Dispute Resolution: The Bar - Australia
Band 2
What the Team is Known For
Sixth Floor Selborne Wentworth Chambers has over 50 barristers in Sydney who offer expertise across a comprehensive range of commercial and public law disciplines, including construction and native title. It is particularly noteworthy for its high concentration of tax-related expertise. Interviewees frequently mention the number of barristers from this set who go to the bench, one describing it as “truly a judge-making set”. Another source reports that “the floor has some of the strongest commercial barristers in the country”. Clerk Lisa Stewart is the main contact.
Strengths
The clerks are always helpful, pleasant and prompt.
Lisa Stewart of Sixth Floor is absolutely fantastic. She is always very helpful and accommodating.
Notable practitioners
Chloe Burnett SC is a well-known and well-regarded tax silk, noted for her strong litigation capabilities, noteworthy transfer pricing expertise and extensive experience of high-profile cases. She is also noted for her prominence on mandates with a cross-border aspect.
Chloe is easy to work with and has a great ability to simplify complex issues.
Chloe is a go-to silk for international tax disputes.
Stephen Lloyd SC brings exceptional qualifications to his work at the native title Bar, being both a published authority on the relevant legislation and a former co-head of the Constitutional and Native Title Unit in the Commonwealth Office of Litigation. Particularly well-equipped to handle appellate cases, he has represented both traditional owner bodies and government agencies in native title-related litigation.
Elizabeth Collins SC has a wide-ranging commercial practice, encompassing shareholder class actions, insolvency and corporations law.
Elizabeth is an excellent advocate. She is thoughtful, pragmatic and has a remarkable ability to cut through to what is really important.
Elizabeth is one of the country's leading class action silks. Her command on the facts of the case is second to none.
Michael Christie SC stands out as one of Australia's most respected construction silks, offering notably extensive experience advising and advocating on major infrastructure and resources-related projects, his work covering both litigated and arbitrated issues in Australia and abroad.
Michael Christie is respected by judges and arbitrators alike, because he is unflinchingly ethical and has a reputation for integrity.
Michael is a leading barrister with an unmatched knowledge of construction law issues.
Michael O'Meara SC enjoys a very good reputation for the substantial proportion of his work that he devotes to taxation matters, in which he acts for both private clients and government agencies.
We appreciate Michael's knowledge and his ability to marshal things in a succinct and erudite way.
Michael is outstanding in every respect. He is commercially aware, technically excellent and client-centric in his approach.
Tamara Phillips is recognised for her expertise in complex tax disputes, including transfer pricing, anti-avoidance and GST matters. She regularly appears in high-value litigation before the High Court and superior courts, acting for both taxpayers and the Commissioner of Taxation.
Tamara is a technical powerhouse. She leads from the front, distilling complex tax issues with speed and precision.
Tamara Phillips is fantastic – a combination of very technical, great attention to detail, very thoughtful and strategic.
David Thomas SC is a gifted barrister who represents well-known names on issues including breach of directors' duties, breach of trustee duties and misleading and deceptive conduct.
David is one of my go-to barristers. He is hard-working, user-friendly and technically excellent.
David is an excellent senior counsel. His judgement and care for the client are invaluable.
David Thomas is a rare silk that combines effective courtroom advocacy with intelligent decision-making, excellent written advocacy and user-friendliness.
Naomi Sharp SC stands out for the variety of areas in which she has attracted positive notice, including administrative, competition and consumer, environmental law and the white-collar crime sphere.
Naomi rolls up her sleeves and gets right into the details.
Naomi is an outstanding advocate with an extraordinary ability to quickly get on top of matters.
