Adam Segal
A banking and insolvency specialist with a commercial practice, Adam is an experienced trial and appellate advocate.
List G Barristers
listgbarristers.com.auBarristers
Albert Ounapuu
Albert maintains a broad commercial practice in State and Federal courts and tribunals.
In particular, he has experience, both led and unled, in:
shareholder oppression and Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) proceedings;
partnership disputes, including under the Partnership Act 1966 (Vic);
complex family trust litigation, and equity, trusts and property law generally;
consumer law, financial services and insurance matters;
personal and corporate insolvency; and
professional negligence and professional disciplinary proceedings.
Recent cases in which Albert has been involved include:
Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Retail Employees Superannuation Pty Ltd [2022] FCA 438;
Melbourne Roma Caravans & RV’s v Cunningham [2022] VSC 25;
Australian Securities and Investments Commission v TAL Life Limited (No 2) [2021] FCA 193
Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Youi Pty Ltd [2020] FCA 1701;
Gandel Metals Pty Ltd v Centennial Mining Limited proceedings: [2020] FCA 794, [2020] FCA 633, [2020] FCA 250;
Hivance Pty Ltd v Moscatiello & Ors [2020] VSC 183; and
Hoh v Ying Mui Pty Ltd [2019] VSCA 203.
Liability limited by a scheme approved under the Professional Standards Legislation
Amy Surkis
Amy Surkis is a general commercial litigator with a scientific background and over 10 years' experience.
Amy has particular expertise in intellectual property litigation and has extensive experience leading complex patent litigation matters in the Federal Court of Australia, both at first instance and appeal.
Amy has experience in a wide range of industries, including the pharmaceutical, biologics and mining sectors. Her practice has also included providing comprehensive advice to clients on protecting and enforcing their intellectual property rights (including copyright, trade marks and patents).
She has recently been recognised as a Rising Star in Intellectual Property by Doyles (2022) and Managing IP (2019).
Prior to coming to the bar, Amy was a Senior Associate in MinterEllison’s disputes resolution team.
Amy graduated from Monash University with a Bachelor of Laws (first class honours) and Bachelor of Science (Molecular Biology and Biochemistry).
Amy read with Peter Creighton-Selvay and her senior mentor is Tom Cordiner KC.
Liability limited by a scheme approved under the Professional Standards Legislation
Andrew Pollock
Andrew has a national practice covering litigious, advisory and strategic matters with a primary focus on industrial relations and employment related areas.
He specialises in disputes arising from industrial action, enterprise bargaining and related disputes, strategic issues arising from major restructures and individual employee disputes. Andrew has also practised in media and entertainment law (with a focus on defamation and intellectual property issues arising in the music and screen industries).
Andrew’s clients span a range of industries including retail, airlines, transport and logistics, mining and resources, manufacturing, entertainment and the public sector. He appears regularly before the Federal Court, the Federal Circuit Court and the Fair Work Commission, at trial and appellate levels.
Andrew was recognised in:
Chambers and Partners Asia Pacific rankings for 2021;
Legal 500's Australian rankings for 2021 (Tier 1);
Doyles Guide's Leading Employment and WHS Counsel Australia in 2021 and 2020;
Doyles Guide's Leading Employment and WHS Counsel Victoria in 2021, 2020, 2019 and 2018; and
Doyles Guide's Emerging Employment and WHS Counsel in 2017.
Before coming to the Bar, Andrew was a Senior Associate in the Employment, Pensions and Incentives practice group at Herbert Smith Freehills. As a solicitor advocate, Andrew appeared regularly in the eastern States and Western Australia before the Federal Court, the Federal Circuit Court, the Fair Work Commission (at first instance and Full Bench levels), the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal (at first instance and Full Bench levels) and the NSW Industrial Relations Commission.
Andrew was called to the Bar in 2015.
Andrew Cameron
Andrew Cameron has a broad national commercial and public law practice.
His practice comprises complex matters involving constitutional, corporations law, contract, equity & trusts, valuation and real property, commercial crime, royal commissions and inquiries.
Andrew is currently a director of List G Barristers and teaches in the Bar Readers’ Course on written evidence.
Andrew has been recognised in Best Lawyers in Australia and Doyle’s Guide to Leading Commercial Litigation & Disputes Barristers.
Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation
Andrew Sykes
Andrew conducts a dedicated practice in intellectual property law with a predominate focus branding (trade mark law, domain names and passing off).
In this area alone he has acted as counsel or arbitrator in over 100 matters issued and determined before various courts and tribunals. He has been recognised in the World Trade Mark Review's Leading Trade Mark Professionals (Gold Band), Doyle's Guide (Intellectual Property) and Best Lawyers Australia (Intellectual Property).
His other areas include domain names, copyright, designs, internet law, software, confidential information and related areas of misleading and deceptive conduct and restraint of trade. He accepts briefs to act as a mediator in a broader scope of areas.
Andrew has authored a number of articles in professional journals. He is the author of Australian Trade Mark Opposition Law, which is now in its third edition and published by LexisNexis. He is also the co-author of the chapter “Trade Marks and the Internet” in the leading publication “Lahore’s, Patents, Trade Marks & Related Rights”.
He is also a member of the Intellectual Property Society of Australia and New Zealand (IPSANZ) and the Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys (IPTA) and he has presented on trade mark law at numerous conferences and professional education forums.
