Matthew practices in commercial, industrial and public law. He advises and acts in commercial disputes including contract, consumer, building and construction law. His public law matters include judicial and merits review, and acting as counsel assisting the Coroner.
Matthew has appeared in all courts in the Australian hierarchy. Matthew’s recent appearances include:
High Court of AustraliaIn 2014, Matthew worked at the Cape bar preparing two matters for the Constitutional Court in South Africa.
Prior legal experience
Matthew was a solicitor in the Executive Branch of the Victorian Government Solicitor's Office and the researcher to the Solicitor-General for Victoria (now Justice Tate of the Victorian Court of Appeal). Following that, he was the associate to Justice Habersberger of the Supreme Court of Victoria’s Commercial and Equity Division. For eighteen months prior to joining the Victorian Bar, Matthew was the sole researcher to Geoffrey Robertson QC.
Education, teaching and publications
Matthew completed his undergraduate degrees at the University of Melbourne and his postgraduate degree in international refugee law at the University of Oxford, for which he received the highest mark ever awarded for the course. Matthew lectures on public law in the Juris Doctor course at the University of Melbourne's Law School, at which he is a Senior Fellow.
Matthew’s publications include:
From 2nd Dec 2010, liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.
Coral practises in common law and commercial law.
Coral regularly appears in all Victorian courts (both led and unled) and the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
In common law, Coral has advised and appeared in matters involving tort, personal injury, workers’ compensation, transport accidents, occupiers’ liability and defamation law.
In commercial law, Coral has advised and appeared in matters involving consumer law and contract claims.
Before coming to the Bar, Coral was Class Actions and Major Torts List Coordinator to the Honourable Justices J Forrest and John Dixon, Associate to the Honourable John T (Jack) Rush AO RFD KC and Executive Assistant to the Honourable Associate Justice Daly, at the Supreme Court of Victoria. She assisted in the hearing and conduct of complex civil and criminal cause and jury matters, urgent applications in the Practice Court and class actions (including supervision of settlements).
Coral read with Chris Young KC and her senior mentor is Stephen O'Meara KC (now the Honourable Justice O’Meara).
Recent matters
Since coming to the Bar, matters in which Coral has been briefed include:
Commercial law
Defamation
Common law
Commissions
Public and regulatory
Memberships and Associations
Reporter, Victorian Reports
Former Monitor, Class Actions, Victorian Commercial Bar Association
From 5 May 2017, liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation
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.
Minh-Quan practises mainly in public and commercial law.
Minh-Quan has been briefed to appear in a wide range of appellate and first instance matters and to advise on issues in public law, commercial and regulatory law, equity and torts.
Before coming to the Bar, Minh-Quan was the Counsel Assisting the Solicitor‑General for Victoria, an Associate to Chief Justice French and Justice Gordon of the High Court of Australia, and a solicitor in commercial litigation at Arnold Bloch Leibler.
Minh-Quan has a Bachelor of Arts, a Diploma in Languages and a Juris Doctor from the University of Melbourne. He was awarded the university medal for both arts and law. He later obtained a Bachelor of Civil Law with Distinction from the University of Oxford. He has taught constitutional law at the University of Melbourne and Monash University.
Minh-Quan read with Kathleen Foley SC. His senior mentor is Philip Solomon KC.
From 7 May 2021, liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.
Cal has a broad practice in public law spanning first instance and appellate matters. Cal also accepts briefs in some commercial law, common law and industrial law matters.
He has appeared in the High Court (special leave, led), the Federal Court (led and unled), the FCFCA (led and unled), the Supreme Court of Victoria (Court of Appeal and Trial Division, led and unled), the Supreme Court of Queensland (Trial Division, led), the County Court of Victoria (unled), the VCAT (led and unled), the AAT (led) and the Coroner’s Court of Victoria (led and unled).
Cal also has experience acting for CEOs, senior executives, and Ministers of the Crown called before boards of inquiry, parliamentary inquires, regulators (e.g., APRA), anti-corruption commissions (e.g., IBAC) and ombudsmen, including when subject to compulsory examination.
