Kalia has a broad practice that includes commercial law, public law and criminal law.
Kalia was an Associate to Justice Gleeson of the High Court of Australia and Justice Elliott of the Supreme Court of Victoria before coming to the Bar. Previously, Kalia was a solicitor in commercial litigation at Allens.
Kalia holds a Bachelor of Civil Law from the University of Oxford, for which she was awarded a full scholarship. She graduated second in her cohort from the Juris Doctor at the University of Melbourne.
Some recent matters in which Kalia has been briefed are as follows.
Commercial
Public Law
Kalia has also been briefed to advise, both led and unled, in numerous commercial, public and criminal law matters, including by ASIC, the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions and corporate clients.
Kalia read with Kateena O’Gorman SC. Her senior mentor is Philip Solomon KC.
Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.
Rose has a broad practice with a focus on common law, class actions, coronial inquests and public law.
Matters in which Rose has a particular interest include:
A selection of the matters in which Rose has recently acted include:
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.
Rooke v AFL (AFL Concussion Class Action) (led by Philip Crutchfield KC, Ben Ihle KC and Matthew Hooper, for the AFL) — Supreme Court class action involving negligence claims against the AFL in relation to concussion injuries.
Alcoa of Australia Ltd & Ors v AusNet Transmission Net & Powercor (led by Bernie Quinn KC and Melanie Szydzik SC, for the Alcoa parties) — Supreme Court negligence claim for economic loss in relation to power outage at the Portland aluminium smelter.
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.
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, misfeasance in public office and breach of confidence against Victoria Police.
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.
Greensill v Piper Alderman & Ors (led by Peter Cawthorn KC at trial, for law firm defendant) — professional negligence claim against solicitor and multiple law firms relating to alleged failure to advise in relation to a malicious prosecution claim against complainants following criminal conviction being overturned on appeal.
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).
Various coronial inquests involving deaths in care and custody (acting as Counsel Assisting the Coroner and for various State parties and medical institutions (both led and unled)).
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.
Naomi Hodgson has a broad civil litigation practice with a particular focus on professional duties and obligations under relevant regulatory and legislative frameworks.
Naomi regularly acts for health practitioners and hospitals across several jurisdictions. She also acts in matters regarding companies’ and directors’ compliance with their obligations in both State and Commonwealth jurisdictions.
She has appeared in coronial inquests on behalf of interested parties including doctors, hospitals, Ambulance Victoria, the Chief Commissioner of Police and the State of Victoria. She is also regularly briefed to appear as counsel assisting the Coroner.
Naomi has appeared in a number of administrative law appeals including on behalf of the Coroners Court of Victoria in appeals to the Supreme Court. She also appears in administrative law merits review in VCAT and the AAT.
Naomi has regularly appeared on behalf of the Attorney General of Victoria and the Secretary of the Department of Justice in the County Court, Supreme Court and Court of Appeal in public law matters.
Previous Experience
Naomi was previously a Senior Associate in the Commercial Disputes Group at Minter Ellison where she completed her articles. During her time at Minter Ellison her main areas of practice were general commercial litigation, financial services, directors' duties, market misconduct and regulatory compliance. In 2007, Naomi spent 6 months on secondment to ASIC where she worked in the Compliance and Enforcement groups.
Prior to coming to the Bar, Naomi spent one year at the Victorian Government Solicitor’s Office as a Senior Solicitor in the Litigation Branch. During her time at the VGSO, she worked on a wide variety of administrative and public law matters.
Naomi is a Member of the Melbourne IVF Human Research Ethics Committee and is a Council Member of the Australian Centre for Accelerating Diabetes Innovations (ACADI).
"From 20th May 2011, 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.
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.
Meg’s principal areas of practice comprise commercial, common law, property, equity & trusts, insurance law and torts.
Meg has a busy trial and advice practice. She appears in all state courts and tribunals and the federal court.
Meg accepts direct briefs (including from in-house counsel).