National and International Appointments
2016 to present – Asian Domain Name Dispute Resolution Centre – Appointed to the Panel of Arbitrators
2016 to present – Czech Arbitration Court – Appointed to the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy Panel of Arbitrators.
2021 to present – Appointed to the auDA Licence Review Panel.
Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.
Andrew Crocker
Andrew has represented employers in a wide range of industrial and employment matters and appears led and unled in trials, appeals and interlocutory applications. He is instructed by private sector and government clients.
Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation
Benjamin Ryde
Ben Ryde has a general commercial law practice with a focus on disputes, including class actions, involving corporations, contract, insurance, restitution and trade practices law.
Benjamin Gardiner KC
Ben specialises in intellectual property law and practises primarily in patent, trade marks, copyright, confidential information and consumer protection / trade practices matters.
Ben has appeared on behalf of, and advised, a wide range of clients across a range of industries including pharmaceuticals, medical, mining, fast moving consumer goods, fashion, gaming, information technology and primary industries. He frequently appears in the Federal Court of Australia, the Australian Patent Office and the Australian Trade Marks Office.
He is also a nationally accredited mediator.
Before joining the Bar, Ben was associate to the Chief Justice of the Federal Court of Australia. Prior to that, he practised as a pharmacist for 12 years.
Ben has tertiary qualifications in pharmacy, business and law and completed post-graduate studies in law (BCL) at the University of Oxford in 2005. The Australian Financial Review’s Best Lawyers lists Ben as a leading barrister in intellectual property law. Doyle’s Guide has listed Ben as a recommended or leading barrister in intellectual property law since 2010.
Ben is a member of the Intellectual Property Society of Australia and New Zealand (IPSANZ) and has taught intellectual property law at post-graduate level at Melbourne University.
Liability limited by a scheme approved under the Professional Standards Legislation
Brendan J Avallone
Brendan Avallone practises in all areas of employment and industrial relations law. He signed the Bar Roll on 22 October 2015, was admitted as a lawyer on 2 April 2001, and has appeared in a number of significant cases in the Federal Court of Australia, other Courts, and the Fair Work Commission.
Brendan acts and advises in matters including industrial action, enterprise bargaining, industrial disputes, contractual disputes, executive employment, disciplinary and performance matters, general protections claims, unfair dismissal applications, underpayment claims and employment discrimination claims.
Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation
Bruce Caine KC
Bruce Caine KC has specialised in intellectual property law for over 35 years.
Bruce has appeared in some of Australia’s leading intellectual property cases. His central areas of expertise include patents, trade marks, copyright, confidential information, consumer protection and other commercial and equity matters.
Bruce frequently appears for and advises major international clients drawn from the pharmaceutical, telecommunications and mining industries. He has extensive experience in both trial and appellate work. Bruce appears chiefly in the Federal Court of Australia, all State Supreme Courts and the High Court of Australia. Bruce also appears before IP Australia in relation to patent and trade mark matters and conducts and appears at mediations.
Bruce is listed in both Doyle's Guide to Leading Victorian Intellectual Property Barristers (2023) and Doyle’s Guide to Leading Australian Intellectual Property Barristers (2023), as a pre-eminent senior counsel.
Bruce is listed in Chambers Intellectual Property: The Bar (2024) as a Band 1 practitioner. One of his reviews reads: “In addition to acknowledging that "he would be counsel of choice in patent matters," interviewees respect him as a "very experienced silk" who is "always across the subject matter and always a pleasure to work with" and who has justifiably maintained his position "at the top of the lists for a long time."
Bruce is also listed in the Legal 500 Asia-Pacific (2024) as a Leading Silk. One of his reviews reads: “One of the leading IP barristers. Uncanny ability to distil complex matter into elegant submissions.”
Catherine Pase
Catherine Pase practises in all areas of industrial relations, employment, and health and safety law.
Before Catherine joined the Victorian Bar, she was a Special Counsel in the Employment, Industrial Relations and Safety group at Herbert Smith Freehills. Prior to joining Herbert Smith Freehills, Catherine worked in the equivalent teams of Lander and Rogers and the Australian Government Solicitor. She started her legal career as an associate to the Honourable Justice Jessup of the Federal Court of Australia.
Catherine has experience working in-house and prides herself on her commerciality and strategic thinking.
Catherine read with Jonathan Kirkwood SC, and her senior mentor is Marc Felman SC.
Liability limited by a scheme approved under the Professional Standards Legislation
Chris Fenwick
List G Barristers
Clare Cunliffe
Clare has particular expertise in intellectual property litigation, with extensive experience in patent revocation and infringement proceedings (including pharmaceutical patent injunctions) and patent oppositions, trade mark infringement and revocation proceedings, non-use applications and oppositions, and copyright litigation, as well as litigation concerning the misuse of confidential information in the pharmaceutical context.
Clare is listed in Doyle's Guide to Leading Victorian Intellectual Property Barristers (2023) as a pre-eminent junior counsel and in Doyle’s Leading Intellectual Property Junior Counsel – Australia (2023) as a pre-eminent junior counsel.
