Sebastian practises in public, administrative and common law.
He acts both for and against government agencies and departments, local government and other statutory bodies in areas including licensing and regulation (with administrative and offence provisions), coronial inquiries and police torts.
He has appeared as Counsel assisting and interested parties in the Coroner's Court and before specialist Tribunals including the Building Appeals Board and the Veterinary Practitioners Registration Board.
He has experience in Education Law and the operation of the Child Wellbeing and Safety Act having conducted numerous investigations for schools and education providers overseen by the Commission for Children and Young People.
He is regularly briefed in disciplinary matters both on behalf of regulatory bodies and respondents and has extensive experience particularly in health practitioner Immediate Action proceedings and referral matters under the National Law. He has appeared in NCAT (NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal) and the Tasmanian Veterinary Board.
Sebastian has appeared in judicial review matters in the Supreme Court and was recently junior Counsel to Dr. S.B. McNicol QC in the matter of Southgate Management Pty Ltd v Nitschke [2018] VSC 236 before Priest AJ regarding the validity of charges issued under the Food Act 1984.
Sebastian was Counsel Assisting the Coroner in the inquests into the deaths of Stephen Niit (death in custody) and the deaths of Maureen Braddy and Allan Whyte (cold case disappearance) and Sargun Ragi & Avijit Singh (domestic violence homicide / suicide matter).
The RSPCA also frequently brief Sebastian in relation to offences committed under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986.
He has appeared and has done work for a number of statutory authorities and agencies including PrimeSafe, Melbourne Water, the City of Melbourne and Workcover.
He was briefed to advise the Department of Premier and Cabinet in regard to the Legislative Council Select Committee on Gaming Licensing.
Sebastian also has experience in conducting common law proceedings.
In 2016 he became a member of the Appeals Committee of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and in 2018 was invited to join the Professional Standards Committee of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.
Sebastian also sits on the Board of Directors of MiCare an aged care and migration services provider and is President of his local junior football club.
Sebastian is a current member of the Victorian Bar's Student Engagement Committee.
Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.
Common Law and Insurance Litigation, TAC proceedings, Medical Negligence, Sexual Assault, Class Actions, Trade Practices, Administrative Law.
Formerly a Solicitor at Ebsworth & Ebsworth (1987-1990).
Since coming to the Bar in 1990 Mark has practised exclusively in the diverse commercial area with principal emphasis on Professional Negligence, Banking/Finance, Corporations Law, Building and Construction, Equity, Securities, Trade Practices and non-personal injuries Insurance litigation.
Mark’s personal interests include theatre, Dandie Dinmont Terriers and military history.
From 3rd May 2012, liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.
Maya has over 20 years' experience at the commercial bar appearing in applications, directions and trials in jurisdictions from VCAT to the Supreme Court of Appeal.
She enjoys a broad based commercial practice including contract disputes, equities, trusts, partnerships, mortgages and other securities as well as property disputes, building and construction, franchise disputes, company and insolvency disputes. Maya has also appeared in Fair Work Act general protection and unfair dismissal matters as well as discrimination and equal opportunity matters in the Federal Court and VCAT.
Maya completed her Australian Mediation Training in 2004. She is an accomplished and strategic negotiator and will provide early assistance to instructors and clients on limiting the costs and risks of lengthy and expensive trials where appropriate. She has successfully employed the Civil Procedure Act 2010 to enforce procedural compliance by opposing parties in disputed matters including on matters of costs.
Maya completed her articles with Darvall McCutcheon in 1989 and worked as a commercial litigation solicitor at that firm and later at Lander & Rogers. In 1993 she was appointed an Associate at Jack Cohen, Serry & Co. On coming to the bar, Maya was extremely fortunate to read with the Honourable Justice Almond as one of only 5 readers before he took silk and his only female reader.