Meg is a member of the Executive of the Commercial Bar Association and a member of the Bar’s Pro-Bono Committee. She is a former member of the Victorian Bar Council; the Audit, Finance and Risk Committee of the Victorian Bar; and the Counsel Committee of the Victorian Bar.
Prior to being called to the Bar, Meg was a solicitor at Mallesons Stephen Jaques (now King & Wood Mallesons). Meg has an honours degree in Philosophy. At University, she was an accomplished mooter and debater and won the World University Debating Championships.
Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation
Emily has a broad practice in commercial law and general litigation.
Before joining the bar, Emily worked as a senior in-house lawyer at Ford Motor Company. Prior to this, Emily was a Senior Associate at CIE Legal and an Associate at Covington & Burling LLP in London. She completed her articles at Minter Ellison in 2006.
Emily is well versed in operating within different industries and regulatory environments, and accepts briefs directly from in-house counsel.
Emily was also admitted to practice as a solicitor in England and Wales and holds a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) and Bachelor of Science from Monash University.
Emily read with Naomi Hodgson and her senior mentor is Robert Heath KC.
Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation.
Rowan has a broad practice in public, commercial, taxation and employment law.
Before coming to the Bar, Rowan served as Counsel Assisting the Commonwealth Solicitor-General, Dr Stephen Donaghue QC, and as Associate to the Hon Justice Virginia Bell AC of the High Court of Australia. He also practised as a commercial solicitor at King & Wood Mallesons and as a senior solicitor in the constitutional and administrative law team at the NSW Crown Solicitor's Office.
Rowan holds degrees in Arts and Law from the University of Melbourne, which he attended as a Commonwealth Scholar, and a Bachelor of Civil Law from the University of Oxford, where he studied as an Allan Myers KC Scholar.
Rowan is currently Assistant Honorary Secretary of the Victorian Bar and a Committee member of the Public Law Section of the Commercial Bar Association.
Rowan has served as a Fellow of the Melbourne Law School, Editor of the Oxford University Commonwealth Law Journal and Associate Editor of the Melbourne University Law Review. He has published work in the Australian Journal of Labour Law and is a member of the Australian Association of Constitutional Law and the Australian Institute of Administrative Law. He is also a reporter for the Victorian Reports.
Rowan read with Kathleen Foley SC and his senior mentor is Philip Solomon KC.
Cases in which Rowan has been briefed to appear include:
Commercial / building and construction law
Constitutional law
Administrative / general public law
Common law
Tax / revenue law
Employment / discrimination law
Migration law
Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation
Paula signed the bar roll in 1997 practising in family law, family violence and Children’s Court matters.
She left the bar to work in the family violence sector. Paula held managerial roles at InTouch, the Multicultural Centre Against Family Violence and the Eastern Domestic Violence Service. From 2019 to 2022, she was CEO of Refuge Victoria, the largest family violence refuge service in Victoria accommodating a thousand people per year with 50 staff and an annual budget of $6 million.
She re-signed the bar roll in July 2022 resuming her practice bringing a deep and broad understanding of the family violence sector. She is also a qualified and experienced Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner.
Paula believes in giving back to the community and has held numerous governance roles including serving as:
She is married with three children and the sister of the renowned Australian artist, Patricia Piccinini.
Sturt Glacken has a broad commercial and public law practice with emphasis on appellate work in equity and judicial review. He has appeared in a range of prominent cases in the High Court, Federal Court and Supreme Courts. Prior to coming to the Bar, Sturt was a solicitor at Minter Ellison, and a legal policy adviser in the Federal and State Parliaments.
For more detail, including key cases in which Sturt has appeared, see linked curriculum vitae.
From 01 Jul 2008, liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.
Chris practises primarily in commercial, public, regulatory, and employment law. He accepts briefs in sports law and criminal matters.
He has expertise in matters involving the protection of personal and confidential information.
Commercial and property law
Chris acts in all areas of commercial law, particularly matters involving breaches of fiduciary duties, directors’ duties, and the protection of confidential information. He also acts in matters involving incorporated associations.
He has appeared unled in commercial matters in all Victorian courts, including the Supreme Court.