Cal holds an LLM (Public Law) from the London School of Economics and Political Science (2012 to 2013), where he studied as a Chevening Scholar, and was awarded the Stanley De Smith Prize for the best overall performance in the public law specialism. In his undergraduate studies, Cal was awarded the Dean’s Merit List Award in Law.
Cal read with Nick Wood S.C., and his senior mentor was Sturt Glacken K.C.
Before coming to the Bar, Cal was Deputy General Counsel/Senior Adviser to the then Premier of Victoria (2016 to 2021), an adviser at the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (2014 to 2016), and a solicitor in the commercial team at Hunt & Hunt Lawyers (2011 to 2012).
Cal currently sits on the Indigenous Justice Committee of the Victorian Bar, and is a member of Koiki Mabo Chambers.
For a sample list of cases and inquiries, click here.
From 7 May 2021, liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.
Charles accepts industrial relations, employment and commercial law briefs in all Australian jurisdictions. He also advises state and federal Members of Parliament.
Prior to joining the Bar, Charles worked for the Commonwealth Attorney-General in Canberra and Perth.
Charles holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Western Australia, and a Master of Laws from the Australian National University. He read with Lisa Hespe SC (now Justice Hespe of the Federal Court).
Recently, Charles has advised or acted for:
Industrial Relations
Administrative and Public Law
Commercial Litigation
Charles was unled, except where specified.
Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.
Peter Turner qualified as a solicitor at Mallesons Stephen Jaques in Sydney (2003) after serving as Tipstaff in the New South Wales Court of Appeal (2002). He taught law for a decade at Cambridge University as a Fellow of St Catharine’s College, leaving as a University Senior Lecturer in 2019 to return to Australia. Since then he has taught at the Melbourne Law School as an Honorary Senior Fellow (2020), and for the University of Hong Kong, of which he is a Visiting Associate Professor. He is a member of the International Advisory Committee appointed by the American Law Institute to assist with its Restatement of the Law Fourth, Property.
Peter is interested in all areas of civil law and has published on equity, remedies, insolvency, real property, security and the taxation of trusts. His sole-authored publications have been relied on in judgments of the High Court of Australia, the U.K. Supreme Court and other superior courts. He is an author of the fifth edition of Meagher, Gummow and Lehane’s Equity: Doctrines and Remedies.
Peter’s mentor is Charles Parkinson and his senior mentor is Philip Solomon Q.C.
From 7 May 2021, liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.
Ben accepts briefs in all area of criminal law. Ben also accepts briefs to advise and appear in common law matters, with particular focus on personal injury, intentional torts and insurance law.
He is available to appear in all metropolitan and regional courts.
Prior to coming to the Bar, Ben was Associate to his Honour Judge Brookes of the County Court of Victoria. He provided legal support to his Honour and gained practical experience across the common law and criminal law divisions. Within the criminal division Ben assisted with the hearing and management of criminal trials, pleas, bail applications and appeals from the Magistrates’ Court. In the common law division Ben assisted his Honour in the hearing and management of civil trials (jury and judge alone), serious injury applications and interlocutory matters.
Previously Ben was Associate to his Honour Judge Murphy of the County Court of Victoria and assisted him in the commercial, common law, criminal law divisions and in the management of the Confiscation List.
Ben has previously undertaken work at the Wyndham Legal Service primarily in the areas of Youth Crime and as a Family Violence Intervention Order duty lawyer, appearing in the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria and Children’s Court.
Ben read with Dugald McWilliams.
From 7 May 2021, liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.
Patrick Santamaria practices predominantly in common law, with a focus on medical negligence, institutional abuse, traffic accident and work injury matters.
Patrick also accepts briefs to appear at commissions, inquires, and disciplinary proceedings, as well as in criminal law matters.
He accepts briefs to appear in all Victorian Courts, led and unled, at trial and appellate level, including at interlocutory applications. He also appears at mediations, statutory conferences, and early settlement conferences.
Prior to signing the Bar Roll, Patrick was a solicitor at Galbally & O’Bryan. He worked on a wide range of common law proceedings for both Plaintiffs and Defendants, as well as on various criminal law matters.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts and Juris Doctor from the University of Melbourne.
He read with Dugald McWilliams and his senior mentor was Jeremy Ruskin KC.