She is listed in Chambers Intellectual Property: The Bar (2022) and (2023) as a Band 1 practitioner. Her 2022 review reads:
“Clare Cunliffe operates across the IP spectrum, being particularly well known for her exhaustive knowledge of patent law and deep familiarity with the pharmaceutical sector. Interviewees respect her as a barrister who is "really excellent at marshalling large amounts of complex legal and factual material and presenting that in a convincing way," as well as one who "stands her ground and keeps her clients' interests at heart." Sources further note that she is "very prominent and at the top of many people's lists for briefing."
In 2023, she was described as having a “comprehensive knowledge of Australian patent law and is able to get across complex scientific material quickly. She is collaborative and in high demand.”
Clare is also recognised in Who's Who Legal - Australia and New Zealand (2022) for her expertise in trade mark law.
Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation
Colin Golvan AM KC
Colin Golvan AM KC practises predominantly in intellectual property law and trade practices.
Colin Golvan has been a King’s Counsel at the Victorian Bar since 2002. He appears as senior counsel in copyright, trade marks, designs and patent cases, as well as in competition and misleading conduct cases in the Federal and High Court of Australia, and in mediations and arbitrations. Details of Federal Court cases in which he has appeared can be found here (trial decisions) and here (Full Court decisions).
Colin holds a Masters of Law degree from Monash University and a Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) and Law degrees from Melbourne University. He has taught in the intellectual property area in the Masters of Law program at Melbourne University as a Visiting Fellow. He has lectured on intellectual property subjects throughout Australia and New Zealand. He was admitted to legal practice in 1985, and worked as a solicitor (and senior associate) for Phillips Fox Solicitors for three years prior to signing the Bar Roll in November 1988 (having read with former High Court Justice the Hon Susan Crennan AC).
He has served as chairperson of the board of trustees of the Victorian Bar Indigenous Barristers’ Fund, the Indigenous Lawyers Committee of the Victorian Bar and his Barristers’ clerking list (List G). He is also a former member of the Appeals Board of Football Federation Victoria.
He has been selected as a leading IP and trade practices counsel in the Best Lawyers of Australia, Doyle’s listings in the field of Intellectual Property Law and Litigation, Chambers and Global Asia Pacific and Legal 500 in 2014-2021.
In 2018, he was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM).
Liability limited by a scheme approved under the Professional Standards Legislation
Craig Smith SC
Craig Smith practises in commercial law, with a specialisation in intellectual property, contract, Australian Consumer Law and confidential information disputes.
Daniel Preston
Daniel practises in commercial law, with a focus on regulatory and competition and consumer law.
David Morgan
David Morgan has a broad general commercial and public law practice.
David Morgan is a leading commercial and tax barrister who regularly appears in Victorian and Commonwealth courts and tribunals.
His areas of practice include stamp duty, land tax, income tax, property law, native title, banking and finance, contractual disputes, administrative law, disciplinary matters and corporations law.
David's expertise has been recognised in the Asia Pacific Legal 500 for Tax - Australian Bar 2021.
Before coming to the Bar he was a Senior Associate at Mallesons and spent a year as Associate to Justice Sundberg at the Federal Court of Australia. David is a former editor of the Melbourne University Law Review.
Dean Luxton
Dean practises in commercial litigation, with particular focus upon corporations and securities, trade practices and professional negligence.
He also has significant experience in equity and trusts, managed investment schemes, engineering matters and resource disputes.
Dean appears predominantly in superior courts at both trial and appellate levels. He also has international and domestic arbitration experience.
Before coming to the Victorian Bar, Dean practised in London for five years. He maintains a Practising Certificate with the English Bar and is able to advise and appear in respect of English law matters.
Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation
Dion Fahey
List G Barristers
Eugenia Levine
Eugenia Levine practises in commercial and public law.
Eugenia has particular expertise in class actions, including class action proceedings involving consumer law, major tort and employment law claims. Eugenia’s practice also encompasses trade practices matters, commercial arbitration, industrial law matters and judicial review.
Eugenia holds a Master of Laws from Columbia Law School in New York, and is admitted to the New York Bar. She also holds a First Class Honours degree in Law from Monash University, where she was awarded a number of academic prizes, including the Jeffrey L Sher Prize for Trial Practice and Advocacy.
Eugenia is the Deputy Chair of the Victorian Bar Human Rights Committee and a member of the Class Actions Committee of the Commercial Bar Association.
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Hamish Austin KC
Hamish Austin KC is a leading trial and appellate advocate with a broad commercial practice.
Hamish joined the Bar in 1998 and was appointed senior counsel in 2016. During that time Hamish has developed an extensive practice in general commercial litigation, both at first instance and at appellate level. He also has specialist expertise in corporations, insolvency, insurance and transport (aviation and maritime) law.
Hamish has appeared in some of the most complex commercial disputes in the last decade. These include the Timbercorp and Centro class actions, the collapses of Environinvest, Great Southern, Forest Enterprises Australia and Primebroker, and the Asahi litigation. Hamish also appeared for the principal moving party in the notable insolvency cases of Re Carpenter and Re Amerind.
As well as Victoria, Hamish has been briefed to appear in superior courts in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia. He has also appeared in special references and arbitrations concerning international commercial disputes. He is a member of the Maritime Law Association of Australia and New Zealand.
Jennifer Collins
Jennifer practises in all areas of commercial and regulatory law.