His property law practice includes acting in real property disputes and leasing disputes.
He appears in urgent applications, including applications for injunctions and freezing orders.
Employment and discrimination law
Chris acts in employment matters, including contractual restraint matters, general protections matters, unfair dismissals, and matters involving workplace privacy. He has experience in underpayment and long service leave matters, including those relating to portable long service leave schemes.
He acts in discrimination matters under state and federal discrimination and equal opportunity legislation.
Public law, regulatory, and criminal law
Chris acts in judicial and merits review matters, regularly appearing in the Review and Regulation list at VCAT.
He represents clients in professional disciplinary, privacy and freedom of information matters in State and Federal jurisdictions, including representing Government departments and agencies.
Chris also acts in criminal and quasi-criminal matters, including occupational health and safety matters, regulatory prosecutions, and coronial inquests. He regularly appears unled in County Court conviction appeal matters.
Sports law
Chris represents athletes and sporting bodies at hearings before sporting tribunals, including appearing before the AFL Tribunal and AFL Appeals Board.
Background
Before coming to the Bar, Chris represented clients in highly regulated industries, including government, health, private health insurance, gambling, and energy.
Chris was Associate to the Hon Justice Hargrave while his Honour was Principal Judge of the Commercial Court at the Supreme Court of Victoria, and then a judge of the Court of Appeal.
Chris has a Bachelor of Arts and a Juris Doctor from the University of Melbourne. He also has a Graduate Diploma in Data Analytics.
Chris read with Tom Smyth. His senior mentor is Ben Ihle KC.
Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation.
Ivy accepts briefs in all areas of law, and has a particular interest in common law, commercial law, coronial inquests, employment and insurance matters.
Before coming to the Bar, Ivy was an associate to the Hon. Chief Justice Ferguson at the Supreme Court of Victoria.
Earlier, she practised as a solicitor at Corrs Chambers Westgarth in the commercial disputes team where she specialised in investigations and public inquiries, personal injury, and regulatory matters. She has acted in high profile Royal Commissions, government inquiries and coronial inquests, including most recently, the Victorian Hotel Quarantine Board of Inquiry. Whilst at Corrs, Ivy was also seconded to a multinational mining company as a workplace investigator.
Ivy holds a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) and a Bachelor of Commerce from the Australian National University.
Ivy is reading with Elle Nikou Madalin and her Senior Mentors are Ben Jellis SC and Jeremy Ruskin KC.
Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation
Isabelle practices predominantly in common law with a particular focus on personal injury, medical negligence and insurance law. Isabelle is available for both plaintiff and defendant briefs.
Isabelle has extensive personal injury experience, practicing exclusively in personal injury litigation since 2013, with a particular focus in WorkCover, Transport Accident, Public Liability (including Product Liability and Consumer Law), Medical Negligence and Institutional Abuse claims. Prior to coming to the bar, Isabelle was a Senior Associate with a busy litigation practice.
Prior to that Isabelle was the Senior Associate to Judge Philip Misso at the County Court of Victoria, during which time his Honour sat as head of the Damages & Compensation/Serious Injury List.
Isabelle read with David Oldfield and her senior mentor is Maria Pilipasidis SC.
Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.
Anna practices in criminal and quasi criminal matters (including white-collar crime, OH&S prosecutions, regulatory and disciplinary matters), and in common law. She has trial experience as both as junior counsel and as sole counsel.
Anna has also appeared in the Court of Appeal and has experience in preparing written cases.
Anna practices in the regulatory sphere and has appeared before VCAT, ASIC and the National Sports Tribunal. She has a particular interest in disciplinary proceedings involving healthcare workers.
Prior to coming to the bar, Anna completed a Bachelor of Arts (Media and Communications) and a Juris Doctor at the University of Melbourne. Upon graduation, she worked as a solicitor advocate at the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia for two years, after which she performed the same role at Matthew White and Associates (in Melbourne) for 18 months.
Anna read with Chris Carr S.C., and Neill Murdoch S.C. is her senior mentor.
