Piper Alderman
The dispute resolution and litigation team at Piper Alderman acts in class actions on both the plaintiff and defendant side, with particular strength in cases in the financial services and life sciences industries. Martin del Gallego leads the team from Sydney, a commercial litigator with notable experience in cross-border class actions. Greg Whyte, in Brisbane, is noted for his ‘technical ability’, and Anne Freeman, in Sydney, is an ’exceptional practitioner‘. Also in Sydney, Kate Sambrook made partner in January 2023, and has notable experience in the financial services sector.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Piper Alderman has grown into a mature litigation practice in Sydney, now running high-profile and high-value cases across various industries.'
- 'Kate Sambrook is a highly experienced, efficient and driven practitioner. Martin Del Gallego is commercially minded, an excellent communicator and very approachable. Both Martin Del Gallego and Kate Sambrook are strategic and able to change tack quite quickly, which is invaluable in fast-paced litigation.'
- 'They are all extremely well organised, efficient, engaged, strategic and reliable. Their work is a very high quality, and they are a pleasure to work with.'
- 'Martin del Gallego is practical, easy to work with and has first-rate legal and commercial acumen. Lillian Rizio is super efficient and totally in control of her files; nothing is left to chance.'
- 'The Piper Alderman Class Actions practice is a stand-out team of heavy-hitting litigators. With their exceptional level of experience and skill in representative proceedings, they are top-notch legal minds, strategists, advisors, negotiators and advocates.'
- 'Greg Whyte is undoubtedly one of Australia's top class actions practitioners. His technical ability and legal thinking is second to none, and he is genuinely passionate about his clients' claims, working tirelessly to progress them in the most efficient and effective way. A true top-notch operator.'
- 'Anne Freeman is an exceptional practitioner. With her wealth of class actions experience, she is a savvy litigator and strategist, a genuinely engaged advisor and a "safe pair of hands" for her clients. I would not hesitate to recommend Anne - both on the plaintiff and defendant side of the ledger.'
- 'Kate Sambrook and Martin Del Gallego are both star performers and Millie Byrnes-Howe is an excellent senior associate.'
Key clients
- Zoetis Australia Pty Ltd
- Stillwater Pastoral Pty Ltd
- R and N Hunter Pty Ltd
- Adeva Home Solutions Pty Ltd v Queensland Motorways Management Pty Ltd & Ors
- Jowene Pty Ltd (ACN 001 714 585)
- Geoffrey Peter Davis & Anor v Quintis Limited & Ors
Work highlights
- Advised Stillwater Pastoral in a legal claim brought against Stanwell Corporation and CS Energy on behalf of electricity consumers in Queensland.
- Acting for the applicants in a class action against AMP Financial Planning, Charter Financial Planning, Hillross Financial Services, AMP and Resolution Life Australasia (formerly AMP Life Limited).
- Acting for the Representative Lead in a class action which alleges IG Markets has marketed complex contracts for difference (CFDs) to inexperienced retail investors and facilitated those investors to trade in CFDs without applying adequate checks and balances.
Lawyers
Next Generation Partners
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Martin del Gallego