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Joshua Charlton



Joshua was called to the Bar in September 2024, having worked as a solicitor for 4 years in the insurance, disputes and investigations team at Colin Biggers & Paisley lawyers.

He accepts briefs in all areas of law and has particular experience in insurance and reinsurance law, commercial law, professional negligence claims, legal profession disciplinary proceedings, class actions and in technical and engineering matters.

He holds a Bachelor of Laws with first class honours from the University of Wollongong, where he received several academic awards for placing first in course.

David Smith



David Smith is a barrister based in Sydney, specialising in equity, trusts, property, corporations, insolvency, and general commercial litigation. Called to the New South Wales Bar in 2018, David initially practiced as a litigation solicitor for a decade at leading law firms in Sydney, London, and Hong Kong.

David’s formal education includes a Master of Laws from the University of Sydney and a Bachelor of Laws with First Class Honours from the University of Technology, Sydney. He was admitted as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of New South Wales in 2008 and the High Court of Australia in 2009, before transitioning to the Bar in 2018. Throughout his career, he has represented clients in a variety of matters, ranging from complex equity and trust disputes to real property cases and multifaceted corporations litigation.

David has a record of handling large-scale disputes, showcasing his ability to manage intricate legal challenges and deliver favourable results. He has represented clients in all courts and tribunals in New South Wales, demonstrating a proficiency in dealing with a range of legal issues in different judicial settings.

David is focussed on engaging closely with solicitors and clients to achieve practical and commercial outcomes.

Allysha-Jane Merrett



After ten years as a solicitor Allysha-Jane Merrett commenced practice at the Bar in 2024.

She obtained a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Newcastle in 2013 having been conferred a Bachelor of Social Science in 2012.

Since her admission as a lawyer in 2014 she has gained extensive experience in a wide range of areas including family law, criminal law, estate litigation and a variety of commercial disputes.

Before relocating to Sydney in 2020 Allysha-Jane worked as a senior lawyer with responsibility for a large family and criminal law practice in Newcastle and appeared regularly as a solicitor advocate in the Local, District, Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia and Children’s Court.

Immediately prior to commencing at the bar Allysha-Jane was special counsel in a leading Sydney family law firm.

She has conducted numerous family law cases including complex financial and parenting disputes successfully drawing upon her experience and qualifications including:

  • Masters of Applied Family Law (College of Law 2017);
  • Specialist Accreditation (Family Law) Law Society of NSW (2021); and
  • Master of Business Administration (RMIT 2023).

She is an NMAS accredited mediator (AIFLAM), Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner (FDRP) and is available to mediate family law cases.

Allysha-Jane is the current President of the Women Lawyers Association NSW. She has volunteered as a solicitor for the Redfern Legal Centre, University of Newcastle Legal Centre, Women’s Legal Service NSW and as a trainer for Relationships Australia in navigating the financial aspects of the  Family Law Act.

Allysha-Jane accepts briefs to appear and advise in the following areas:

  • Family law – property and parenting
  • Equity
  • Wills & Probate
  • Criminal law
  • Care & Protection
  • Commercial law
  • Contracts

 

Tony Ross



Tony accepts briefs in all areas of law.

Prior to coming to the Bar, Tony served in the Australian Defence Force for 16 years, predominantly as an Army Officer. He is now in the active reserves.

In 2022, Tony was Tipstaff to the Hon. Justice M.J. Slattery AM AM (Mil) RAN of the Supreme Court of New South Wales (Equity Division).

Tony received his Juris Doctor from the Australian National University and his Bachelor of Business from the University of New South Wales at the Australian Defence Force Academy.

Tony has broad experience working in the Defence and National Security community. His writing on foreign interference has been published in the Federal Law Review.

Tony received the Christopher Gee QC Memorial Prize for Advocacy and Evidence for the May 2024 Bar Practice Course.

