Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Dispute Resolution: The Bar - Australia

1
Band 1

What the Team is Known For

List G Barristers constitutes a substantial Melbourne offering, mustering over 180 counsel, who are described by one source as “leading barristers with exceptional talent and market profile”. It focuses principally on commercial and public law issues and commands respect in the market. The list brings together advocates with particularly impressive track records in such specialised areas as employment, native title and shipping, as well as those maintaining broader commercial practices, and it attracts especially high praise for having assembled a notable cohort of IP practitioners. One interviewee observes that the list is “the leading chamber for IP at the Victorian Bar”. CEO and senior clerk Jane King is the principal contact.

Strengths

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Notable Practitioners

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Andrew Pollock
1
Andrew Pollock
1
Band 1
Andrew Pollock acts principally for employers on such issues as enterprise bargaining, industrial action and the consequences of major restructures, handling both contentious and advisory mandates.

He has an excellent knowledge of the law, strong submission writing and advocacy skills, and provides a high level of customer service.

Andrew has a very good understanding of industrial relations law. He can convey relatively complex concepts in a straightforward manner.

Clare Cunliffe
1
Clare Cunliffe
1
Band 1

Clare Cunliffe operates across the IP spectrum, being particularly well known for her exhaustive knowledge of patent law and deep familiarity with the pharmaceutical sector.

She is technically clever, and her style of communication is short, sharp and efficient.

Clare has a completely unprecedented work rate. She can do the work of two because she is just that fast, and it is all to an extremely high standard.

Hamish Austin
1
Hamish Austin
1
Band 1
Hamish Austin KC operates a versatile practice in which insolvency and transport issues – particularly shipping – feature especially prominently.

Hamish is a go-to silk to brief for any complex commercial litigation. He is a very safe pair of hands.

Hamish provides clear advice and direction on how a matter should proceed. He is a forceful advocate and makes hard calls where needed.

Justin Bourke KC
1
Justin Bourke KC
1
Band 1
Justin Bourke KC is an exceptionally experienced litigator, to High Court level, of workplace-related cases, in which he acts for both employers and a wide range of government agencies. He is widely regarded as one of the Victorian Bar's leading specialists in industrial relations issues.

Justin is an excellent advocate and a clever strategist.

Justin is the best industrial law barrister in Australia. When you walk into court with him you know you are 100% prepared.

Marcus Fleming
1
Marcus Fleming
1
Band 1
Marcus Fleming focuses his practice on litigation in the intellectual property area, offering experience of infringement-related mandates in the copyright, patent and trade mark spheres and of patent revocation proceedings.

Marcus is very collegiate, responsive and down to earth.

Marcus is highly competent and a go-to junior counsel for patents at the Bar.

Martin Scott KC
1
Martin Scott KC
1
Band 1
Martin Scott KC devotes much of his practice to transport and shipping-related cases, with matters involving major shipping casualties featuring particularly prominently.

Martin conveys complex information and law in simple and persuasive terms.

Matthew Harvey
1
Matthew Harvey
1
Band 1
Matthew Harvey KC maintains a varied commercial practice within which shipping, broader transport and trade issues feature particularly prominently.
Rachel Doyle SC
1
Rachel Doyle SC
1
Band 1
Rachel Doyle SC is renowned for her handling of matters on behalf of trade unions and individual employees, and she also acts for employers and Victorian state bodies.

Rachel is an incredible barrister. She has a brilliant capacity to distil a large volume of information at short notice.

Rebecca Davern
1
Rebecca Davern
1
Band 1
Rebecca Davern is best known for her representation of employers in general employment, industrial relations and discrimination cases considered by the Federal Court.

Rebecca is great to work with. She provides a unique perspective and is an excellent advocate.

Rebecca has an acknowledged expertise in the discrimination area.

Stewart J Maiden
1
Stewart J Maiden
1
Band 1
Stewart Maiden KC is acknowledged by interviewees to be one of the silks most likely to be encountered on significant insolvency matters, but also one who is particularly noted for his expertise on international insolvency issues.

Stewart Maiden is a smart and compelling advocate.