Hannah practises principally in public and commercial law. She is regularly briefed as junior counsel in complex litigation in the Supreme Court of Victoria and the Federal Court of Australia, at trial and appellate level, and to provide advice to diverse clients in the public and private sectors.
Before coming to the Bar, Hannah was an Associate to the Hon Justice Patrick Keane AC at the High Court of Australia. She was also a Senior Solicitor in the Constitution and Advice team of the Victorian Government Solicitor's Office, where she conducted litigation and advised on matters raising issues of constitutional law and complex statutory interpretation, and a Solicitor in the Banking and Infrastructure team at Gilbert + Tobin, where she worked on high-value project finance transactions in the energy and social infrastructure sectors.
Hannah has particular experience in environment and resources subject matters, including as they arise in administrative proceedings and large commercial disputes, and as they intersect with First Nations rights and interests.
Hannah holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons I) from the University of Queensland, a Masters in English Literature (Distinction) from the University of Edinburgh, and a Juris Doctor from the University of Melbourne.
Hannah read with Graeme Hill SC.
Some recent matters in which Hannah has been briefed include:
From 22 Oct 2021, liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.
Jade has a broad appearance and paperwork practice. She practises mainly in torts, personal injuries, administrative law and quasi-criminal work.
Jade appears in a range of proceedings including common law trials, serious injury applications, coronial inquests, and reviews under the Crimes (Mental Impairment and Unfitness to be Tried) Act 1997.
Jade has experience in areas including negligence and intentional torts, breach of statutory duty, transport and workplace accidents, medical negligence, institutional abuse and historical adoption matters.
Before coming to the Bar, Jade was a Principal Solicitor with the Victorian Government Solicitor's Office (VGSO), where she developed a general and diverse litigation practice for a range of government clients. Her portfolio spanned torts and breach of statute, general public law litigation, judicial review proceedings, and contempt of court matters.
Before joining the VGSO, Jade was in-house litigator with the Transport Accident Commission (TAC), where she had carriage of files across the TAC jurisdiction including serious injury applications, jury trials for damages, VCAT reviews and some criminal prosecutions work.
Jade read with Roslyn Kaye KC and her senior mentor is Ben Ihle KC.
From 22 Oct 2021, liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.
Michael practises primarily in commercial, regulatory and public law.
Before being called to the bar, Michael practised as a solicitor for 10 years, initially at Lander & Rogers, and most recently as the General Counsel of Litigation for one of Australia’s largest companies.
Michael has experience acting in a broad range of commercial disputes as well as in competition law, employment, property, insurance and product liability matters.
Michael also brings to his practice, significant ‘front end’ commercial experience, having led a broad range of M&A and other corporate transactions.
Michael is a co-author of The Laws of Australia: Breach of Contract and is currently undertaking a Master of Laws at the University of Melbourne. Michael holds a Bachelor of Laws from Monash University and a Bachelor of Arts (Journalism & Public Relations) from RMIT University. Michael has also studied German at the Freie Universität in Berlin as the recipient of a full scholarship from the German Academic Exchange Service.
Michael read with Jonathan Kirkwood SC and his senior mentor was David Batt KC.
Some of Michael’s current and recent matters include:
Commercial matters
Thousand Hills Property Pty Ltd v LBA Capital Pty Ltd [2025] VSCA 115; [2024] VSCA 312; [2024] VSC 597 (unled, instructed by GPZ Legal)
Briefed for the defendant at first instance, to oppose declaratory relief that the defendant had repudiated a contract for the development and sale of land.
Subsequently briefed to resist an appeal by the plaintiff and to seek security for costs in the appeal.
Hillman v Mayne Pharma Group Ltd [2024] VSC 786 (led by J Kirkwood SC, instructed by Herbert Smith Freehills)
Briefed for Mayne Pharma in a class action relating to allegations that Mayne breached its continuous disclosure obligations and engaged in misleading and deceptive conduct in connection with information about alleged price-fixing in the United States.
Golden Plains Resources Pty Ltd v Rimfire Pacific Mining Ltd [2024] VSC (led by J Thomson SC, instructed by King & Wood Mallesons)
Briefed for the defendant, initially, to resist a grant of urgent injunctive relief. Subsequently briefed in arbitration of the substantive dispute.