Jennifer has a broad commercial practice. Jennifer is recognised in Doyle's Guide to Leading Barristers, and was recognised in Lawyerly Media’s inaugural Rising Stars edition in 2021 for her work in high-stakes litigation.
Before coming to the Bar, Jennifer was a commercial litigation solicitor with Blake Dawson (now Ashurst) and a Senior Associate with Arnold Bloch Leibler.
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Jenny Firkin KC
Jenny Firkin QC practises in all areas of Industrial, Employment and Discrimination Law.
Jenny also has significant experience in class actions and royal commissions and inquiries. Most recently in the Workpac Class Actions, the COVID-19 Hotel Quarantine Inquiry and the Royal Commission into Violence Abuse Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability.
Jenny is an experienced appellate advocate, regularly conducting appeals under the Fair Work Act in the High Court of Australia and the Full Federal Court. She is instructed by State and Commonwealth governments, regulators, the private sector, associations, and individuals in all Australian States and Territories. Jenny is currently ranked as a leading senior counsel in Doyle’s Guide to Employment Law Barristers for Australia and Victoria.
Jenny is the Chair of the Victorian Bar’s Equality and Diversity Committee and a Member of the Law Council of Australia’s Equal Opportunity Committee.
Jeremy Slattery KC
Jeremy Slattery KC is a leading trial and appellate barrister with extensive experience in a broad range of commercial matters.
Jeremy Masters
Jeremy predominantly practises in commercial law and has extensive experience in complex commercial disputes and litigation.
His areas of expertise include real property, product liability, tort, contract, insolvency, professional negligence, trade practices, judicial review and telecommunications.
He has appeared in the High Court of Australia, the Federal Court of Australia, the Victorian Court of Appeal, the Supreme Court of Victoria, the Supreme Court of New South Wales, the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Appeals Tribunal, and the National Sports Tribunal, among other courts and tribunals.
Before joining the Bar, Jeremy was a senior associate in the commercial litigation group of Freehills where he worked for 9 years.
Jeremy has a Master of Laws from the University of Melbourne. He is the author of the Nuisance subtitle of Laws of Australia and author of the Third Party Procedure chapter of Court Forms, Precedents and Pleadings Victoria. He is a former Editor of the Melbourne University Law Review and a former author of Victorian Conveyancing Law and Practice.
Jeremy has had two Readers: Rebecca Kelly and Sarah Weinberg.
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Jillian Williams
Jill practises primarily in commercial law.
She has particular experience in competition and consumer law, class actions, insurance, and corporations matters. She also has significant regulatory law experience (in particular, in competition and consumer law) and has acted for and against regulators. Jill has appeared for a range of leading corporations, private and public clients (including ASIC and ACCC) in proceedings in the Federal and Supreme Courts.
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Justin Bourke KC
Justin Bourke KC has extensive experience in industrial, employment and discrimination law.
Justin brings immense experience to the conduct of trials and appeals, having done numerous trials, including trials of substantial length, and complex appeals, in the areas of industrial, employment and discrimination law since coming to the Victorian Bar.
Justin’s experience includes being involved in numerous interlocutory applications, especially in respect of applications to stop industrial action and applications to enforce post-employment restraints and protect confidential information.
Justin also regularly provides strategic advice to regulators, State and Federal governments and the corporate sector.
Justin has been consistently ranked in Chambers and Partners as a Band 1 top tier national industrial law Silk and in Doyle's Guide as a Preeminent national employment law senior counsel, being referred to in their research findings as “clearly the leading industrial silk.” In 2025, he was described as "a leading silk with a top-drawer reputation" and "a market leader." Most recently, Justin has been recognised as one of the top ten employment and industrial law senior counsel in Australia, by Business Today.
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Kane Loxley
Kane has been recognised as one of Victoria's leading junior counsel in Doyles' Guide since 2016, in the Australian Financial Review Best Lawyers List since 2018, and has been repeatedly recommended in Chambers and Partners. In 2023, he was described as “extremely easy to work with and very commercial.”
He has substantial experience acting in class action, regulatory, corporations and securities, and commercial and equity proceedings. He has appeared for and against leading corporations and government at trial and on appeal (including in the High Court of Australia). He has also been briefed in a number of Royal Commissions and public inquiries.
A list of significant cases can be provided on request.
Kate Beattie SC
Kate Beattie SC specialises in intellectual property litigation, with extensive experience in complex patent disputes.
Kess Dovey
Kess Dovey is an experienced commercial litigator with a broad practice.
Kess has over 18 years’ experience in general commercial litigation. Her particular expertise includes royal commissions, class actions, competition and trade practices, energy/resources and construction litigation in Federal and State courts, as well as international and domestic commercial arbitration. Kess has acted in numerous joint venture disputes, as well as in relation to statutory demands.
Kess has experience in large scale and high profile litigation, as well as highly sensitive partnership disputes. She holds a Master of Laws from the University of Melbourne, a Bachelor of Laws with Honours from Deakin University, and a Bachelor of Creative Arts from the University of Melbourne/Victorian College of the Arts.
Prior to joining the Bar, Kess was a Senior Associate in the commercial litigation team at King & Wood Mallesons (previously Mallesons Stephen Jaques). Kess read with Dr Andrew Hanak KC and her senior mentor was Peter Jopling KC.