Senior

Paul Hayes KC

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Commenced practice as a Barrister at the Sydney Bar in 1990 (read with Bernard Coles KC, University Chambers), before relocating to the Melbourne Bar in 1997. Called to the Bar of England & Wales (Lincoln’s Inn) in 2005. Appointed Senior Counsel in Victoria on 23 November 2017. Letters patent granted on 10 April 2018

Advises and appears in cases at interlocutory, trial and appellate levels, (common law litigation, commercial & equity litigation, international law & arbitration, large scale litigation, constitutional & administrative law and sporting disputes), conducted in multiple jurisdictions, but primarily in Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, London, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Lausanne. Frequently appears in common law jury cases and causes, including in the field of defamation.

Appointed a Senior Fellow (Course Director of the subject ‘International Sports Arbitration’) at Queen Mary University of London (School of Law) in 2022. Previously a Senior Fellow at the University of Melbourne (Faculty of Law), 2010-2022. Recognised internationally in Who’s Who Legal (2016-2024 editions) as a leading lawyer in the specialty of sports law and listed by Doyle’s Guide as a leading senior counsel in arbitration and administrative & public law.

Holds degrees from the Queensland University of Technology (LLB) and the University of Cambridge (MSt). Also holds professional qualifications obtained from the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, London (FCIArb, DipICArb).

Prior to commencing practice at the Bar, practised as a Lawyer (1986 to 1990) at: Power & Power, Brisbane; Allen Allen & Hemsley (Allens), Sydney; and Baker & McKenzie, Sydney.

Llewellyn Judd



Llewellyn is a barrister at 8 Wentworth Chambers and Hemmant’s List specialising in disputes involving class actions, contract law, competition and consumer law, personal and corporate insolvency law, corporations law, succession law, land law, professional negligence law, employment law, taxation debt recovery and personal injury.

Llewellyn holds a Master of Banking and Finance Law from the University of Melbourne, a Master of Laws from the University of Queensland, a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Sydney, a Graduate Diploma of Applied Law (Wills and Estates) from the College of Law and a Diploma in Law from the Legal Practitioners Admission Board.

With over ten years of experience at the Bar, Llewellyn has a busy civil practice that spans across New South Wales and Queensland. He has appeared on trials and applications in the Federal Court of Australia, the Supreme Courts of New South Wales and Queensland, and other state courts and tribunals. He has also appeared as junior counsel on appeals to the intermediate appellate courts of New South Wales and Queensland.

Llewellyn has successfully represented parties at mediation and in other forms of dispute resolution. Llewellyn is committed to providing high-quality legal services to his clients.

Llewellyn is admitted to the High Court of Australia.

Robert Turnbull



Robert’s principal areas of practice are commercial, construction, transport, public law and white-collar crime disputes.  He has a particular expertise in arbitration, as counsel and tribunal secretary.

Robert accepts briefs to advise and appear throughout Australia and abroad.

Before the Bar, Robert practised in disputes in London at Slaughter and May and in Sydney at Clayton Utz.  Before that, he was tipstaff to the Hon P A Bergin AO, Chief Judge in Equity and Tribunal Secretary to Professor Doug Jones AO, international arbitrator.

His clients have ranged from individuals to large listed companies, governments to small charities, across many areas of the economy.

He was educated at the Universities of Sydney and Cambridge.

Anthony Lo Surdo SC



Anthony Lo Surdo SC was called to the Bar in 1996, having previously practiced as a solicitor since his admission as a legal practitioner in 1987. He was appointed as Senior Counsel in 2011. He practices from chambers in Sydney, Melbourne, Darwin, London and Dubai.

Anthony has enjoyed a broad practice both at trial and appellate level spanning diverse areas including banking, contract, commercial, corporations, equity, professional indemnity, insurance, insolvency, property and sports law. He was described by Doyles Guide to the Australian Legal Profession in 2015-2020 as one of the country’s leading insolvency and reconstruction Silks.

Anthony is an exponent of all forms of ADR and especially mediation, arbitration and expert determination. He is also adept at facilitating expert conclaves.

He is an internationally accredited mediator and an advanced and nationally accredited mediator. He has been ranked by Doyles Guide in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 as a leading mediator.

Anthony is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and registered in the Australian Register of Practising Arbitrators as a Grade 1 Arbitrator. He is also accredited as an arbitrator in Dubai and PNG and registered by the National Court of Justice of PNG as an international and domestic arbitrator. He was ranked by Doyles Guide in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 as one of the country’s leading arbitration Silks.