AHG WA (2015) Pty Ltd v Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacific Pty Ltd [2023] FCA 1022 (led by T Castle SC and Dr C Parkinson KC, with others, instructed by HWL Ebsworth)
Briefed for the owners of Australian Mercedes-Benz franchises who alleged Mercedes-Benz had engaged in unconscionable conduct in terminating dealership agreements and implementing a direct to customer sales model.
In the matter of FTX Australia Pty Ltd (Administrators Appointed) [2023] VSC 788 (led by D Guidolin SC, instructed by Ashurst)
Briefed for parties seeking to be recognised as creditors of FTX entities in administration.
Re Roxton Commercial Builders Pty Ltd [2024] VSC 289 (unled, instructed by JHK Legal)
Briefed for a plaintiff seeking to wind up a company, which application was opposed on the basis that service of a statutory demand had not been properly effected. The Court accepted, inter alia, that there had been effective informal service of the demand and ordered that the company be wound up.
Fan v Yao [2022] VCC 509 (unled, instructed by Herald Legal)
Briefed for the plaintiff to enforce a loan agreement entered into in China, against a borrower domiciled in Australia.
Burwood Council v Visy Paper Pty Limited [2019] NSWSC (led by N Bender SC, instructed by Arnold Bloch Leibler)
Briefed for Visy in relation to a dispute over the interpretation of a commercial contract.
Baroud Nominees Pty Ltd v Mereland Technology Pty Ltd [2022] VCAT 516 (unled, instructed by Bentleys)
Obtained declaratory relief for a landlord in relation to the proper interpretation of rent review provisions of a commercial lease.
Employment law matters
Harvey v Palcove Pty Ltd [2025] FedCFamC2G 915 (unled, instructed by PricewaterhouseCoopers)
Defending claims made by a former employee that the Respondent: (a) engaged in adverse action in contravention of section 340 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth); and (b) engaged in misleading and deceptive conduct in contravention of section 18 and 31 of the Australian Consumer.
Geotesta Pty Ltd v an Employee [2022] VSC (unled, instructed by Hicks Oakley Chessell Williams)
Obtained urgent injunctive relief against a former employee in connection with confidential information obtained in course of the employment relationship.
Regulatory matters
Fair Work Ombudsman v House of Hoi An Pty Ltd [2022] FedCFamC2G 133 (unled, instructed by Aitken Partners)
Briefed for an employer company and director in a penalty hearing relating to contraventions of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth).
From 21 October 2021, liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.
Annette accepts briefs in a broad range of commercial matters.
Before coming to the Bar, Annette was a partner in the litigation team of a leading national law firm where she gained experience in banking and finance, commercial and consumer law, insolvency, regulatory law and securities.
Annette read with Sam Rosewarne KC and her senior mentor is Hamish Austin KC.
Annette served as a member of the Victorian Bar New Barristers' Committee in 2023 and she is presently a member of the Victorian Bar Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee.
Some matters in which Annette has been briefed since coming to the Bar include:
From 22 Oct 2021, liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.
Chong has a broad practice with a focus on commercial, public and common law.
Before coming to the Bar, Chong was a Senior Associate in the Dispute Resolution team of King & Wood Mallesons. He has acted for clients in a range of disputes including in the areas of contract, insolvency, property, corporate and competition law. He also has experience as in-house counsel having been seconded to Telstra and Aristocrat Technologies.
Chong has served as an Associate to the Honourable Justice Dodds-Streeton of the Federal Court of Australia.
He holds undergraduate degrees in Commerce (Corporate Finance) and Law from the University of Adelaide, and a Master of Law from the University of Cambridge.
Chong is reading with Paul Liondas and his senior mentor is Philip Solomon QC.
From 22 Oct 2021, liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.
Luisa has a broad civil law practice, including general commercial law, public law and tort law.
Luisa has experience in contractual disputes, misleading and deceptive conduct disputes, trademark and passing off, copyright infringement, and media and defamation. She also has experience acting in royal commissions.
