Dispute Resolution | Global

Herbert Smith Freehills' vast practice covers the fullest range of disciplines and is much appreciated by clients for combining great regional depth with an integrated global capability. The firm acts for both foreign and domestic household-name clients on the most complex and high-profile commercial litigation and regulatory investigations and is widely regarded as a market leader in the class action space. It is further noted for the full integration of its arbitration capability with the firm's international offering in the region and for the increasing use of alternative legal services and legal project management teams to augment and streamline the representation of clients across Australia. It readily draws upon expertise from across the firm to provide crisis management support in emergencies.

Ashurst maintains a deep bench offering leading international corporate and government clients global reach and expertise across key industry sectors, with noted strengths in the handling of construction, energy and resources, and financial services disputes. In addition to having a comprehensive commercial litigation capability, it is active on both domestic and international arbitration, prominent in the class action sphere and in disputes concerning road and rail infrastructure, and sought after to advise on both domestic and international regulatory investigations.

Corrs Chambers Westgarth offers a substantial independent practice that is notably active in the class action and arbitration spheres. It additionally offers respected capabilities in the areas of contentious energy and resources issues, healthcare-related cases and corporate investigations. The team is also regularly involved in data security and product liability matters. It draws praise for its lawyers' technical abilities and commercial judgement, as well as its commitment to client education through seminars and events.

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.

The A&O Shearman team has in-depth knowledge of international disputes with a focus on superior court litigation, international arbitration and contentious regulatory issues. The team is regularly instructed by blue-chip players in the energy and financial services industries and is acknowledged as a go-to practice for bet-the-company matters. The team is further singled out for global reach and a particular strength in the handling of energy and resources-related disputes in Western Australia, including those involving arbitration. It is additionally active on white-collar issues and the representation of individual executives.

Baker McKenzie maintains a well-resourced, highly experienced dispute resolution group, acknowledged for its financial services, restructuring and insolvency, and technology-related expertise. The team attracts attention for its involvement in prominent class actions and for the representation of individuals or companies facing regulatory inquiry or prosecution, bringing to the latter work valuable experience of having acted both for and against regulatory bodies. It is also active on behalf of both customers and suppliers engaged in disputes arising in the IT and telecommunications sectors and for healthcare and consumer goods sector clients. The firm is well placed to handle cross-border litigation, particularly in the construction and resources spheres.

Clifford Chance is well regarded for its representation of a blue-chip domestic and international clientele in complex arbitration and litigation mandates. The team is frequently engaged for prominent energy and resources investment treaty arbitration, multiple class action and cross-border regulatory investigation work, and highly prized for its closely integrated global network. It is also significantly active in the handling of cases involving auditing and financial reporting issues.

The Jones Day team is the respected Australian arm of a global dispute resolution offering, attracting particular notice for its handling of high-stakes, cross-border disputes for prominent multinationals. It is also noted in the class action defence sphere, on regulatory investigations and inquiries and on disputes concerning energy and resources or major construction projects. The team operates additionally in the insolvency and taxation-related disputes spaces and is regularly active on behalf of individual executives. It is further noted for its ability to advise on Australian matters affected by the provisions of the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan combines a boutique Australian offering with full connection to a global practice specialising in the resolution of high-end, complex disputes. It maintains its own advocacy capability and is well-known for the defence of corporations and their directors and officers in such areas as contractual disputes and product liability. The team is acknowledged as a significant player in the class action space, where distinct defendant and plaintiff-side representation is available. It is also noted for its handling of disputes, in the energy and resources sector.

DLA Piper's substantial team is highly appreciated for its membership of a global practice with a readily accessible dispute resolution capability in every office and prominence on regional matters with multi-jurisdictional dimensions. It is active on behalf of leading international corporates in the management of complex contentious issues in the banking, energy and resources, and infrastructure spaces, and significantly developing its profile in the international arbitration, class action and regulatory arenas.

Hall & Wilcox offers a well-resourced disputes practice, maintaining offices in every mainland state or territory and offering comprehensive coverage of litigation, alternative dispute resolution and inquiry-related requirements. It is particularly active on behalf of clients from the construction, real estate and telecommunications sectors, and on insolvency-related matters. It is also experienced in the handling of class action mandates and in the representation of individual executives and entrepreneurs.

Norton Rose Fulbright offers a notably deep bench and a global cross-border capability, attracting blue-chip domestic and international clients. Its strengths include the representation of energy and resources companies, healthcare companies and financial services providers, and the handling of strategic disputes, including class actions and regulatory and other official investigations. The team is frequently instructed by such regulatory bodies as ASIC and the ACCC. It maintains a noted profile in the international arbitration sphere and is expanding its offering where contentious international trade issues are concerned.

Cooper Grace Ward maintains a respected Brisbane disputes practice, active on behalf of several of Australia's leading companies across a broad range of disputes. The firm is regularly involved in significant Queensland matters, though the group is also experienced in the handling of Superior Court litigation in both New South Wales and Victoria. In addition to mandates affecting major players in the consumer goods, financial services and property industries, the team is increasingly active on behalf of high net worth and other publicly prominent individuals, and often also of their associated family trusts. It is also well known for advising clients on their interaction with official commissions of inquiry.

Dentons fields a substantial team with a broad national footprint, backed by the resources of a worldwide litigation network. It is notably active on mandates in the financial services and real estate spheres, on shareholder disputes and insolvency-related litigation, and in class actions. Its regional cross-border capability is particularly strong where dealings between Australia and Papua New Guinea are concerned.

K&L Gates' disputes team is the Australian arm of a global practice and operates from offices on the East Coast and in Perth. It is experienced in both litigation and a variety of alternative dispute resolution disciplines and acknowledged for its expanding sector coverage, good regional connections and mid-market appeal. Well equipped to handle large, complex, cross-jurisdictional disputes, the team is notably active on mandates generated by the rise of shareholder activism in Australia and similarly prominent in the consumer class action space. It is also well placed to advise in connection with ASIC investigations, Royal Commissions and other regulatory inquiries.