He is a panel member of many of the leading international arbitral institutions and is regularly appointed as an arbitrator both domestically and internationally. Anthony has sat as both a sole and panel arbitrator including as Chair in over 100 domestic and international arbitrations involving complex commercial, disciplinary and governance disputes.

Anthony is a leading, internationally recognised, sports law Silk and regularly sits as an arbitrator on international and domestic sport tribunals including the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the Football Australia Appeal Panel and Disciplinary and Ethics Committee and the National Sports Tribunal.

Anthony is a part-time Senior Member of NCAT sitting on its Appeal Panel and in the Occupational Division.

Further information about Anthony’s ADR expertise can be accessed here or at www.silkmediator.com.au

Matthew McGirr



Matthew is a highly regarded junior counsel, with a wide-ranging practice primarily focussed on commercial law, common law (including intentional torts), superannuation, property law, construction, strata, and general equity. Matthew regularly appears in all Federal and State courts and tribunals. Matthew will accept briefs in all areas of law.

Prior to being called to the bar, Matthew was a solicitor for over 7 years. Immediately prior to the bar, Matthew was a Senior Solicitor at the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA), where he advised APRA in relation to several high profile contentious and non-contentious matters.

Prior to APRA, Matthew practised at law firms Herbert Smith Freehills and Gilbert + Tobin. During this period, Matthew acted for some of Australia’s leading companies, including Westpac, CBA, Bupa, Telstra, JP Morgan Australia. Matthew also worked on a number of class actions and commissions of inquiry.

Matthew has also worked as a policy adviser and lawyer at the Australian Institute of Company Directors, where he worked closely with governments, directors, and stakeholders important legal policy issues, including the insolvency safe harbour reforms.

Matthew graduated from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in history. Matthew then graduated from the University of NSW with a Juris Doctor with Honours.

 

 

Alistair Oakes



Alistair was admitted to practice in 2013 and was called to the Bar in 2019. He has a broad practice, with a primary focus in the areas of commercial law, administrative & public law, equity, corporations, insolvency and regulatory law.

Alistair was previously a solicitor in the commercial litigation and banking teams at Allens, focussing on large-scale commercial litigation in the Supreme Court of New South Wales and Federal Court of Australia.

Alistair has also provided full-time service as a legal officer in the Royal Australian Navy, where he was awarded the Royal Australian Naval College prize for the best overall performer at initial officer training, was a legal adviser to the Commander of the Australian Fleet and lectured in administrative law, international law, operational law and military discipline. He remains an active member of the Naval Reserve.

Despite having only average athletic ability, Alistair has a keen interest in sports law. He is an ad hoc clerk for the Court of Arbitration for Sport and has been involved in a range of sports-related arbitrations, including the Essendon Football Club doping appeal and non-compliance proceedings between the Russian Anti-Doping Authority and the World Anti-Doping Authority. He is a member of the Sydney Hockey Association Judiciary and Investigation Committee.

Ahmed Rizk



Ahmed was admitted as a lawyer in 2015 and called to the Bar in 2020. Ahmed has a diverse practice, with particular experience and expertise in commercial litigation, corporate law, building and construction disputes, regulatory investigations and public inquiries including Royal Commissions. He accepts briefs in a broad range of commercial and civil matters in all Australian jurisdictions.

Prior to coming to the Bar, Ahmed worked as a solicitor at Gilbert + Tobin, Mills Oakley and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.

Bill Ilkovski



Bill Ilkovski, having worked as a solicitor for 7 years, commenced as a barrister in October 2007. He read on 8th Floor Wentworth Chambers.  He appears in all of the courts and most tribunals in New South Wales and in federal courts and tribunals as well.   He also regularly appears in courts of other states and territories.

The disputes work for which he has expertise is work that has a predominant commercial or trading element.  This includes contracts disputes, property related disputes, building and construction disputes, or trade practices disputes in which he has acted for private individuals, corporations and governments.  He also take briefs and has expertise in dust diseases, administrative law and regulatory offences matters.

Elizabeth Lambert



Elizabeth was admitted to practice in 2017 and was called to the bar in 2021. Elizabeth has advised and appears in a wide range of civil, commercial and public matters, inquests and appeals, including in the Full Court of the Federal Court of Australia, the New South Wales Court of Appeal, the Supreme Court of New South Wales and the New South Wales Coroner’s Court.

Elizabeth accepts briefs in all areas of the law. She has particular experience in disciplinary proceedings before the New South Wales Civil and Administrative Tribunal and appeals under the Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 in the District Court of New South Wales.

Elizabeth brings a strong legal mind and the ability to grapple with the key issues to be determined. Her unique and diverse professional background, including as a professional athlete, military officer and judicial associate makes her particularly adept at responding to unfamiliar challenges quickly and with confidence.

Mandy Tibbey



Mandy has practised at the NSW Bar since 2004 and, prior to that, as a solicitor. She is experienced in a range of equity, commercial and administrative law matters such as family provision, wills and probate, general equity, trusts, commercial and property-related claims, discrimination, consumer law and disciplinary matters. She appears in the Supreme Court of NSW, Federal Court of Australia, Federal Circuit Court, Administrative Appeals Tribunal, ICAC and other courts and tribunals as required.

Mandy is a Part-Time Senior Legal Member with the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal, appointed to the Guardianship, Commercial and Consumer and Administrative and Equal Opportunity Divisions.
She is a trained and experienced Mediator, a Member of the Mediation Panels for the Supreme Court of NSW and District Court of NSW and a Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner.

Mandy is a contributing author to Thomsons NSW Civil Procedure and the popular Thomsons Civil Law Procedure Handbook.
She is often asked to present legal education seminars to the profession, has been a Member of the NSW Bar Association’s Human Rights Committee and Professional Conduct Committee, past Chair of the Women Barristers Forum and is a member Advisory Board of the Sir Francis Forbes Society for Australian Legal History.

Kevin Tang



Kevin Tang is a commercial law barrister and practises in :

  • Contract law
  • Equity/trusts
  • Real property
  • Administrative law

Mr Tang was educated in Law at the University of Sydney (LLM) and the London School of Economics (LLM) (UK). Despite having a focus on commercial equity, fraud and breakdown of business relationships, Mr Tang accepts briefs in a wide range of jurisdictions and areas of law eg. wills and estates, judicial advice, shareholder disputes, sale of goods and building & construction. He appears in all jurisdictions and in matters raising difficult property law issues, migration law cases and complicated trust arrangements.

Mr Tang also advises and acts in ecclesiastical/canon law matters concerning clergy discipline and professional standards. He has also acted for charitable institutions and religious organisations seeking advice. He is a member of the Ecclesiastical Law Society of the United Kingdom.

Mr Tang appears frequently as counsel in final hearings (and appeals) in the Supreme Court of New South Wales. He has appeared as leading or sole counsel in the NSW Court of Appeal, the Supreme, District and Local Courts, the Federal Court (including Full Federal Court), the Federal Circuit and various tribunals (NCAT and AAT).

Mr Tang also acts in arbitrations and mediations for parties in the Asia Pacific Region.
Mr Tang also speaks Chinese (Cantonese and Mandarin) and French (fluently).

Prior to being admitted to the Bar, Kevin practised as a solicitor in large commercial law firms in Sydney in all aspects of commercial dispute resolution. He was also a Judge’s Associate in the Supreme Court of New South Wales and worked for the Hon. PA Bergin SC (former Chief Judge in Equity), the Hon. WV Windeyer and the Hon. Justice MA Pembroke in the Equity Division.

Senior

Raoul Wilson SC

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Raoul Wilson is one of Australia’s Leading Equity Senior Counsel with particular reference to Wills and Estates. He has been listed as Leading Senior Counsel in Doyle’s Guide for Wills and Estate Litigation Barristers, New South Wales each year since 2016 .

Raoul’s specialty is advising and appearing both at first instance on appeal and in the High Court in unique, complex and high profile contested Wills cases, often involving disputes between family interests, charities and competing corporate entities. Raoul advises and appears in matters throughout Australia. His expertise also extends to advising and appearing in Protective matters in the Supreme Court of New South Wales on behalf of both the Protected person and other parties.

Raoul has a particular interest in the intersection between Probate, Protective matters and the jurisdiction of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia where the jurisdictions are seen to complement and affect each other. This can be seen at a pre-trial stage where his skill is in the development of a strategy designed to avoid costly and protracted litigation or at the hearing stage with matters running concurrently in the Supreme Court of New South Wales and the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia or in one court after a cross-vesting application.

He also appears at first instance in the Family Court of Australia (now the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia) and the Full Court of the Court in disputes involving company directors, creditors, trustees in bankruptcy and third party equitable interests.

Raoul also customarily appears both at first instance and on appeal in Equity, Real Property and Commercial matters in the Supreme Court of New South Wales and the Federal Court of Australia.

As junior counsel, Raoul appeared regularly for the Official Trustee in Bankruptcy. In 2002 he was a member of the Family Law Committee of the NSW Bar Association.  In 2008 he was a member of the joint committee of the NSW Bar Association and the Law Society which considered the provisions of the Succession Amendment (Family Provision) Act 2008 and in 2009 was a member of a similar committee which considered the provisions of the Succession Amendment (Intestacy Act) 2009.

Raoul is a regular presenter at seminars on Wills and Estates held by specialist gatherings of Wills and Estates practitioners and Regional Law Societies. He also presents papers in the area on behalf of the leading MCLE providers.  He is also an experienced Mediator in Wills and Estate matters which are referred by the Supreme Court of New South Wales for private mediation.

Raoul’s interests outside the law include undertaking challenging bushwalks, bird watching and gardening.

Philippe Doyle Gray



Philippe maintains a diverse practice and has acquired extensive knowledge and experience across most areas of civil law. Since being called to the Bar in 2001, he has represented clients in complex and bespoke litigation, ranging from commercial and equity matters, to professional negligence and professional disciplinary matters, as well as disputes regarding legal costs and disbursements. He is often briefed to advise and appear in cases in which allegations of criminality, fraud, or other serious misconduct are made, which has led to the launch of criminal prosecution proceedings.

Philippe accepts briefs from both solicitors in law firms and in-house legal departments. His widespread experience has seen him represent a vast array of clients, including on a pro bono basis. He appears primarily in the Federal Court of Australia, Supreme Court of New South Wales, and occasionally the District Court of New South Wales. He has also appeared in the High Court of Australia and New South Wales Court of Appeal.

Complementing his litigation practice, Philippe is regularly briefed in mediations and other dispute resolution forums. He is also well placed to act as a Facilitator in Joint Expert Conferences and Conclaves, lending to his extensive experience and expert knowledge in specialist fields including industrial chemistry and mathematics.

Philippe possesses an avid interest in law and its interaction with technology and is focused on the cost-effectiveness of the delivery of justice in order to make litigation affordable to all. He has published a book regarding the ethical use of technology in legal practice and has achieved professional certification in Legal Project Management both domestically and in the United States of America (the first barrister so certified). Philippe’s recognition is evidenced by his appointment as the first lawyer practising outside North America to the Council of the American Bar Association Law Practice Division.

Philippe has also had significant involvement with the New South Wales Bar Association in varying capacities, including as former Honorary Secretary of the Association and as a founding member of one of its Committees. His international reach has seen him regularly deliver presentations on developments in the law and topical issues in Australia and abroad, including to the judiciary and new barristers. Notably, Philippe is the first and only Australian invited by the American Bar Association to lecture at its annual legal technology conference in Chicago, TECHSHOW. He holds a Bachelor of Laws degree and Bachelor of Arts degree (with a major in chemistry) from the University of Sydney.

Paul Menzies KC



Paul has over 45 years experience as a Barrister, having first been called to the Bar in 1973. Prior to this, he practised as a Solicitor for 5 years in Sydney and London. He has always had a diverse practice, appearing as an advocate at both trial and appellate level, including the High Court, in administrative, commercial, criminal, professional negligence, common, insurance and commercial law.