From 8 May 2020, liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.
Gemma-Jane specialises in claims arising from personal injuries including workplace & transport accidents, public liability, medical negligence, institutional abuse and coronial inquests. She acts for both plaintiff and defendant clients.
From 16 May 2013, liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.
Karina has a successful practice encompassing common law, criminal law, coronial work and regulatory proceedings.
She has a strong interest in cases involving personal injury law, medical negligence and historical sex abuse. Since coming to the Bar she has appeared in a wide range of matters in the Magistrates’ Court, County Court and Supreme Court. She accepts briefs to represent Plaintiffs and Defendants in trials and appeals.
Karina’s coronial practice has included investigations into death in custody, bushfires, road rescue and applications to re-open investigations. She has appeared on behalf of the CFA, families and other interested parties.
Karina’s regulatory practice includes advising and appearing on behalf of medical professionals.
Prior to coming to the Bar, Karina was the associate to the Hon. Justice Kaye at the Supreme Court of Victoria, during which time his Honour sat in the Common Law and Criminal Law Divisions, as well as the Court of Appeal.
Karina has previously worked as a solicitor at Abrahams Meese Lawyers, where she had a general commercial practice. Since coming to the Bar, Karina has continued providing advice in commercial disputes and has appeared in trials, applications and mediations.
Before admission as a solicitor, Karina worked as a paralegal at criminal law firms and volunteered at Moonee Valley Legal Service.
Karina is fluent in Russian and understands Ukrainian.
Karina read with Chris Winneke QC and her senior mentor is Dr. Matthew Collins QC.
Karina has a Masters of Laws from The University of Melbourne.
From 16 May 2013, liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.
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.
James is a specialist in large, complex litigation and is regularly briefed in technical, engineering, and construction disputes, insurance matters and class actions.
James advises and appears in bet-the-farm litigation and arbitration for commercial parties , achieving the very best results. He is approachable, diligent and deploys strategic nous to gain advantage for his clients over the real issues in dispute. He is regularly briefed in technical disputes for contractors, principals and consultants.
Prior to the Bar, James was an Associate at Allens in the construction disputes and commercial litigation teams. His practice included advising construction and engineering clients on complex construction and technical disputes and the administration of major projects.
Prior to his legal career, James worked as a mechatronics engineer in construction, industrial and consulting environments. As an engineer, James was involved in the construction of a major arterial transport link and consulted in relation to the design, installation and commissioning of a diverse range of bespoke robotics in various industrial settings.
James read with Simon T Pitt and his senior mentor is Jeremy Twigg QC.
Recent matters include:
Other commercial law matters:
James is member of:
From 6th May 2016, liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.
Adrian is an advocate practising in sports law, disciplinary tribunals and appeals, defamation, suppression orders, contempt, common law/personal injuries, criminal and general commercial law. He brings to the Bar experience as a senior executive in major professional sport.
A former partner in the commercial litigation division of Corrs Chambers Westgarth, Adrian was General Manager of Football Operations of the AFL from 2004-2012 establishing the AFL’s integrity unit, tribunal system and heading negotiations such as the Collective Bargaining Agreement. At Corrs, he was the principal media law advisor to the Herald Sun and 3AW. He also acted for the AFL Players’ Association, the Australian Cricketers’ Association, Greyhound Racing Victoria, and professional athletes in disciplinary matters, anti-doping cases and contractual disputes.
Immediately prior to joining the Bar, Adrian:
He has recently appeared in:
He is a committee member of the Melbourne Cricket Club, the National Golf Club, Chairman of MyGolf (JV between Golf Australia and PGA Australia), a Cricket Australia Conduct Commissioner, Chair of the Independent Integrity Division Hearing Panel of the Victorian Amateur Football Association, and Member of the Rules Committee of Harness Racing Australia. He has the indictable crime certificate.
Recent matters in which Adrian has appeared include:
Sports and other disciplinary matters:
Defamation/ACL/injurious falsehood/suppression orders/commercial
Crime
Common law/personal injury
From 15 May 2015, liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.