A banking and insolvency specialist with a commercial practice, Adam is an experienced trial and appellate advocate.
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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.
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.
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 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 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.”
List G Barristers
Clare Cunliffe 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 (2021) as a pre-eminent junior counsel and in Doyle’s Leading Intellectual Property Junior Counsel – Australia (2021) as a pre-eminent junior counsel. https://doylesguide.com/leadin...
She is listed in Chambers Intellectual Property: The Bar (2020) as a Band 1 practitioner. Her review reads:
“Operating across the IP spectrum, Clare Cunliffe is particularly well known for her "encyclopedic knowledge of patent law and patent decisions in Australia and beyond, and her ability to bring that knowledge to bear in cases." This makes her "a first choice for large, complex patent infringement and validity proceedings," it being further noted that "leading IP senior counsel tend to choose her as their junior." More than one interviewee places her in the front rank of junior counsel practising at the IP Bar.”
and in the Legal 500 Asia-Pacific (2020) as a Leading Junior. Her review reads:
“Her knowledge of patent law and her ability to grasp complex technology sets her apart in this field. Clare is a leading junior in patent, trade mark, copyright, consumer law and competition matters.”
Colin Golvan AM QC practises predominantly in the intellectual property and trade practices areas.
Colin Golvan has been a Queen’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).
Craig Smith practises in commercial law, with a specialisation in intellectual property, contract, Australian Consumer Law and confidential information disputes.
Daniel practises in commercial law, with a focus on regulatory and competition and consumer law.
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.
List G Barristers
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 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.
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 is a leading trial and appellate barrister with extensive experience in a broad range of commercial matters
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 specialises in intellectual property litigation, with extensive experience in complex patent disputes.
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.Liability limited by a scheme approved under the Professional Standards Legislation
Leigh practices in industrial relations, regulatory and public law litigation.Leigh’s industrial practice covers industrial action, bargaining and enterprise agreement disputes, and contract and equity litigation. His public law and regulatory practice extends to consumer, financial services, occupational health and safety, discrimination, and human rights. Leigh is regularly recognised by peers and clients in Doyle’s Guide and the Legal 500.
Luke Merrick practises in commercial litigation, with a particular focus on competition and consumer law, energy regulation and intellectual property. Luke joined the Victorian Bar in 2009. He is an experienced advocate, with extensive experience in commercial and regulatory litigation. He practises primarily in the Federal Court of Australia, regularly appearing in Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide. Luke has represented government and private clients in a range of complex commercial and competition proceedings (at both first instance and on appeal). He is also widely recognised for his expertise in intellectual property. Luke is the President of the Intellectual Property Society of Australia and New Zealand.
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 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. Marcus is listed in Doyle's Guide to Leading Victorian Intellectual Property Barristers (2015) as a recommended junior counsel.
Marita Foley SC specialises in environmental, planning and land acquisition matters for private clients and government agencies.
List G Barristers
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 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.
Nick De Young QC practises in all aspects of commercial litigation.
Nico Burmeister practises primarily in industrial relations and employment law. He is a member of the Victorian and Western Australian Bars.
List G Barristers
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
Rachel Doyle SC is a leading trial and appellate advocate with a broad practice. Rachel is a specialist in Class Actions, Industrial, Employment and Discrimination Law and Public Law. She has significant experience in common law proceedings involving novel torts, and in Royal Commissions and inquests. She also appears in commercial matters.
Rebecca Davern is currently ranked by respected peer review publication Best Lawyers as Lawyer of the Year Labour and Employment Law in Melbourne. Given her particular expertise in employment, industrial and discrimination matters, Rebecca is also recognised by Doyle's Guide and the Chambers and Partners Asia-Pacific Rankings for her outstanding expertise in employment law. Rebecca is regularly instructed on employment, industrial and discrimination law matters, primarily by employers, in the Federal Court. Rebecca also practises in a wide range of commercial matters including corporations, administrative law and major tort class actions.
Stephen Rebikoff practises in intellectual property, commercial law and administrative law. Stephen is an experienced trial and appellate advocate, and regularly appears in the Federal Court of Australia, Supreme Court of Victoria, Trade Marks Office and Administrative Appeals Tribunal. He has acted for many leading companies and brands, and for a wide range of government agencies and regulatory bodies. He is recommended in the Legal 500, Doyle’s Guide to leading intellectual property and technology, media and telecommunications barristers and Best Lawyers Australia.
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 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.
Thomas Warner is an experienced commercial and public law junior counsel.
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 practises in intellectual property law, trade practices, telecommunications and commercial law.
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.