Daryl Williams AM KC has an extensive practice in courts and tribunals throughout Australia, in relation to:
He has appeared in numerous leading cases in the High Court of Australia and especially the Victorian Court of Appeal, and has appeared at appellate level in every Australian State and in the ACT. He is frequently retained to advise on potential appeal grounds and prospects.
His expertise in corporate insolvency has been recognised numerous times in Doyles’ Guide, most recently by being Recommended in the category Victorian Insolvency & Restructuring Senior Counsel in 2023.
Daryl is also an accredited mediator under the National Mediator Accreditation System, and has an active mediation practice focusing on the resolution of substantial commercial disputes. As a mediator, he is sought out because he actively engages with the parties and their advisers to ensure that each faces up to the key issues and risks arising in their particular case, and the uncertainties of litigation generally; he sees no value in simply being a passive transmitter of offers.
Daryl came to the Bar in 1991 after spending three years (including Articles) working in commercial litigation at Blake Dawson Waldron (now Ashurst Lawyers) in Melbourne. He took silk in 2010.
Outside the Bar, Daryl is committed to supporting the work of a range of charitable and not-for-profit entities. He has been a Board Director of the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, and of its philanthropic fundraising entity Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation Limited. He is presently a Board Director of Anglicare Victoria and Mental Health Foundation Australia.
From 1st July 2008, liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.
Keith practises in commercial and public law.
He remained a Member of the Bar while serving as the Federal Member for Menzies (2022-2025), during which he sat on the Economics and National Anti-Corruption Commission Committees. Before coming to the Bar in 2010, he was a solicitor at King & Wood Mallesons and Ashurst.
From 03/06/2010, Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation.
Owen has a broad commercial practice with a focus on complex disputes primarily encompassing issues of contract and misleading or deceptive conduct, as well as proceedings in respect of superannuation, commercial leasing and professional misconduct. Experience includes injunctive relief, mediation, trials and appeal proceedings in Victoria and the Federal Court. Owen also regularly advises on commercial issues and manages interlocutory proceedings.
Matters that Owen has been briefed on since coming to the bar include:
Whirlpool (Australia) Pty Ltd v Castel Electronics Pty Ltd, for Castel (with Andrew Bailey, led by Leslie Glick KC) (settled)
FSS Trustee Corporation v Eastaugh [2016] VSC 636, for Alfred Health (with Hamish Austin)
Cargill Australia Limited v Viterra Malt Pty Ltd [2022] VSC 13, for Viterra and Glencore (led by Allan Myers AC KC, Suresh Senathirajah KC and Stephen Parmenter KC) (judgment delivered January 2022 after a trial of 113 days)
Marton v Australian Taekwondo including in the Court of Arbitration for Sport 2021/A/7945 (led by Paul Hayes KC)
Tansley v Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, for Mr Tansley MD FRCS (with Stephen Moloney, led by Allan Myers AC KC) (settled)
Jieyun International Investments Pty Ltd v Toorak Development Group Pty Ltd [2022] VSC 387, for Jieyun (led by Paul Hayes KC)
Teico Investments Pty Ltd v WA Blue Gum Limited, for Teico (led by Peter Cawthorn KC) (settled)
Davis v Department of Health [2022] VCAT 718, for the Honourable David Davis (unled)
Scheme of arrangement for Security Matters Limited. Hearings included (No 3) [2023] FCA 140, for Security Matters (led by Carl Moller SC, with Monique Hardinge)
Nottingham v Australian Financial Complaints Authority [2023] FCA 58, for Australian Super (unled)
Tratter v Aware Super [2023] FCA 491, and on appeal Tratter v Aware Super [2023] FCAFC 36, for Aware Super (unled)
Merkon Constructions Pty Ltd v Residence Company Pty Ltd & another, for Merkon (led by Michael Galvin KC) (ongoing)
In the Cargill Australia matter, in addition to appearing at trial and on appeal Owen was also closely involved with numerous interlocutory matters including:
Plus hearings as to final orders and appeal rulings in the Cargill Australia matter:
Prior to coming to the bar, Owen was a solicitor with Herbert Smith Freehills where he acted for companies across banking, investment, mining, electricity, and retail. Owen is experienced in advising companies who are defending complex claims brought in contract, negligence, or breach of statutory obligations. Owen also worked on a number of class actions, acting for large listed companies in shareholder claims, as well as for the electricity distributor in the Victorian bushfires claims.
In 2013, Owen joined the Office of Crown Counsel in the Victorian Government where he advised the Attorney-General and the Department of Justice on policy implementation, policy development, human rights compatibility, and other general legal matters.
Owen’s academic achievements include first-class honours in law from Monash University, where he won the subject prize for Restrictive Trade Practices.
Owen read with Stephen Parmenter KC, and his senior mentor is Philip Solomon KC.
From 30 Oct 2015, liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.
In her practice as a barrister, Amy predominately appears in personal injury related matters. She appears both on her own and with senior counsel, in all jurisdictions in which such matters are litigated. As well as appearing in personal injury matters, Amy also accepts briefs to advise and draft paperwork, including but not limited to, "Serious Injury" Applications, Interrogatories and Medical Panel Referrals.
Amy has a particular interest and ability in sporting tribunal work, coronal inquests and summary crime, and since coming to the Bar she has provided advice and appeared in these areas in various matters.
Amy is an accredited mediator.
Prior to coming to the Bar, Amy was the Associate to His Honour Judge Hicks at the County Court of Victoria. As an Associate, Amy acquired a wealth of experience in both the personal injury and criminal law jurisdictions (including the Racing Appeals Tribunal). Prior to working as a Judge's Associate, Amy worked for a boutique commercial law firm and a prior to that, with a criminal law sole practitioner.
Amy is a member of the Compensation Law Bar Association and the Criminal Law Bar Association.
Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.
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.
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.
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.