Solicitor in Perth and subsequently Partner at Ridgeway Clements, Melbourne, specialising in Family Law. Experienced in all aspects of Family Law, De facto and related matters.
Qualified Mediator.
Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation.
Examples of recent matters:
Appearance and advice work in all areas of appellate work; constitutional and public law; commercial and equity; building and construction, energy and resources; company and insolvency; insurance; professional negligence; trade practices; royal commissions and inquests.
Appearance and advice in all aspects of appellate work; eg Foots v Southern Cross Mine Management Pty Ltd (2007) 234 CLR 52; Attorney-General v Lawrence [2014] QCA 220; Grocon Constructions (QLD) Pty Ltd v Juniper Developer (No 2) Pty Ltd [2015] QCA 291; Monadelphous Engineering Pty Ltd v Wiggins Island Coal Export Terminal Pty Ltd [2015] QCA 290; Witness JA v Scott [2015] QCA 285; BM Alliance Coal Operations Pty Ltd v BGC Contracting Pty Ltd [2013] QCA 394; McCarthy v St Paul International Insurance Co Ltd (2007) 157 FCR 402; (2007) FCAFC 28; Legune Land Pty Ltd v Northern Territory Land Corporation [2013] NTCA 7; Heavy Plant Leasing Pty Ltd v McConnell Dowell Constructions (Aust) Pty Ltd [2013] QCA 386; Filmana Pty Ltd v Tynan [2013] QCA 256; Anderson & McIntosh [2013] Fam CAFC 200.
Appearing in a variety of constitutional cases eg. Kuczborski v Queensland (2014) 254 CLR 51; [2014] HCA 46; Pollentine v Bleijie (2014) 253 CLR 629; [2014] HCA 30; PT Bayan Resources TBK v BCBC Singapore Pte Ltd (2015) 325 ALR 168; [2015] HCA 36; CEPU & Ors v Queensland Rail & Anor (2015) 318 ALR 1; [2015] HCA 11. Advice work on a range of matters. Counsel for Cr Grosse in Grosse v Purvis (2003) Aust Torts Rep 81-706; [2003] QDC 151;
Appeared in many trials and appeals over the full range of commercial disputes involving all aspects of contract law, negligence, equitable relief and trade practices legislation, eg. AG (CQ) Pty Ltd A&T Promotions Pty Ltd [2011] 1 Qd R 306; [2011] QCA 83;Fig Tree Developments Ltd (formerly Village Life Ltd) v Australian Property Custodian Holdings Ltd [2009] FCA 390; AAShi Pty Ltd v Avbar Pty Ltd (No. 2) (2010) 186 FCR 148; [2010] FCA 427; Shannon v ANZ Banking Corporation [1994] 2 Qd R 560; 563; Fused Electrics Pty Ltd v Donald [1995] 2 Qd R 7; Darveniza v Darveniza [2014] QSC 37.
Involved in all aspects of major building and construction disputes in superior courts, eg. Patrick Stevedores Operations Pty Ltd v Aecom Australia Pty Ltd, extensive multiparty litigation about failed pavement at the Port of Brisbane with many international paving experts; Baulderstone Hornibrook Pty Ltd v Broen Australia Pty Ltd [2003] 2 Qd R 577; [2003] QSC 158; Leighton Contractors v Western Metals litigation, Suncorp v Conrad & Gargett litigation, experience in claims regarding production plants, eg. arbitration concerning a major metallurgical plant on behalf of the owner against the builder, an international engineering company.
Particular involvement in litigation regarding the Building Construction Industry Payments Act, e.g. Gambaro Pty Ltd as Trustee for Gambaro Holdigns Trust v Rohrig (QLD) Pty Ltd; Rohrig (QLD) Pty Ltd John [2015] QCA 288;Holland Pty Ltd v Coastal Dredging & Construction Pty Ltd [2012] 2 Qd R 435; [2012] QCA 150; Reed Constructions (Qld) Pty Ltd v Martinek Holdings Pty Ltd [2011] 1 Qd R 28; [2009] QSC 345; Simcorp Developments & Constructions v Gold Coast Titans Property Pty Ltd (2010) 27 BCL 272; [2010] QSC 162.
