With eight offices across Australia, Minter Ellison offers clients national expertise alongside an international reach. The team is well versed in advising across the gamut of content and communication issues and, drawing upon its ‘decades of experience’, specialises in high-profile, high-risk defamation cases. Peter Bartlett has substantial experience in the field and advises on privacy issues, breaches of confidence and super injunctions. The team is also home to ’outstanding practitioner’ Dean Levitan, who is well known for acting for key media companies in the federal and state supreme courts; media litigator David Poulton, who expertly handles defamation cases; and Patrick Considine, who was recently promoted to the partnership.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Excellent technical knowledge of the law and a deep understanding of the media industry. Particularly good at identifying and nurturing smart young lawyers.'
- 'Peter Bartlett has a depth of knowledge, a deep understanding of the industry and business context and is a strategic and pragmatic litigator. Patrick Considine and Dean Levitan in particular have a knack for understanding and analysing highly specialised and detailed issues quickly and thoroughly, and listening to and managing the client's priorities. They are all excellent communicators and a pleasure to deal with.'
- 'The team has decades of experience in this area, and for big complex litigation has the depth of team required.'
- 'Peter Bartlett is pre-eminent and puts his all into matters for his clients. Patrick Considine, a new partner, is smart, hard working and keen to impress.'
- 'The team's core strength is technical brilliance rendered useful with an understanding of what is practical.'
- 'Dean Levitan is an outstanding practitioner - accessible, strategic and with a deep understanding of the law and the industry. Dean is my go-to for any media law issue, particularly defamation. A legal powerhouse, and the total package, what any client could wish for. Peter Bartlett leads the practice and already has a well-earned, great reputation as a leader in the field.'
Key clients
- Copyright Agency
- Nine Entertainment Co. (The Age, Sydney Morning Herald, Australian Financial Review)
- The New York Times Company
- Foxtel
- Walkley Foundation for Journalism
- Crikey
- The International Bar Association Human Rights Institute
- Australian Broadcasting Company (ABC)
- Australian Securities and Investment Commission
- Al Jazeera
- RMIT University
Work highlights
- Acting in defamation proceedings brought by one of Australia's most decorated war veterans in relation to three articles published by Fairfax Media mastheads in 2018 that implicate the plaintiff in serious misconduct amounting to murder, war crimes and domestic violence.
- Advised the Nine Network in relation to defamation proceedings by the former President of Melbourne FC.
- Acted for Al Jazeera in a high-stakes defamation claim commenced by the nephew of the Prime Minister of Cambodia. The claim relates to an in-depth documentary investigation published by Al Jazeera in August 2022.
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