Luisa also practises in family law and is experienced in representing clients in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Div 1 and 2) at the trial and appellate levels. She is regularly briefed to advise and appear - both led and unled - in complex property disputes and trust matters, including on behalf of third parties.
Luisa regularly advises - both led and unled - on complex statutory interpretation issues, insurance coverage disputes, and defamation.
A sample of Luisa’s recent experience includes:
Litigation (party represented is underlined)
Melbourne Market Authority v Biodynamic Marketing Co Ltd & Ors (2025) (ongoing) - led by P Crutchfield KC and Kat Brazenor.
Albeck v Dentons Australia Ltd & Anor (2024) (ongoing) – adverse action complaint, breach of settlement agreement – led by Anthony Strahan KC.
Genesalio & Genesalio (No 5) [2024] FedCFamC1F 450 – application for joinder and summary dismissal application – led by Albert Dinelli KC.
Monash IVF Pty Ltd & Ors v Insurance Australia Ltd (settled 2024) – led by Anthony Strahan KC.
Genesalio and Genesalio (No 4) [2023] FedCFamC1A 216 – appeal from order dismissing application for disqualification of primary judge for apprehended bias – led by Albert Dinelli KC.
Krapivensky v Brodsky & Ors (2023) – cross-vesting application – led by Michael Wyles KC.
Genesalio & Genesalio (2023) 67 Fam LR 186 – appeal from joinder decision – unled.
Genesalio & Genesalio [2023] FedCFamC1 160 – application for joinder – led by Albert Dinelli KC.
Royal Commissions and inquiries
Yoorrook Justice Commission (2023 - ongoing) – briefed on behalf of the State of Victoria – led by Dan Star KC, Georgina Coghlan KC, Elizabeth Bennett SC, Emrys Nekvapil SC, with Helen Tiplady, Sarah Keating and others.
Before coming to the Bar, Luisa was an Associate to the Honourable Justice Digby in the Supreme Court of Victoria, and to the Honourable Justices Macmillan and McEvoy in the Family Court of Australia, and a solicitor at Media Arts Lawyers.
Luisa holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Melbourne, and a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Business (MediaComms) (Hons) from Monash University.
Luisa read with Helen Tiplady, and her senior mentor is Penny Neskovcin KC (now the Honourable Justice Neskovcin)
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.
We are pleased to announce that The Honourable John Digby KC, who has recently retired from the Supreme Court of Victoria, has returned to Devers List and is available to undertake Arbitration, Expert Evaluations and Mediation work.
John was admitted to practice and joined the Victorian Bar in 1979, and was appointed Queens Counsel 1993.
In 2012 John was appointed to the Supreme Court of Victoria and sat as a judge in the Commercial List, and was during his appointment the Judge in Admiralty and Judge in Charge of the Technology, Engineering and Construction List.
While at the Bar John built a reputation as a leading commercial barrister specialising in engineering and construction matters and appeared in numerous large and complex Court proceedings and major municipal and International Arbitrations both in Australia and abroad. John also acted as an Arbitrator.
John was a Senior Fellow of the Law school of Melbourne University and lectured part time for more than a decade in the Masters Course in International Construction Law focusing on International Arbitration Law.
John has served for more than a decade as a Director and the Treasurer of the Australian Academy of Law and is a past President of the Commercial Bar Association of the Victorian Bar. John served on the Executive of the Victorian Bar Council and was Chairman of the Victorian Bar in 2008-2009.
John is Chairman of Barristers Chambers Limited and Chairman of the Victorian Bar Foundation, and Chairman of the Victorian Commercial Arbitration Scheme.
The Hon Jennifer Davies KC is a retired judge of the Federal Court of Australia and during her time on the bench was the national co-ordinating judge of the Taxation National Practice Area. Prior to her appointment to the Federal Court she was a judge of the Supreme Court of Victoria, sitting in the Commercial Court division and before then, a member of the Bar from May 1983. She took silk in 2004.
She is an Honorary Principal Fellow at the University of Melbourne lecturing in postgraduate courses and on the Melbourne University Tax Advisory board. She is also on the board of the International Association of Tax Judges and is a member of the Australian Academy of Law, the International Academy of Estate and Trust Law and the International Fiscal Association, and a Fellow of the Taxation Institute of Australia.