Involved in a wide range of advice and litigation regarding resources projects, e.g.Australia Pacific LNG Pty Ltd v Golden [2013] QCA 366; Velvet Glove Holdings Pty Ltd v Mount Isa Mines Ltd(2012) 28 BCL 351; [2011] QCA 312; D’Aguilar Gold Ltd v Gympie Eldorado Mining Pty Ltd [2008] 1 Qd R 56; [2007] QCA 158
Appeared in many trials and appeals concerning professional negligence and breach of professional duty, eg. White Industries (Qld) Pty Ltd v Flower & Hart (1998) 156 ALR 169; [1998] FCA 806 on appeal (1999) 87 FCR 134; [1999] FCA 773; Hamcor Pty Ltd v State of Queensland [2015] QSC 170; Scottsdale Homes Pty Ltd v Gemkip Pty Ltd (2008) QSC 326; A & D Douglas Pty Ltd v Lawyers Private Mortgages Pty Ltd (2006) ANZ Ins Cas 61-709; [2006] FCA 520.
Wide experience in advising on and conducting cases involving the Corporations Act and allied legislation, eg. Petroleum Nominees Pty Ltd v Central Petroleum Ltd (2012) 90 ACSR 611; [2012] QSC 191; re: Wellington Capital Ltd; Premium Income Fund v Premium Income Fund Action Group (2011) 85 ACSR 51; [2011] FCA 781;the Crusader NL takeover litigation [1996] 1 Qd R 117, Mclean v Lake Como Venture Pty Ltd [2004] 2 Qd R 280; [2003] QCA 562.
Wide experience in all aspects of insolvency litigation, public examinations and removal of liquidator cases, eg. ASIC v Storm Financial Ltd (2009) 71 ACSR 81; [2009] FCA 269; Atlantic 3-Financal (Aust) Pty Ltd v Marler [2004] 1 Qd R 579; [2003] QCA 529; Moloney v Marler & Darvall (a firm) [2004] QCA 310;Re Club Superstores Pty Ltd (In Liquidation) (1993) 10 ACSR 730, 11 ACLC 751, Re Chevron Furnishers Pty Ltd (in liq) [1994] 2 Qd R 475, conducted the Witan/Zarro Group public examinations and litigation on behalf of the various liquidators.
Appeared for the Brisbane City Council at the Queensland Floods Commission of Inquiry, and advised various parties in relation to other royal commission, e.g. the Health Inquiry and the Shepardson Inquiry.
Appeared for AusSAR, of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, at major inquests throughout Australia, eg. the missing American divers, Tom and Eileen Lonergan (Cairns, Queensland), the Margaret J (Burnie, Tasmania), Whyalla Airlines (South Australia); the Malu Sara (Torres Strait Islands, Queensland). Also appeared for the Civil Aviation Safety Authority in relation to the Transair aeroplane crash (Lockhart River, Queensland), the largest loss of life in a civilian aircraft in Australia since the 1960’s.
Extensive involvement in both litigation and advice work concerning contracts of insurance for both insureds and insurers, eg Kotku Bread Pty Ltd v Vero Insurance Ltd [2012] QSC 109; Power v Markel Capital Ltd (2007) 14 ANZ Ins Cas 61-742;[2007] QCA 284; QBE Insurance Ltd v Aulich (2003) 152 ACTR 1; [2003] ACTCA 16; Eastern Suburbs Leagues Club Ltd v Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Ltd (2004) 13 ANZ Ins Cas 61-599 [2003] QSC 413.
Extensive involvement in mediation of commercial disputes, including mediations involving extensive expert evidence and over extended periods.
Prior to signing the Bar Roll in 2000, Jane was a Solicitor at Mallesons Stephen Jaques in their Banking and Finance Group. At the Bar, Jane has developed a practice in taxation law, bankruptcy, corporate law and administrative law.
Jane has been briefed as junior counsel in a number of significant tax audits both for the ATO and taxpayer. She has advised with respect to the application of anti-avoidance provisions in the Income Tax and GST Acts. She has attended s.264 interviews and advised with respect to findings of fact and potential criminal liability. Jane has appeared in AAT tax review proceedings and tax appeals in the Federal Court and director penalty proceedings in the Supreme Court. In 2010, Jane spent a year working as a National Technical Advisor/Principal Litigator in the Recovery section of the Legal Services Branch at the ATO. There, her focus was complex bankruptcy issues, mareva injunctions, contested tax recovery proceedings and unfair preference actions (and mediations) and wind ups under the Corporations Law.
Jane is a past Committee Member of the Women Barristers' Association, the Equality Before the Law Committee and the Tax Bar Association.
