Dispute Resolution
Asia-Pacific Guide 2024 : Australia
Band 2
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
+61 2 9210 6500Chambers Review
Corrs Chambers Westgarth offers a substantial independent practice that is notably active in the class action and arbitration spheres and renowned for particularly high levels of client service. It additionally offers respected capabilities in the areas of contentious energy and resources issues, healthcare-related cases and corporate investigations, and is also regularly involved in data security and product liability matters. The team draws praise for its lawyers' technical abilities and commercial judgement, as well as its commitment to client education through seminars and events. Key clients include Meta, Hancock Prospecting and Google.
Work Highlights
- Corrs acted for ME Bank with respect to the prosecution of charges in the Federal Court of Australia under the Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"When we turn to Corrs Chambers Westgarth for their judgement on our most complex and novel regulatory matters, we know that we'll consistently receive high-quality advice that is commercial, pragmatic and risk-aware."
"They have a strong bench across their Australian offices and formidable litigation counsel whose knowledge can be drawn on as required. They are more than capable of handling complex disputes as well as simpler and smaller scale disputes."
"The team is always widely and pleasantly accessible and sensitive to their clients' internal timing pressures."
"When we turn to Corrs Chambers Westgarth for their judgement on our most complex and novel regulatory matters, we know that we'll consistently receive high-quality advice that is commercial, pragmatic and risk-aware."
"They have a strong bench across their Australian offices and formidable litigation counsel whose knowledge can be drawn on as required. They are more than capable of handling complex disputes as well as simpler and smaller scale disputes."
"The team is always widely and pleasantly accessible and sensitive to their clients' internal timing pressures."
Notable Practitioners
Josh Paffey is widely considered one of the market's leading arbitration practitioners and is head of Corrs Chambers Westgarth's arbitration practice. His global clientele includes major oil and gas producers and ASX-listed clients in the transport sector.
"Josh is an exceptional disputes expert and one that I highly recommend for arbitration matters. He is patient, thorough and detailed, explaining complicated legal elements within the business to non-lawyers very well."
"Josh acts as a collaborative, cost-conscious, technical lawyer who can be relied upon for experienced legal strategy and is a highly valuable member of my legal team when disputes arise."
Mark Wilks leads the Corrs Chambers Westgarth commercial litigation team from the Sydney office, bringing to that role extensive experience in the handling of class actions and of disputes arising from the financial services and resources sectors.
"Mark is probably the best litigator I have met. He is outcome-focused, has a very high intellect which he applies at a highly strategic level and with a good commercial understanding. He has developed very strong relationships with senior and junior counsel in Sydney and is personable and considerate."
"Mark is accessible and responsive from all time zones. He is quick to collaborate internally when needed to ensure any corporate legal challenge I face has holistic support from Corrs Chambers Westgarth, while remaining sensitive to my internal time pressures."
Chris Pagent heads the Corrs Chambers Westgarth class action practice from the Sydney office and takes the leading role on many of its key mandates, where he acts for an impressive range of leading domestic and international companies.
"Chris provides sophisticated and strategic advice."
"Chris provides a high level of client service and is very approachable. He is able to explain things to broader audiences and is also very informative about current events in the relevant litigation space."
Kirsty Sutherland is a highly respected litigator with over 30 years' experience in the Perth market, where she is best known for work on behalf of leading domestic and international players in the energy and resources sector.
Simon Johnson acts principally on matters in the financial services and technology spheres, his regular clients including some of the best-known names in the digital sphere. He is based in Sydney.
"We continue to be impressed with Simon's quick summation of relevant issues in play, his engagement style and his empathy towards our internal messaging and decision-making."