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Laura Hilly
Laura practises in public, commercial, regulatory, employment and anti-discrimination law.
Laura has an appellate and trial practice and has appeared in the High Court, Court of Appeal, Supreme Court, Federal Court and various other courts and tribunals. She is regularly briefed by both State and Commonwealth departments and agencies, Aboriginal Land Councils and by private parties, in a variety of areas.
Before coming to the Bar, Laura was a Senior Lawyer at the Australian Government Solicitor. Laura acted for the Commonwealth in administrative law, regulatory, anti-discrimination, employment and information protection (including freedom of information and privacy) matters. She was an Associate to the Hon Chief Justice Black AC at the Federal Court; and a lawyer in the Commercial Litigation group at Blake Dawson (now Ashurst). Laura is also admitted in England and Wales and worked as a solicitor in a boutique London firm, specialising in employment and anti-discrimination litigation.
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Leigh Howard
Leigh's practice spans industrial relations, regulatory and public law.
He is briefed nationally for industrial relations work and has experience in all types of applications under the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth). His work in this area is routinely recognised by Chambers and Partners, Doyle's Guide, the Legal 500 and the AFR's Best Lawyers.
His public and regulatory practice extends to consumer, financial services, occupational health and safety, environment, discrimination and human rights. He has particular experience in civil penalty proceedings and white collar crime, and has acted for and against Australia's most prominent regulators. He is known for his grasp on statutory construction, constitutional, judicial review and regulatory enforcement principles.
Prior to the bar Leigh was a Senior Associate at Clayton Utz. He has also previously been a judge's associate, a tutor in constitutional law at La Trobe University, and an editor of Halsbury's Laws of Australia. He is a director and company secretary of List G Barristers.
“Leigh is an extremely smart and pragmatic operator. He is involved in the leading cases across Australia working with some of the most experienced senior counsel. You have great trust and confidence putting Leigh before the most sophisticated clients to run their most sensitive and important matters.” – The Legal 500 Asia Pacific Guide, 2024.
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Lucy Davis
Lucy accepts briefs in commercial law with a keen interest in intellectual property, consumer law and the automotive industry.
Her recent experience includes:
Intellectual Property: advising and appearing in a range of disputes in the Federal Courts, the Trade Marks Office and the Patents Office. Her work has involved advice on substantive rights, intellectual property management, preliminary dispute resolution, initiating proceedings, drawing pleadings, obtaining urgent interlocutory relief, evidentiary preparation, mediations and hearings.
Consumer law and franchising: Lucy draws on her experience at Toyota Australia to assist clients in relation to consumer law matters and also to understand and protect their rights under franchising arrangements. Her briefs have included matters concerning misleading and deceptive conduct including the effect of trade dress and breach of consumer guarantees.
Commercial law: advising and appearing in contractual disputes including those involving misuse of confidential information; contractual breaches; advising in relation to the Australian Design Rules and regulatory requirements for packaging.
Lucy’s experience as a solicitor, including managing the legal department at Toyota Australia, allows her to provide advocacy and advice that is commercially sound. Lucy commenced as a lawyer at Corrs Chambers Westgarth managing contentious and non-contentious intellectual property and information technology matters. At Toyota Australia, Lucy was recognised for her ability to deal with complex matters including those involving regulators and franchisees navigating the legal framework and commercial objectives.
Lucy has advanced analytical skills and she was conferred a Master of Laws from University of Melbourne which included a thesis in intellectual property. She is regularly asked to present on intellectual property issues and her analysis is regularly published.
Lucy was the Chief Examiner and lecturer in Copyright and Designs at Monash University. She is currently chair of the Victorian committee of IPSANZ and on the editorial panel of the Australian Intellectual Property Law Bulletin.
Lucy read with Peter Wallis KC and her senior mentor is Philip Solomon KC.
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Luke Merrick KC
Luke Merrick KC practises in commercial litigation, with a particular focus on competition and consumer law, energy regulation and intellectual property.
Malcolm Harding SC
Malcolm Harding S.C is a trial and appellate barrister with extensive litigation experience. Malcolm has practised as a barrister since 2003. He was appointed Senior Counsel in 2019.
Marcus Fleming
Marcus Fleming practises in commercial litigation, with a particular focus on intellectual property law.
Marcus has experience in intellectual property litigation in relation to patent revocation and infringement proceedings (including interlocutory injunction and special leave applications), copyright infringement proceedings, trade mark infringement proceedings (including related consumer protection law) and non-use applications and oppositions.
Marcus also has extensive experience in proceedings concerning a claim for compensation on an undertaking as to damages in the Federal Court of Australia (in the context of pharmaceutical patent revocation proceedings). Marcus also has experience in licensing, branding and advertising law, and food law.
Prior to joining the Bar, Marcus was a Senior Associate at Ashurst Australia (formerly Blake Dawson) in the intellectual property group.
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Marita Foley SC
Marita Foley SC specialises in environmental, planning and land acquisition matters for private clients and government agencies.
Marita has particular expertise in litigation involving contaminated land and losses related to environmental damage, having appeared in a number of significant and long running environmental cases and panel processes. Marita appears regularly in VCAT, the Supreme Court and Planning Panels Victoria in matters relating to town planning, environmental issues and land acquisition.