John Hall mediates in the following areas:
As having had experience in Construction (Project Management 2010 – 2012 for 5 Story - 35 Units and 3 shops in South Melbourne, and 3 storey - 5 shops 16 Units in South Caulfield) and having owned and run a Commercial and Residential building company in Gippsland (1986- 1993) constructing over 20 houses, and completing commercial projects for the RAAF, and privately, John has practical “hands on” experience, and understands the building/developing process and many of the challenges that are thrown up - apart from the building litigation matters and Mediations he has completed in the area from 2014 – present, both as a party’s representative and as Mediator.
John will go anywhere in Victoria/NSW being familiar with Gippsland (having established the Victorian Bar down there 1983 - 1989), Albury-Wodonga region, Wagga Wagga, and Wangaratta (having worked there as a Solicitor for a National firm managing their Estate Litigation and Family Law 2012-2014), and having appeared on circuit in Albury, Bendigo and Ballarat.
John says:
"I believe that there is a solution to every issue and that Mediation can not only save both parties’ costs, but also achieve a resolution that will not be available at the end of a long, costly and often bitter court dispute."
Former solicitor at John W Ball & Sons.
Robert practises primarily in medical negligence. He acts for both plaintiffs and defendants. He appears in coronial inquests, medical negligence trials and other common law trials including cases involving catastrophically injured plaintiffs. He also appears in disciplinary hearings relating to health practitioners, occupiers' liability claims and has an extensive paperwork practice.
Practices primarily in Family Law
Common law advocate, jury trial expertise, in all fields of personal injury claims - medical negligence, industrial and road accidents, school related injuries, police assaults, public liability, aviation and maritime accidents.
Other skills: inquests, professional disciplinary tribunals, medical college membership appeals
Also experienced company director and past Essential Services Commissioner (Victoria's Economic Regulator) and Trustee of Law Aid Trust. Past boards include Melbourne Water, Port of Melbourne, Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation, Breastscreen Victoria, Gascor.
Currently director of RSPCA (Victoria)
Wayne has a broad practice and appears in all jurisdictions. He is currently a member of the Australian Football League/AFLW Tribunals, AFL Anti-Doping Tribunal and AFL Appeals Tribunal.
Family Law Mediations
Part IV Mediations
AIFLAM Accredited Arbitrator
Retired from the Family Court Feb 14th 2008.
Available for Mediations and Arbitrations.
Christina specialises in commercial law and appears in trial and appellate courts in all jurisdictions in Australia.
Current and recent matters of significance include:
Before coming to the bar, Christina was a Senior Lawyer in ASIC's Financial Services Enforcement directorate.
In addition to an LLB (Monash), Christina holds a LLM, BCom (Economics) and BA from the University of Melbourne.
Christina is co-author with Philip Crutchfield QC of a chapter published in Insolvent Investments (LexisNexis, 2015).
From 24 Oct 2013, liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.
Paul has been in continuous practice at the Victorian Bar since 1981, after completing his Articles at Galbally and O'Bryan. He was articled to Frank Galbally.
Over his many years at the Bar Paul has gained extensive experience in a wide range of areas, including prosecuting for the Children's Protection Society, junior counsel in 2 murder trials ( R v Stewart) and in the successful Supreme Court Appeal of Spurritt v DPP [2021] VSCA 7 resulting in the acquittal of all historic sexual offences charges, Family Law, Employment Law, Building Disputes, LandLord and Tenant Disputes, Neighbour Disputes, VCAT, Federal AAT work for the AGS, general Criminal Law, County Court appeals, and Supreme Court Reviews of Magistrate Court decisions, notably C L Seward & Co. Pty Ltd v Thompson. (1992) 17 MVR 70.
His expertise extends to Motor Vehicle Collisions and Motor Traffic Prosecutions, Criminal Law, Stalking and Crimes Family Violence.
He was also the Senior Prosecutor for the Melbourne Market Authority between 2003 and 2015. He settled and finalised the 2012 By Laws of the Authority.
He is on the key insurers panel of counsel, and previously for Yarra Trams.
Finally he sits on the Australian Boxing Tribunal as required, and has mentored for the Monash Alumni Program.
Paul speaks and writes Greek fluently, having worked in Greece as a Legal Consultant in 1980.
Simon completed his articles at DLA Phillips Fox in 2006 following which he practised in Insurance Litigation. In that time, he worked on a variety of matters predominantly acting for health professionals.
Simon also has experience in commercial litigation and has acted for a number of government departments and large insurers.
Before coming to the Bar, Simon was a solicitor with Guild Lawyers where he instructed in a broad portfolio of matters including medical defence, product liability, occupier's liability, Accident Compensation Act recovery proceedings, coronial inquests and professional disciplinary proceedings.
From 01/07/2010, Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation.