Dispute Resolution: The Bar | Asia-Pacific

Banco Chambers is noted for having attracted some of Australia's leading junior barristers, in addition to a core of established and respected silks. A recent relocation allowed it to expand its complement to a total of roughly 60 barristers. The chambers are especially well-resourced when it comes to providing advice or advocacy on competition, equity or public law issues, it is also home to barristers with significant expertise in the areas of construction, defamation and insolvency. A significant proportion of set members possess appellate experience or have acted as arbitration counsel or arbitrators in both domestic and international cases. Clerk Jeh Coutinho is a key contact for all enquiries.

List G Barristers constitutes a substantial Melbourne offering, mustering some 160 counsel. It focuses principally on commercial and public law issues and commands respect in the market. One commentator noted: "a very strong list of counsel; one of the top lists in Australia. They are canny, commercial operators." 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 preeminent list for IP in Melbourne." CEO and senior clerk Jane King is the principal contact.

5 Wentworth Chambers houses nearly 40 barristers with expertise ranging across the full commercial and public law spectrum and experience extending to the highest level in both Commonwealth courts and, on a pan-Australian basis, individual state courts. Within this varied offering, the set fields particularly noteworthy expertise in the intellectual property and employment spheres, with one interviewee observing: "5 Wentworth has a very strong line up of IP specialists." Speaking more generally, another source states: "The barristers have technical legal excellence balanced with an appreciation for commercial imperatives for clients." Clerk to chambers Sarah Tiffen is the recommended contact.

Dever's List is headquartered in Melbourne's Owen Dixon Chambers and is the oldest of the Victorian Bar's lists, with a history extending back some 160 years and a large stable of barristers, offering expertise across a broad spectrum of practice areas. Among them are to be found some of Australia's leading appellate advocates as well as eminent practitioners in the employment, insolvency, intellectual property, native title and taxation spheres. Several, including a number of retired judges, are also experienced arbitrators and mediators. One client commented that they have the "ability to handle complex matters effectively and efficiently." Another source praised their depth, stating this: "An excellent selection of senior barristers." John Dever is the chief barristers' clerk and is frequently identified by name as one of the list's key assets.

Eleven Wentworth is a respected set and the former home of many New South Wales Supreme Court, Court of Appeal and Land and Environment Court judges, stabling nearly 40 barristers who are regularly praised for their technical skill, fine judgement and user-friendliness. The set is frequently identified as one of Sydney's best, a number of instructing solicitors including it on lists of their top three or four sets. One interviewee states: "The calibre of floor members across the board (from readers, juniors, senior juniors and silks) is exceptional." The source adds that it is "regarded by many commercial litigators as the leading set in Sydney and one of the best nationally." Its key areas of expertise, within the comprehensive range of disciplines covered, include insolvency, insurance, professional liability and tax issues. Zach Rymer is the clerk and recommended contact.

New Chambers is a Sydney set home to over 50 barristers, practising in over 50 practice areas and appearing in court, administrative tribunal and public inquiry proceedings and a variety of alternative dispute resolution processes across Australia and abroad. The chambers' versatile offering includes strong concentrations of expertise in the financial services and insolvency spheres, and its members include pre-eminent providers of advice and advocacy on taxation and shipping issues. Interviewees are quick to praise the exceptional quality of the advocacy and advice that the set offers, one identifying the chambers as having "depth of knowledge." Another observes: "Members possess a wide range of skills and experience." Clerk and practice manager Angela Noakes is a recommended contact.

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 the construction and native title spheres. It is especially noteworthy for its high concentration of tax-related expertise. One interviewee remarked this: "The number of barristers from this set that go to the bench indicates their strength," while another referee had this to say: "The set takes a collaborative approach to working with the solicitor team and clients and provides high-quality advocacy." Clerk Lisa Stewart is the main contact.

Tenth Floor Wentworth Selborne Chambers is noted for the high proportion of senior counsel in its membership and for an especially strong group of barristers acting across the full range of intellectual property issues. Other areas of noted strength are the taxation and insurance fields, and the set also hosts noteworthy class action prowess and a wealth of international experience, putting it on more than one instructing solicitor's list of most favoured sets. Emma Hoolahan is the clerk and chief contact for enquiries.

12 Wentworth Selborne Chambers enjoys a strong reputation in the Sydney market, boasting over 60 members who offer expertise across a significant range of commercial, regulatory, property and public law practice areas. The set is particularly well-regarded for competition/antitrust, white-collar and employment matters. It is often used by government and regulators. One source identifies the chambers as having counsel who are "all knowledgeable, capable, and diligent." Another source commented: "The chambers provides both technical legal excellence and commercial acumen." Clerk Fiona Hayden is the main point of contact.

7 Wentworth Selborne is a well-regarded Sydney set that delivers advice and advocacy across the gamut of commercial and public law but is especially in demand for its provision of outstanding talent in the construction and infrastructure arenas, some 20 of the set's 60-odd barristers practising in this space. The chambers also fields several barristers with extensive class action experience. One source commented: "There is a good range of experience on the floor, including in insurance and general commercial work." Another client praised its quality, stating: "A very strong group of barristers." Managing clerk Simon Walker is the principal contact.

North Quarter Lane is one of the larger Brisbane-based sets, with nearly 30 members. Its barristers field expertise across a wide range of commercial, competition and contractual disputes and attract particular praise within the tax, construction and energy sectors. The set is praised by sources for its timeliness, with one source commenting that it: "Always quick to respond and very sensitive to deadlines." Another interviewee observes that it has: "a good mix of experience at senior and junior level."

Omnia Chambers is based in Sydney and with a 16-strong barrister list. The set has been praised for its dispute and competition practice. One source highlighted the depth of the set, commenting this: "The chambers provides a good depth of people who are excellent to work with." This strength in depth was noted by another client, who stated that: "Omnia has assembled an impressive group of barristers at different levels of seniority." Clerk Robbie Leach is the key point of contact of the set.

Sixth Floor Windeyer Chambers is a small, 14-member set whose barristers cover a variety of practice areas, standing out for its particularly heavy concentration of high-level native title-related expertise. The barristers based here offer experience in this field dating back, in some cases, to its inception and embracing the representation of traditional owner, proponent and government agency clients on a nationwide basis and in both state and Commonwealth superior courts. Clerk Gemma Simeoni is the suggested contact.

Young's List is a boutique, Melbourne-based list with over 90 affiliated barristers who handle the full range of commercial and public disputes. In addition, the set also attracts praise for its capabilities within the employment, shipping and environmental sectors. One interviewee describes it as: "a good broad list with quality barristers." Founder and managing director Tammy Young is a key contact.