Marita commenced her career as an Associate in the Federal Court of Australia. Immediately before joining the Bar, Marita was a Senior Associate with Maddocks in their Public Law department, practising predominantly in the areas of planning, environment and local government law.
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Martin Scott KC
List G Barristers
Matthew Harvey KC
Matthew Harvey KC is a leading senior counsel with a broad commercial practice. Since 1996, he has developed a diverse commercial practice, both in trial and appellate work. He has significant expertise in corporations law and corporate insolvency, insurance, contracts, trusts and equity, transport and trade, and arbitration.
Matthew is regularly recognised in the leading legal directories, including Best Lawyers, Doyle’s Guide, Chambers & Partners, and Who’s Who Legal. He is described as "excellent at getting to the heart of a complex matter and determining the key issues that will decide the case", "extremely good on his feet in court" and "confident and convincing when presenting an argument". His "experience acting in major commercial disputes" is well recognised.
Melissa Marcus
Melissa Marcus practises in defamation law and all aspects of intellectual property.
Melissa has expertise in intellectual property litigation, with extensive experience in trade marks, copyright and misleading or deceptive conduct litigation. Melissa also does defamation law. She is a recommended Junior Counsel in intellectual property law by Doyle's Guide to the Australian Legal Profession. Melissa has also been distinguished as outstanding by Best Lawyers 2022 in intellectual property law.
Melissa also has experience in Royal Commissions, having acted for a client before the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (led by Dr Matt Collins AM QC), and for a client in relation to the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability.
She also has experience as an independent auditor in relation to undertakings to the ACCC pursuant to section 87B of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010.
Before joining the Bar, Melissa managed Mallesons Stephen Jaques' Trade Marks Group in Melbourne, providing trade mark, branding and general strategic advice to clients in Australia and overseas, and advising on oppositions and other IP disputes. She also worked at Linklaters in London after completing a Master of Laws at Cambridge University.
Natalie Hickey
Natalie Hickey practises in general commercial litigation and is a specialist in intellectual property.
Natalie also has a keen interest in media related matters, particularly social media. She has acted in many disputes concerning copyright, marketing, brands, confidential information, the Internet and digital technology. She also practises in sports law.
Previously a law firm partner, Natalie holds a Masters degree in media and telecommunications law from the University of Melbourne.
Natalie is an experienced private mediator, particularly in IP, competition and consumer law, and defamation matters.
Legal publications have recognised Natalie for many years. She is listed in the current editions of:
Doyles’ Guide (Intellectual Property);
Best Lawyers, Australia (Litigation, Intellectual Property, Alternative Dispute Resolution and Sports Law);
Who’s Who Legal - Trademarks.
Natalie serves in the following integrity roles:
Counsel assisting the Cricket Australia Code of Conduct Commission (since 2017/2018 season);
Netball Australia Super Netball League Disciplinary and Appeals Panel (since 2018).
Natalie has been a board member of Bell Shakespeare Theatre Company since 2017. She has also been a board member of Cottage by the Sea, Queenscliff since 1999.
Natalie has a background in publishing (Editor of Victorian Bar News: 2017-2021) and in social media. She is a past board member of the Thoroughbred Racehorse Owners’ Association Inc (TROA) (2016-2022).
Liability limited by a scheme approved under the Professional Standards Legislation
Nicholas De Young KC
List G Barristers
Nico Burmeister
Nico Burmeister practises primarily in industrial relations and employment law. He is a member of the Victorian and Western Australian Bars.
Peter Creighton-Selvay
Peter Creighton-Selvay practises in general commercial litigation and has specialist expertise in intellectual property litigation. He has significant trial and appellate experience and is regularly briefed to appear in the Federal Court, Supreme Court and IP Australia in a wide range of commercial and intellectual property proceedings.
Peter has been widely recognised as a leading barrister in his field, including in Doyle’s Guide to Technology, Media & Telecommunications Barristers (Australia and Victoria), Doyle’s Guide to Intellectual Property Barristers (Australia and Victoria), Chambers and Partners, and The Legal 500.
Prior to joining the Bar, Peter was a solicitor at Mallesons Stephen Jaques in Melbourne and a managing associate at Linklaters in London. He holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Melbourne (first class honours) and a Master of Laws from the University of Cambridge (also first class honours).
Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation
Peter Willis SC
Peter Willis SC appears and advises in a wide range of corporate and commercial and public law matters.
Peter's experience focuses on commercial law and equity, especially in financial services and resources, as well as public law (constitutional and administrative law, international law and native title) for Government and private clients. He has served as a director and compliance committee member of an Australian financial services licensee and as chairman of the Disciplinary Appeals Board of the Victorian Education department.
Prior to coming to the Bar, Peter was a partner of Mallesons Stephen Jaques and acted in corporations and securities, commercial, banking and finance and resources transactions in Melbourne and London. He also served as Ministerial Adviser to two Federal Attorneys-General.
He is an Executive Committee member of the International Law Association Victorian chapter and Australian representative on the ILA's International Securities Regulation Committee of experts and a Senior Advisor to Transparency International Australia.
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Rachel Doyle SC
Rachel Doyle SC is a leading trial and appellate advocate with a broad practice.