Stewart is detail-oriented and hard-working. His temperament is very empathetic and genuine.

Tom Cordiner
1
Tom Cordiner
1
Band 1
Tom Cordiner KC brings exceptional qualifications to his work at the IP Bar, including a degree in molecular genetics, registration as both a patent and a trade mark attorney, and hands-on experience as a solicitor.

Tom is always good to work with, an excellent advocate and commercially very savvy.

Tom is really hitting his prime. He is diligent, thoughtful, easy to deal with and excellent in court.

Anthony Neal KC
2
Anthony Neal KC
2
Band 2
Anthony Neal KC maintains a 360-degree native title practice which incorporates the representation not only of both proponent and traditional owner parties but also of relevant government bodies.
Benjamin Fitzpatrick
2
Benjamin Fitzpatrick
2
Band 2
Benjamin Fitzpatrick is an exceptionally experienced senior junior who is best known for his work in the patent space, including oppositions and appeals, though his expertise covers the full range of IP practice.

Benjamin is very experienced in all aspects of patent and trade mark work, very easy to work with and readily available to discuss matters.

Brendan Avallone
2
Brendan Avallone
2
Band 2

Brendan Avallone draws upon experience acquired not only in private practice, but also in a number of state and Commonwealth government agencies to advise or advocate across a varied range of workplace issues, including industrial action, unfair dismissal applications and underpayment claims.

Brendan brings a calm, thoughtful presence to every matter. He is genuine, approachable and always responsive.

Brendan's knowledge of public sector law is second to none.

Colin Golvan KC
2
Colin Golvan KC
2
Band 2
Colin Golvan KC practises across the full range of IP disciplines, attracting praise for his work in both the patent and trade mark spaces and enjoying a particularly high level of recognition for his copyright-related expertise.

Colin is very clever, a great advocate and a thought leader.

David Yarrow SC
2
David Yarrow SC
2
Band 2

David Yarrow SC offers experience in the native title space dating back to 1994 and represents indigenous groups across a broad range of mandates, including determination applications, claims-related litigation and other disputes.

David is a highly experienced native title barrister who provides excellent service.

David is incredibly well regarded and has been a long time.

Leigh Howard
2
Leigh Howard
2
Band 2
Leigh Howard is singled out by market commentators for his in-depth knowledge of industrial relations. He handles the full range of disputes under the Fair Work Act 2009, as well as more public and regulatory issues.

Leigh is an exceptional barrister. His responsiveness, ability to connect with clients and focus on delivering clients' broader business objectives set him apart.

Leigh is very knowledgeable and a talented drafter.

Luke Merrick
2
Luke Merrick
2
Band 2

Luke Merrick KC is an experienced advocate at the Melbourne IP Bar, commanding particular respect for his work in the trade mark space.

Luke is outstanding. He is responsive, works well in teams and presents well in the court. He can tell you when you're wrong and need to change your strategy.

Luke is incredibly diplomatic and excellent at managing clients. He is a team player. He works with us rather than for us, which extends to his thinking of how to make the client's life easier.

Nicholas De Young
2
Nicholas De Young
2
Band 2
Nicholas De Young KC is active in a variety of spheres, including those of competition, professional negligence and trade practices, but stands out particularly for his handling of regulatory and corporations law issues.

Nicholas De Young is a leading silk in class action work.

Nicholas distinguishes himself with passion, intelligence and strategic acumen.

Nicholas is an excellent advocate who is great to work with and has an uncanny ability to simplify complex propositions.

Nico Burmeister
2
Nico Burmeister
2
Band 2

Nico Burmeister draws on experience both as a solicitor and as an in-house counsel in the recruitment sector to advise and advocate across a broad range of practice area issues, often leading his own cases and notably dividing his practice between Victoria and Western Australia. He is active in both the general employment and industrial relations spheres.

Nico is a great advocate in written and oral submission. He is quite compelling and easy to work with.

He has a strong technical legal knowledge.

Craig Smith
3
Craig Smith
3
Band 3

Craig Smith SC has a background in chemical engineering and often appears in cases involving technical scientific issues, including biotechnology and pharmaceuticals. He focuses on patent and trade mark cases.