Paul took Silk in 1988 and has been acting as an accredited mediator since 1995.
Paul accepts instructions as mediator, arbitrator, and advocate in mediations and domestic and international arbitrations, in Australia and internationally. He has been a Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK) since 2009.

He is a practitioner in the international commercial courts of both Singapore and Dubai. He is a member of Blackburn Chambers in the ACT, 8th Floor Wentworth in Sydney, Southern Highlands Chambers in Exeter, NSW. He is a member of Dever’s List in Melbourne, maintains Chambers in Singapore and is a member of the Western Australian and Queensland Bars.

He appears in administrative and quasi-judicial tribunals including Fair Work Australia, the Industrial Relations Commission administrative decisions tribunals, and professional disciplinary bodies. Paul has also appeared for interested parties and as Counsel Assisting in a broad range of inquiries, including ICAC, Coronial Inquests and Royal Commissions.

Paul Gerard Bolster



Paul is a senior junior with 19 years’ experience at the Sydney Bar across a broad range of practice areas.

He has previously been a ministerial policy advisor to the Commonwealth Attorney General (the Hon DR Williams QC MP) and in February 2021 concluded his appointment as one of the counsel assisting the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.

In December 2021 he concluded an appointment as counsel assisting the Public Inquiry into the Norfolk Island Regional Council.

His diverse practice includes broad experience in commercial law, corporations law, equity, insolvency and administrative law as well as criminal law (for which he is on the Commonwealth DPP Panel) and wills and estate matters (for which he appears regularly in the Family Provision List).

Paul has been counsel assisting the Local Government Inquiry into Auburn Council and appears regularly in the Supreme Court of NSW as well as the Federal Court and Federal Circuit Courts. He has also appeared in Victoria, Tasmania, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia.

Michael Heath



Michael, is a Senior Junior with 25 years’ experience in commercial, equity and administrative law at the Bar. He appears regularly in the Court of Appeal of NSW, the Supreme Court of NSW and the Federal Court of Australia, the AAT and NCAT. Michael has also appeared on a many occasions for clients involved in the hearings before the Independent Commission Against Corruption and he has niche expertise in Liquor Licensing Law.

His work includes acting in regulatory and disciplinary matters, in particular, for the Inspector-General in Bankruptcy and the Official Receiver. Michael does work for a number of interstate solicitors and his work takes to appear in other jurisdictions including Queensland, South Australian and the ACT.

Meher Gaven



As a barrister since 2012, Meher has a broad commercial litigation practice with focus areas in discrimination and employment law and intellectual property. Meher has a well-established government practice acting for Commonwealth, State and Local government in matters ranging from statutory interpretation, administrative law, regulatory matters, defending discrimination claims, defending trade mark determinations and assisting with investigations.

As a solicitor Meher worked in both private and government practice. As a senior litigator for the Australian Government Solicitor, Meher acted on a number of high-profile proceedings, which focused on Commonwealth enforcement action and included service to the ACCC, IP Australia, National Industrial Chemicals Notifications and Assessment Scheme, Department of Human Services and the Companies Auditors Liquidators and Disciplinary Board. Meher was seconded to the Arts Law Centre of Australia.  In private practice, Meher’s focus areas were in commercial litigation and intellectual property disputes.

Meher was an associate to a Federal Court Judge, Justice Murray Wilcox (2005-2006).

Mark Robertson



Maintaining a broad commercial practice, Mark has been called to the Bars of New South Wales and New Zealand. He is very well placed to advise on Trans-Tasman matters having gained considerable experience in as a solicitor and at the independent bar in NSW and in New Zealand. He is willing to take briefs and provide advice on legal matters in either jurisdiction.

His principal areas of practice include:

  • Insurance law and professional negligence.;
  • General contract and commercial law;
  • Equity matters and trust litigation;
  • Corporations’ law and shareholder disputes
  • Insolvency;
  • Cross-border matters involving New Zealand and NSW.

Mark is commended by his clients for his pragmatism, analytical skills and furnishing cost effective and efficient advice. He possesses a strong ability to distil complex matters into clear and understandable advice and has a demonstrated ability to identify key legal issues and articulate case law to form conclusions. Mark adds significant value to his clients by being flexible, timely and responsive.