Maya is a regular contributor to the Bar Readers Course in advocacy training and has travelled a number of times with the Victorian Bar Pacific Rim Committee to Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands to carry out advocacy training of local students and lawyers.
Practises in general commercial law, including contracts, corporations, equity and insolvency. Formerly associate to Elliott J of the Supreme Court of Victoria and solicitor at Mallesons.
Selected matters:
Committees:
From 1st May 2014, liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.
Works at trial and appellate level and in recent years has appeared in a number of special leave applications and full appeals in the High Court in the area of Tort Law.
Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.
Tragically passed away during the night of Sep 30th 2024
Georgina has extensive experience as a trial (including jury) and appellate advocate. She has appeared in a broad range of civil matters, including contract and property disputes, consumer protection claims, the review of administrative decisions and the protection of confidential information.
Georgina has particular expertise in media law, intellectual property and related trade practices matters. She has acted for plaintiffs as well as media organisations and internet service providers in defamation proceedings (many of them involving high profile claimants). She has acted in applications for suppression orders and contempt of court proceedings and in a number of important trade mark cases.
Tristan has significant experience in large commercial and construction disputes. He also acts regularly in professional negligence matters, including on behalf of barristers, solicitors, builders, building owners, owners corporations, building surveyors, architects, engineers and real estate agents.
Before joining the Bar in 2008, Tristan was a commercial litigator at Minter Ellison and Mallesons Stephen Jaques.
Published decisions in which Tristan has appeared include:
- Zhang v Oakmont Properties Pty Ltd [2020] VSC 810
- Oakmont Properties Pty Ltd v Duan Lan Zhang & Anor [2019] VSC 568
- Oakmont Properties Pty Ltd v Zhang (Building and Property) [2019] VCAT 92
- O'Keeffe v Toop & Ors [2018] VSC 421
- Ozaltay & Anor v Atilla & Anor (No 2) [2018] VSC 764
- Johns Lyng Commercial Builders Pty Ltd v Carrington International Pty Ltd (Building and Property) [2016] VCAT 1821
- Rees v Rees [2016] VSC 452
- Melina Sehr v Best Hooper Ltd [2015] VMC 32
- Metricon Homes Pty Ltd v Hooper [2014] VSC 12
- Hooper v Metricon Homes Pty Ltd [2014] VCAT 277
- Clarendon Homes Vic Pty Ltd v Zalega [2010] VCAT 1202
- Sivritas v Sivritas & Anor [2008] VSC 374
- DPP v Williams [2004] VSC 360
Since coming to the bar in 2010, Jane has practiced in the local government, planning and environment field. She frequently appears and advises in matters before the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, Planning Panels Victoria and various ministerial panels. She also advises and appears in planning, building, local government and administrative law matters in the Magistrates Court and Supreme Court.
Jane acts for developers (including listed companies and smaller companies), statutory authorities such as local government, Victrack and the Environment Protection Authority, third party objectors and submitters to VCAT and panels.
Prior to becoming a lawyer, Jane was a statutory town planner for approximately 10 years working in both the private and public sector. As a statutory planner in local government she gained extensive experience in the planning permit and amendment processes and in the private sector she frequently drafted statements of evidence for expert planners and urban designers. In her position as Planning Appeals Advocate/ Coordinator, she regularly appeared before the Planning List at VCAT on behalf of the Responsible Authority.
Before coming to the bar Jane was a solicitor at Maddocks Lawyers in the Planning and Environment Group, where she regularly appeared at VCAT in relation to merits appeals, declaration applications, enforcement orders and contempt proceedings. She also had carriage and instructed in matters on appeal from VCAT to the Supreme Court and provided advice in planning and local government matters, and drafted and reviewed Section 173 agreements.
In 2006-7 Jane was articled to Mallesons Stephen Jaques where, amongst other things, she successfully assisted a major retail client through the permit and planning scheme amendment process.
Jane is a Board member (Treasurer) of the Victorian Planning and Environment Law Association.
Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.
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.