v TechnologyOne Ltd (No 2) [2020] FCA 1407; (2020) 301 IR 1 (trial)
Serpanos v Commonwealth of Australia [2022] FCA 1226 (trial)
TechnologyOne v Roohizadegan (2021) 309 IR 262; [2021] FCAFC 137 (led by Bret Walker SC, with Rowan Minson; appeal)
TIOBE Pty Ltd T/A TIOBE v Chen [2018] FWCFB 5726; (2018) 282 IR 1 (appeal)
Transport Workers’ Union of Australia v Linfox Armaguard Pty Ltd T/A Armaguard [2023] FWC 204 (arbitration)
Von Schoeler v Allen Taylor and Company Ltd (t/as Boral Timber) (2020) 273 FCR 189; (2020) 376 ALR 110; [2020] FCAFC 13 (appeal)
Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation.