Search Results
- Angenent Johannes
Johannes has a common law and commercial practice with a particular focus on personal injuries including Workcover and TAC claims.
Before coming to the Bar, Johannes worked on a broad range of commercial and common law disputes as a solicitor including personal injuries, insurance law, competition law, contract, corporations, banking and trust law.
Johannes practises in all Victorian courts and tribunals, as well as in the Federal Court.
Johannes is a member of the Common Law Bar Association.
From 1st May 2015, liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.
- Morrison Andrew
Andrew has a commercial litigation practice, with a focus on construction and property law.
He is regularly briefed in matters involving residential and commercial construction, logistics, technology and civil and engineering works. He has particular experience with the Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 2002 (Vic), both at the claim and judicial review stages.
He also receives regular work in insurance, property, leasing, corporations and trusts disputes.
From 03 May 2012, liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.
- Robinson Andrew
Andrew put on a bit of condition since becoming a parent, but sees this as lending greater weight to his submissions.
He enjoys riding Italian motorcycles and eating Italian food (see reference to condition).
An experienced advocate who can be an expert on anything given sufficient notice.
- Sotiropoulos Ria
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:
- complex tax technical issues in the areas of income tax, CGT, Part IVA, international tax, CFC rules, transferor trust rules, transfer pricing, interest withholding tax, double tax treaties, tax residency, forex rules, taxation of trusts, and taxation of deceased estates;
- on tax reviews, audits, disputes, settlements and the conduct of litigation, including the evidentiary and strategic procedural issues, and a case’s prospects of success;
- assisted with offshore voluntary disclosures, including the ATO’s Project DO IT; and
- drafted, negotiated and settled various court documents and contracts, including Deeds of Settlement.
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.
- Clements Andrew
Andrew Clements QC is an experienced trial and appellate advocate practising mainly in the areas of personal injuries, product liability, torts generally, insurance and professional disciplinary tribunals.
From 03 May 2012, liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.
- Puckey Tim
Practised in Commercial and Family Law as a solicitor prior to joining the Bar.
Now specialised in Family Law, Domestic Relationships and related matters.
Nationally Accredited Mediator experienced in conducting Mediations in nominated practice areas.
Appellate, Trial, Interlocutory and Advice briefs accepted.
Member of the Family Law Bar Association and Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia.
Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.
- Smith Scott
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.
- Willee Justin
Since coming to the Victorian Bar, Justin has practised primarily in criminal, civil, commercial and family law matters including the provision of advice in native title, banking & finance, OH&S and environment protection matters. Appearing regularly for the Defence and the Crown in both State and Commonwealth matters in the Victorian Court of Appeal, Supreme, County and Magistrates' Courts conducting appeals, bail applications, pleas, appeals, subpoena hearings, committals, IVO and IVO appeals, interlocutory appeals, special hearings, ground rules hearings, contests and trials. Justin has also appeared in coronial inquests, civil contests, commercial matters including winding up applications in the Federal and Supreme Courts and VCAT's, administrative and civil divisions in the review and regulation, retail tenancy, human rights, owners corporation, residential tenancy and guardianship and administration lists.
More recently, Justin has been appearing in the Sydney and Melbourne registries in both property and parenting matters, to conduct interim applications and trials for all types of property matters involving partnerships, companies, trusts, spousal maintenance, relocation, recovery orders and litigation funding hearings in the Family and Federal Circuit Court, and has acted as a Court appointed mediator and an Independent children's lawyer in family law matters. He has also been appearing in the County and Supreme Court, in relation to occupational health and safety appeals instituted by the DPP, drug importations, sexual offences, murder and assault trials including fitness to be tried Special Hearings pursuant to the Crimes (Mental Impairment and Unfitness to be Tried) Act . He has conducted out of hours emergency bail applications in the Supreme Court's criminal division and has appeared in the Court of Appeal, criminal division to present appeals against conviction and sentence and interlocutory appeals. Justin has also appeared in the commercial division of the Supreme Court to conduct property disputes and in the judicial review and appeals list.
Since the pandemic commenced, Justin has maintained a practice online, and in person in the commercial, criminal and family law jurisdictions to conduct interim applications, mediations and trials, including appearances in the Federal Court of Australia to conduct Bankruptcy matters and the provision of advice in relation exclusion and restraining orders, pursuant to the Proceeds of Crime legislation.
Justin completed his articles of clerkship as a prosecutor, with the Office of Solicitor to the Environment Protection Authority in 2006 and then spent a year working as a native title solicitor in the Yamatji (Midwest) region of Western Australia with the Yamatji Land and Sea Council. In 2007, he practiced as a solicitor advocate, in the criminal law division of the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service regularly appearing in the Koori Court. In 2008, Justin worked as a commercial solicitor in Melbourne at two boutique commercial law firms. Justin has also practised in the Children’s Court in child protection matters and worked as a volunteer solicitor with the Western Suburbs Legal Service. In 2009-2010, Justin practised in Broome with the Kimberley Land Council on native title, criminal and commercial law matters.
Prior to embarking on a legal career, Justin spent some years working in the Australian and Japanese hospitality industry, which culminated in a variety of positions as a Japanese interpreter, translator and tour guide. Justin worked as an interpreter and translator for CBS television at the Nagano Winter Olympic Games in 1998 and for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade at the World Exposition in, Nagoya in 2005.
Justin holds a current Indictable Crime Certificate.
A list of reported cases Justin has appeared in can be obtained from Austlii.
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.
- Schoff Georgina
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.
- Golshtein Emily
Emily Golshtein practises primarily in common law and administrative law, including commissions and inquiries. Emily is regularly briefed to advise, prepare written work, and appear in trials, appeals and other hearings within those fields.
Before coming to the Bar, Emily was Senior Associate to the Honourable Justices Kaye AM and Bell AO in the Supreme Court of Victoria. As an Associate, Emily worked in both the trial and appellate divisions of the Court. Prior to her Associateships, Emily worked as a solicitor at the Transport Accident Commission (TAC), and in the Office of the Co-Prosecutors at the United Nations Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia.
Emily is a member of the Common Law Bar Association and a Committee Member of the Women Barristers Bar Association (WBA).
Emily read with Anna Robertson (now Her Honour Judge Robertson). Her senior mentor is Jeremy Ruskin KC.
From 9 Dec 2016, liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.
- McWilliams Dugald
Dugald practises in commercial, insurance and common law matters including professional negligence (including medical negligence), general insurance, product liability, industrial accidents, inquests and class actions.
Dugald was admitted in New South Wales in 1997 and worked as a solicitor in Sydney, London and Melbourne before coming to the Bar.
Publications
Contributor to chapter on Negligence, The Laws of Australia, Thomson Law Book Co.
Reporter – Victorian Reports
From 7th August 2008, liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.
- Stanley Richard
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.
- Howard Katrina
Chambers & Partners 2019 Asia-Pacific Intellectual Property rankings for The Bar in Australia
Katrina is identified in this publication as one of Australia's leading practitioners in the field of Intellectual PropertyWho's Who Legal: Patents 2018
Katrina is identified in this publication as one of the world's leading practitioners in the field of Patents.Who's Who Legal: Life Sciences 2018 - Patent Litigation: Legal Marketplace Analysis
Katrina is identified in this publication as one of the world's leading practitioners in the field of IP:'Katrina Howard SC is "highly recommended" thanks to her expertise in the full spectrum of contentious IP matters.'
Doyles Guide - Leading Intellectual Property Senior Counsel - New South Wales 2018
Recommended Senior Counsel
Chambers and Partners Intellectual Property: The Bar, Australia
- Bruce McTaggart SC
Bruce practices in the areas of appellate, building/construction, commercial litigation, equity and trusts, estate litigation, industrial/employment, insurance, public/administrative law and workers compensation.
Bruce practices across Victoria and Tasmania. He joined the bar in Tasmania in 2005 and was appointed silk in 2013. Prior to joining the bar he spent 19 years as a barrister and solicitor doing most of his own appearance work across a broad range of litigation areas.
Bruce is a member of the Advocacy Training Council and coaches on the Advanced Advocacy and Essential Trial Advocacy courses run by the Australian Bar Association.
- Cameron Megan
Megan was called to the Bar in October 2013, after completing an Associateship to Her Honour Judge Davis at the County Court of Victoria.
Megan accepts briefs for both plaintiffs and defendants, preparing paperwork and appearing in a wide variety of personal injury matters (in particular, WorkCover, TAC and public liability). She is experienced in appearing (both alone and led) in statutory benefits hearings, serious injury applications, judge-alone trials, jury trials and appeals.
Megan holds a Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours) and a Bachelor of Arts (major in Japanese) from the University of Melbourne. She has also completed a Masters of Law (Legal Practice) at the Australian National University. Megan is currently the President of hte Compensation Law Bar Association. She has sat on the committee of the Compensation Law Bar Association since 2015 and served as Secretary from 2019 to 2021. She has also previously sat on the Victorian Bar's Pro-Bono Commitee, Sustainability Committee and the Women Barristers' Association Committee.