Rachel is a specialist in Class Actions, Industrial, Employment and
Rebecca Davern
Rebecca Davern practises in a wide range of commercial matters including major tort class actions, corporations law, administrative law and employment and discrimination law.
Richard J Harris SC
Richard J Harris SC practises in commercial law and has particular experience in complex contractual disputes (litigation and arbitration), trade practices and corporations related matters.
Richard advises and appears in commercial disputes including those arising under contract and involving partnerships, misleading conduct claims, breach of trust or fiduciary duties, and construction and engineering matters.
Richard appears principally in superior courts and arbitrations. He acts in substantial building and construction cases with claims for variations, acceleration, delay and disruption, liquidated damages and prevention.
Before joining the Victorian Bar in 2001, Richard was a Senior Associate at Freehills; and was an Associate to the Hon Sir Gerard Brennan, AC, KBE, Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia.
Liability limited by a scheme approved under the Professional Standards Legislation
Rudi Kruse
Rudi Kruse practises in public and commercial law.
Rudi acts for companies, regulators and government agencies in commercial, public and regulatory matters. He also acts in a broad range of native title and Aboriginal land rights matters across Australia for government parties, representative bodies and claimants. He has appeared in the High Court, Federal Court and State and Territory Supreme Courts at trial and appellate level, both led and unled. Some recent published cases in which he has been briefed are listed below.
Rudi advises Federal, State and Territory governments and agencies, and private entities, on a range of complex issues in commercial and regulatory law, constitutional law, administrative law, Aboriginal land rights and equity and trusts.
Before coming to the Bar, Rudi was an associate to the Hon Justice Hayne AC at the High Court of Australia (2014–2015), an associate to the Hon Justice McLeish at the Victorian Court of Appeal (2015), the Researcher to the Solicitor-General for Victoria (then Stephen McLeish SC) (2013–2014), and a solicitor at Minter Ellison (2011–2013). He is a graduate of the University of Melbourne (2010), where he received a number of academic prizes and scholarships and was an editor of the Melbourne University Law Review.
Rudi was a reporter for the Commonwealth Law Reports between 2016 and 2023. He read with Michael Borsky KC.
Liability limited by a scheme approved under the Professional Standards Legislation
Siobhan Ryan KC
Siobhan Ryan KC is an experienced intellectual property lawyer, specialising in trade marks and copyright.
Siobhan Ryan KC also advises and appears in trade practices, passing off and designs matters. She practises in all Federal and State Courts.
Siobhan is a registered trade mark attorney and regularly appears before the Registrar of Trade Marks in oppositions and registrability cases.
Siobhan has been consistently recognised in the Intellectual Property category in Best Lawyers, Doyles Guide and the World Trademark Review’s, Leading Trade Mark Professionals.
Siobhan is the President of the Trans-Tasman IP Attorneys Disciplinary Tribunal.
Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation
Stephen Rebikoff SC
List G Barristers
Stewart Maiden KC
Stewart Maiden KC is a preeminent commercial law trial and appellate advocate.
Stewart practises in complex commercial litigation and has a broad appearance and advice practice which encompasses cross-border and domestic insolvency, fiduciary and fraud-related actions, banking and finance disputes, corporate control disputes and general commercial litigation. Clients and instructors recognise him as being numerate, articulate and approachable.
Stewart is the only Australian barrister to be recognised in the 2020 Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Restructuring & Insolvency Lawyers. Doyle's Guide recognises him as a pre-eminent senior counsel in its rankings of Australian and Victorian insolvency and reconstruction silks, and as leading senior counsel in its list of Victorian commercial litigation and dispute resolution barristers. He is also recognised by Best Lawyers. Chambers and Partners recognises Stewart in its rankings of Australian insolvency and restructuring barristers, saying in its 2023 guide that he is:
“in demand for complex high-end insolvency and is a leading expert in that area.”
Liability limited by a scheme approved by Professional Standards Legislation
Tom Clarke
Tom Clarke practises in commercial, regulatory and public law, particularly in energy, commercial arbitration, financial services and private international law.
Tom is recognised as a market leader in the energy sector. He has deep knowledge of the national electricity and gas markets, having acted in numerous disputes across the generation, network and retail sectors, including civil penalty enforcement matters and access disputes in both gas and electricity networks. Tom is a member of the pool of experts for the Wholesale Energy Market Dispute Resolution Panel. He also provides specialist advice to a wide range of market participants, energy regulators, market bodies and governments about regulatory matters and proposed rule changes.
Tom is a Fellow of the Australian Centre for Commercial Arbitration (ACICA) and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) and a member of the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC) list of arbitrators. He acts as both counsel and arbitrator in energy arbitrations. He has also acted in a number of applications to enforce international arbitration awards, including against the Sauber Formula 1 team (on an urgent basis, before the 2015 Australian Grand Prix) and against Joseph Gutnick.
Tom also acts regularly in Hong Kong and China-related disputes, both in court and in arbitration, and has acted as an expert witness on questions of Hong Kong law. Tom has also acted for ASIC in financial services enforcement matters, including in superannuation and matters with China and SE Asia emerging market aspects.
Beyond energy and financial services, Tom also has extensive regulatory experience extending to the telecommunications, health, aged care, pharmacy and industry R&D sectors.