Craig is always available, technically very able and commercially astute.

Craig is quite unflappable. No matter how severely under pressure we may be, he is always cool, calm and collected.

Kate Beattie
3
Kate Beattie
3
Band 3

Kate Beattie SC is cited for a variety of capabilities by interviewees, sources not only identifying her as an experienced advocate in patent cases in general, but also stressing the significance of a scientific background to a career that has seen her act in several pharmaceutical patent cases.

Kate's technical qualification is a key asset. She offers highly strategic advice.

Kate is a skilful advocate and technically excellent.

Jeremy Slattery
4
Jeremy Slattery
4
Band 4

Jeremy Slattery KC maintains a wide-ranging practice which often addresses insurance, intellectual property, professional negligence or trade practice issues.

Jeremy's advocacy is very strong, and he's a go-to for construction matters.

Kathleen Foley
4
Kathleen Foley
4
Band 4
Kathleen Foley SC handles both complex commercial and significant public law matters, her experience in the latter sphere including numerous High Court appearances. In the commercial space, she is especially noted for her involvement, on both plaintiff and defendant sides, in cases concerning the conduct of individual executives.

Kathleen Foley SC is a versatile and exceptional court advocate.

Kathleen is incredibly bright and personable.

She’s an incredible practitioner, and I highly recommend her.

Kane Loxley
Kane Loxley
New Silks

Kane Loxley SC practises across a wide gamut of commercial issues, with particular prominence in shareholder class actions and significant regulatory disputes.

Kane is smart, has excellent instincts and produces very good quality written work. He's really diligent; it's almost surprising how much and how quickly he turns around work.

Kane is a rising star.

Kane Loxley really impressed me. He was really calm and asked all the right questions.

Peter Creighton-Selvay
Peter Creighton-Selvay
New Silks

Peter Creighton-Selvay SC is active in all areas of IP work and the recipient of enthusiastic commendation from both instructing solicitors and fellow barristers. He has an impressive track record at both trial and appellate level.

Peter provides thoughtful and focused advocacy for his clients. He is always well prepared.

Peter is an outstanding advocate who is detail-focused. He is able to break down complex issues of law and fact into simple, pithy submissions.

Ranked Barristers at
List G Barristers

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Filter by
Band

Silks (KC)

Australia

Competition/Antitrust: The Bar

Nicholas De Young KC
2
Nicholas De Young KC
2
Band 2
Dispute Resolution: The Bar

Nicholas De Young KC
3
Nicholas De Young KC
3
Band 3
Jeremy Slattery KC
4
Jeremy Slattery KC
4
Band 4
Kathleen Foley SC
4
Kathleen Foley SC
4
Band 4
Kane Loxley SC
Kane Loxley SC
New Silks
Employment: The Bar

Justin Bourke KC
1
Justin Bourke KC
1
Band 1
Rachel Doyle SC
1
Rachel Doyle SC
1
Band 1
Intellectual Property: The Bar

Tom Cordiner KC
1
Tom Cordiner KC
1
Band 1
Colin Golvan KC
2
Colin Golvan KC
2
Band 2
Luke Merrick KC
2
Luke Merrick KC
2
Band 2
Craig Smith SC
3
Craig Smith SC
3
Band 3
Kate Beattie SC
3
Kate Beattie SC
3
Band 3
Peter Creighton-Selvay SC
Peter Creighton-Selvay SC
New Silks
Native Title: The Bar

Anthony Neal KC
2
Anthony Neal KC
2
Band 2
David Yarrow SC
2
David Yarrow SC
2
Band 2
Restructuring/Insolvency: The Bar

Hamish Austin KC
1
Hamish Austin KC
1
Band 1
Stewart J Maiden KC
1
Stewart J Maiden KC
1
Band 1
Shipping: The Bar

Martin Scott KC
1
Martin Scott KC
1
Band 1
Matthew Harvey KC
1
Matthew Harvey KC
1
Band 1
Hamish Austin KC
2
Hamish Austin KC
2
Band 2
20 of 28 results