“From 24 Oct 2013, liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.”
- Clarke Michael
Michael practices primarily in personal injury and insurance law.
His practice includes appearance and advice work in WorkCover, TAC, public liability, product liability, medical and professional negligence and asbestos matters. He regularly appears in damages trials, serious injury applications, de bene esse hearings and mediations.
From 27th October 2011, liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation.
- Dawson Shane
Shane has a broad practice in insurance, administrative and common law matters, with a focus on the health and medical context.
Prior to coming to the Bar, Shane was a Senior Associate at Meridian Lawyers. He had carriage of medical negligence claims, acting on behalf of hospitals and practitioners in a diverse range of matters, including multi-party, nervous shock, and dependency claims. Shane also acted for health practitioners in disciplinary investigations and proceedings, coronial inquests, and criminal prosecutions.
Shane has considerable experience providing advice to insurers in relation to indemnity, policy coverage, and interpretation. He has acted for associations, veterinarians, and childcare centres in both civil claims and regulatory investigations. Shane has also practised in personal injury claims more generally, including public liability, industrial accidents, and product liability.
Shane has a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Melbourne.
He is reading with Ben Jellis and his Senior Mentor is Stephen O’Meara QC.
From 7 May 2021, liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.
- Ellis Fiona
Prior to coming to the Victorian Bar Fiona worked as a general nurse. Since coming to the Bar Fiona has developed a broad practice with specific focus on medical liability, professional disciplinary matters and coronial inquests.
Fiona regularly acts for clients in personal injury and other tort claims in the County Court and the Supreme Court. She has extensive experience in the following:
- Matters involving medical liability including superior court trials in which she has appeared unled and led;
- Public liability;
- Disciplinary proceedings pursuant to the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (Victoria) Act 2009 in which she has acted extensively for both individual health practitioners and for the various National Boards. In addition, Fiona is engaged directly by AHPRA to provide advice in relation to ongoing disciplinary investigations;
- Coronial (and other) inquiries in which she has appeared for numerous health practitioners, government bodies and various other interested parties including Ambulance Victoria, the Chief Commissioner of Police (and individual police officers) and major tertiary hospitals. Fiona has also appeared as counsel assisting the State Coroner in many notable inquests including the Inquest into the death of Tyler Cassidy and the Inquest into the five deaths at Broughton Hall.
From 01 July 2008, liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation
- Foy Deborah
Deborah appears in inquests on behalf of hospitals, residential aged care services, involving complex medical, surgical and radiological issues and has represented families, hospitals and medical practitioners, including surgeons, obstetricians and psychiatrists.
She also frequently appears in the Guardianship and Administration List on behalf of aged care services, hospitals and families in dispute about the care of their elder relatives. She has appeared in disputes over capacity, management of funds, compensation applications and diverse aspects of the jurisdiction.
Deborah also appears in Personal Injuries cases for plaintiffs and defendants.
Formerly, she edited the Aged Care section of the Fitzroy Legal Services Law Handbook
She appeared at VCAT on behalf of a public mental health service in the first appeal involving the provisions governing ECT in the Mental Health Act 2014.
Before coming to the Bar, Deborah was in house counsel for a large metropolitan public health service for 6 years.
She was the legal member on the Dental Practice Board of Victoria from 2005 to 2009 and chaired formal hearings on behalf of the Board between 2005 and 2008.
- Grant Simon
Simon Grant was admitted as a Barrister of the Supreme Court of Queensland on 16 June, 1997, a Barrister of the High Court of Australia on the 29th January, 1999 and a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales on 17th March, 2003. He has completed Mediation Training at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in 2001.
Simon accepts instructions from Solicitors to appear and/or advise in the above areas of law, in preliminary disputes, in hearings and trials at first instance and in appeals. He also accepts briefs from in-house corporate counsel. Simon is available to act as a mediator or to appear for parties in mediations. He has extensive experience representing parties in mediations.
Simon is co-author of the LexisNexis loose-leaf and online service Civil Liability Australia with Richard Douglas QC and Gerry Mullins, as well as being co-author of the Annotated Civil Liability Legislation Queensland (from the 1st edition to the current 5th edition).
Previously a tutor at the Queensland University of Technology in 2002/2003, Mr Grant has also been involved in the QUT Alumni mentor program.