Liability limited by a scheme approved under the Professional Standards Legislation
Tom Cordiner KC
Tom Cordiner KC holds the dual qualification of barrister and registered patents and trade mark attorney.
Tom has, for the past 23 years, specialised in all aspects of intellectual property law, for the last five years as Queen’s Counsel.
Tom commonly appears in court trials and appeals throughout Australia, and from time to time the Patents Office and Trade Marks Office. He appears for, and advises, a broad range of clients in all kinds of industries including pharmaceutical, mining, automotive, agricultural, IT/telecommunications, wagering, and fashion. He also mediates intellectual property disputes.
Prior to joining the law, Tom obtained tertiary qualifications in science and law and earned an honours degree in molecular genetics with a project funded by Florigene Ltd (responsible for the “Blue Rose” and “Long-life carnation” projects) and Melbourne University.
From 1998 to 2003, Tom was a solicitor with Ashurst (then Blake Dawson Waldron), during which time he became a registered patent attorney and trade marks attorney, drafting and prosecuting mechanical and molecular biology patents, and assisting clients in a range of technologies, from dance-shoes to nanotechnology.
Tom contributes to IPForum each quarter and is the author of Patent Infringement in Lahores, published by Lexis Nexis. Tom has been ranked as “preeminent” since 2018 in the list of leading intellectual property senior counsel for Australia (and for Victoria) by the Doyle's Guide. He has also recently enrolled as a barrister of the High Court of New Zealand.
Tom Warner
Thomas Warner is an experienced commercial and public law junior counsel.
Thomas's practice primarily involves contract, insurance, major torts, equity and trusts, banking and regulatory law.
He has significant experience in class actions and complex multi-party litigation, arbitrations and inquiries.
Immediately prior to coming to the Bar, Thomas was Associate to Justice Vickery in the Supreme Court of Victoria. Prior to that Thomas worked in London as an Associate in Herbert Smith’s Banking Litigation group (now Herbert Smith Freehills). He completed articles at Corrs Chambers Westgarth.
Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.
Tomo Boston KC
Tomo Boston KC practises in commercial law, corporations and insolvency, trade practices, environment, product liability, professional negligence and arbitrations.
Tomo is a highly regarded trial and appellate lawyer with particular expertise in:
climate change litigation. He has written and presented extensively on climate change litigation, in particular the intersections between climate change and administrative and judicial reviews, environmental legislation, class actions, consumer products and protection (including greenwashing), contract and risk allocation, directors’ duties, disclosure obligations, financial products, insurance, negligence and nuisance.
arbitrations. Acted for Australian companies in domestic (ACICA) and international (ICC, UNICTRAL) arbitrations in relation to turnkey projects, sale agreements for mines and disputes over ownership of gas and mineral titles. Acted in Court proceedings seeking to enforce arbitral awards and appeals from arbitration.
corporate and commercial law. Acted for large corporate clients in a range of industries and in relation to contractual disputes, joint venture disputes, directors’ duties, continuous disclosure obligations, partnership disputes, sale of goods, franchise agreements, indemnity/warranty claims, injunctions, oppression claims, schemes of arrangement, the interpretation of contractual and statutory provisions and trust obligations.
consumer protection. Acted in relation to disputes concerning misleading or deceptive conduct and unconscionable conduct in a range of industries and in respect of various fact scenarios including breach of sale agreements, valuations and the sale of land and industrial equipment.
environmental law. Acted in relation to: (i) disputes concerning clean up notices, environmental impact assessments, liability for pollution, the re-use of contaminated soil, permission approvals, landfills, waste levies, and the liability and cost recovery for the clean up of contaminated land; (ii) challenges to decisions of environmental regulatory authorities; (iii) the prosecution of environmental offences; (iv) large scale infrastructure and energy project disputes, commercial cases and property cases in which environmental issues are in dispute; and (v) the interpretation of environmental legislation.
negligence and nuisance. Acted in relation to: (i) negligence and nuisance claims concerning large scale land and water contamination and pollution events; (ii) damages assessments and expert determinations; (iii) negligent mis-statements; and (iv) tortious interference with contractual relations.
professional negligence. Acted for solicitors, barristers, environmental auditors and accountants in relation to claims for damages arising out of professional negligence claims.
regulatory matters. Acted in a range of environmental and commercial regulatory investigations involving civil and pecuniary penalties, major corporate collapses, directors’ duties breaches, continuous disclosure breaches, fraud, managed investment schemes, large-scale contamination and pollution clean-up investigations and costs recovery claims.
Tomo is focused on working collaboratively with clients and solicitors to develop the most effective strategy to secure the best commercial and legal results while minimising legal, reputational and commercial risks.
Liability limited by a scheme approved under the Professional Standards Legislation
Warwick Rothnie
Warwick Rothnie practises in intellectual property law, trade practices, telecommunications and commercial law.
William Edwards KC
William's expertise includes shareholder actions, consumer actions, mass tort actions, product liability actions and human rights class actions. He practises in all jurisdictions (Victoria and New South Wales in particular) and regularly appears in the Federal Court of Australia and all State superior courts.
William also has a general commercial practice and advises Australian and foreign corporations (particularly litigation funders) on a range of matters. He has extensive experience acting in non-curial dispute resolution, including complex commercial infrastructure and commodity price arbitrations.