Chambers Review
Provided by Chambers
Dispute Resolution: The Bar - Australia
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
The List G clerks are good to deal with.
We have enjoyed consistently strong service from the clerks at List G.
The clerks at List G are always helpful.
Our engagement with the clerks is always positive.
The clerks are efficient and user-friendly.
Notable practitioners
Andrew has a very good understanding of industrial relations law. He can convey relatively complex concepts in a straightforward manner.
He has an excellent knowledge of the law, strong submission writing and advocacy skills, and provides a high level of customer service.
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 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 is the best industrial law barrister in Australia. When you walk into court with him you know you are 100% prepared.
Justin is an excellent advocate and a clever strategist.
Marcus is highly competent and a go-to junior counsel for patents at the Bar.
Marcus is very collegiate, responsive and down to earth.
Martin conveys complex information and law in simple and persuasive terms.
Rachel is an incredible barrister. She has a brilliant capacity to distil a large volume of information at short notice.
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 Maiden is a smart and compelling advocate.
Stewart is detail-oriented and hard-working. His temperament is very empathetic and genuine.
Tom is really hitting his prime. He is diligent, thoughtful, easy to deal with and excellent in court.
Tom is always good to work with, an excellent advocate and commercially very savvy.
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 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 is very clever, a great advocate and a thought leader.
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 is very knowledgeable and a talented drafter.
Leigh is an exceptional barrister. His responsiveness, ability to connect with clients and focus on delivering clients' broader business objectives set him apart.
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 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.
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.
Nicholas is an excellent advocate who is great to work with and has an uncanny ability to simplify complex propositions.
Nicholas De Young is a leading silk in class action work.
Nicholas distinguishes himself with passion, intelligence and strategic acumen.
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 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 quite unflappable. No matter how severely under pressure we may be, he is always cool, calm and collected.
Craig is always available, technically very able and commercially astute.
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 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 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 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 Loxley really impressed me. He was really calm and asked all the right questions.
Kane is a rising star.
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.