About

Provided by Gilbert + Tobin

Disputes and Investigations

We protect reputations when the stakes are at their highest. Meet the specialists in complex, high-profile commercial disputes, investigations and enforcement proceedings.

How we can help

We help clients navigate complex and contentious issues and bet-the-farm disputes. While litigation should always be a last resort, we understand it can be necessary to protect your reputation and commercial position.

Our disputes and investigations partners act in many of Australia’s most significant disputes and have an unparalleled reputation for providing strategic, pragmatic and commercial advice. They’re supported by highly specialised teams, as well as document review technology designed for the thorough and exacting demands of significant disputes and investigations.

Services

  • Corporate and commercial disputes
  • Regulatory investigations and enforcement proceedings
  • Class actions
  • Corporate misconduct and directors’ duties
  • Commission and inquiries

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Dispute Resolution - Australia

2
Band 2

What the Team is Known For

Gilbert + Tobin maintains a well-resourced, independent practice, acting for an extensive domestic and international clientele, including leading players in the banking, resources and telecommunications industries. It is active on class actions and other multiparty litigation, regulatory investigations and other official inquiries, including the growing number of royal commissions. The team is regularly visible on restructuring and insolvency-related mandates and those involving alleged breaches of directors' duties. It is noted for strategic insight and rapid, proactive issue assessment, often enhanced by the labour-saving use of technology.

Work Highlights

  • Gilbert + Tobin assisted key members of Microsoft's regional leadership team in preparing for their appearance before the Australian Senate Select Committee on Adopting AI.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

Colleen Platford
2
Colleen Platford
2
Band 2
Colleen Platford is based in Sydney, where her complex commercial litigation practice is largely focused on disputes concerning insolvency or trade practices.

Colleen is really engaged in getting the right result. She is always available and takes the time to understand the matter.

Colleen is a very experienced and commercially pragmatic litigator.

Richard Harris
2
Richard Harris
Head of Dispute Resolution
2
Band 2
Richard Harris heads the practice from the Sydney office and is personally best known for his representation of leading financial services providers, acting across an impressively broad range of class action, official inquiry and regulatory litigation mandates.

He is a market leader in litigation management, strategy, commercial advice and stakeholder management.

Richard is empathetic, yet confident, which gives me a lot of confidence in what he and the team can achieve.

Richard is very good at synthesising documents and providing a coherent argument. He has phenomenal attention to detail.

Crispian Lynch
3
Crispian Lynch
3
Band 3
Crispian Lynch stands out for his expertise in the class action and regulatory spheres and is particularly active on behalf of clients from the financial services sector. He is based in Sydney.

Crispian really understands the importance of receiving communication that is unequivocal and takes into account the strategic objectives for the matter.

Crispian is a highly skilled litigator. He is technically excellent with very strong strategic awareness.

Crispian is whip-smart, thorough and good to work with.

Janet Whiting
4
Janet Whiting
4
Band 4
Janet Whiting is a highly regarded commercial litigator in the Melbourne disputes space, advising extensively on high-stakes litigation, regulatory issues and matters of major reputational significance to the clients concerned, representing both high-profile companies and individual executives.

Janet is an outstanding litigator. She offers a very strategic focus and works well with her clients.

Janet is exceptional.

Holly Sara
U
Holly Sara
U
Up and Coming
Holly Sara is a Sydney-based partner who focuses on contentious work for large multinational companies, notably those from the financial services and pharmaceutical sectors.

Holly is engaging and always makes herself available.

Holly is a delight to work with.

Ranked Lawyers at
Gilbert + Tobin

Provided by Chambers
Filter by
Band

Australia

Dispute Resolution

Colleen Platford
2
Colleen Platford
2
Band 2
Richard Harris
2
Richard Harris
Head of Dispute Resolution
2
Band 2
Crispian Lynch
3
Crispian Lynch
3
Band 3
Janet Whiting
4
Janet Whiting
4
Band 4
Holly Sara
U
Holly Sara
U
Up and Coming

Members

Provided by Gilbert + Tobin

Antonia Garling

Christiana McCudden

Daniel MacPherson

Dianne Banks

Kate Harrison

Patrick Tydde

Philippa Hofbrucker

Richard Harris

Richard Harris

Head of Department

Tim O'Leary

Industries

Provided by Gilbert + Tobin

Banks

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Education

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