Previously, Mark practised as a solicitor in a large commercial law firm in Sydney, predominantly in the area of insurance litigation, with a focus on professional indemnity. Prior experience also includes practising as a solicitor in the investment treaty and international commercial arbitration team of a large international commercial firm in London.

Mark holds a Master of Business and Law from the Bucerius Law School / WHU Otto-Beisheim School of Management in Hamburg Germany from which he received an award for the best overall student. He also holds a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Commerce from the Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand.

Lachlan Menzies



Lachlan Menzies is a commercial litigator with more than 20 years’ experience. His practice combines large matters in collaboration with Senior Counsel, and a full range of matters unled. As well as litigation, he is briefed for transactional advice and drafting including direct briefs from in-house counsel.

A strong position, control, and success in Court are built on precision in pleadings, affidavits, written submissions and associated legal research. Close cooperation with instructing lawyers and a positive client connection are maintained through practical advice, and meetings and calls in conference. Lachlan is adept at Information Technology in legal practice and holds a degree in computer science.

Lachlan mainly practises in State and Federal jurisdictions in New South Wales, and also acts in trials and on appeal in the Supreme Court of Victoria.

Lachlan is a lecturer in the Master of Applied Law courses at the College of Law, appointed in 2009.

For further information including areas of practice, please refer to Lachlan’s CV, linked on this page.

Julian Zmood



Since coming to the Bar, Julian has been retained in a broad range of commercial disputes, including class actions, disputes that relate to equitable obligations (fiduciary obligations, breaches of confidence and of trust), contracts, the Australian Consumer Law (ACL) and property.

Julian appears, regularly, in the District Court, the Supreme Court and in the Federal Court of Australia.

Before coming to the Bar, Julian was in-house counsel for broadcast media and technology companies, both in Australia and in the United Kingdom.

Julian holds BA and LL.B (Hons) degrees from the University of Melbourne and a Master of Laws (LL.M) with Distinction from King’s College, University of London.

Julian is member of the Victorian Bar (Young’s List)

https://www.youngslist.com.au/the-list/julian-zmood

Joel Cook



Joel is an experienced commercial litigator. He accepts briefs in a broad range of commercial and civil matters in all Australian jurisdictions.

Prior to being called to the bar in 2018, Joel was a solicitor at mid and top-tier firms in Sydney.  He has a keen professional interest in corporate and personal insolvency, succession law and trusts.

Joel works closely with clients, their advisors, and key stakeholders to provide comprehensive but practical advice. His approach is pragmatic and outcome-focussed. He identifies, develops and implements strategies that achieve commercial as well as legal outcomes.

Jeffrey Rose



Jeffrey possesses a wealth of knowledge and experience as a commercial litigator, which he has developed while practising as a solicitor for almost two decades, followed by more than 10 years as a barrister. He accepts briefs to advise or to appear on matters in all areas of law and in all jurisdictions across Australia.

He maintains a busy and diverse practice, with particular expertise in the areas of commercial law, administrative law, equity, corporations, insolvency, insurance, property and estates matters, and in military law. He has appeared in a broad range of Federal and State jurisdictions, including in Federal courts and tribunals, and in courts and tribunals in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia and the Australian Capital Territory.

Jeffrey also appears as Counsel in mediations and in Royal Commissions and other statutory inquiries.  Jeffrey is often called upon to appear as Counsel in urgent interlocutory hearings, where he has achieved successful outcomes for clients applying for or defending claims for urgent relief.

In addition to his practice as a barrister, Jeffrey sits as a part-time Tribunal Member in the Consumer and Commercial Division of the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT), where he hears and determines a wide variety of consumer, commercial and tenancy claims.

Jeffrey is a Legal Officer in the Royal Australian Navy Reserve, where he is commissioned as a Lieutenant. He holds an Australian Government security clearance.  He has received several Civil and Military Awards, including the Australian Active Service Medal for his service with the International Coalition Against Terrorism in 2013.  He is also the current Honorary Legal Counsel to Scouts NSW.  He appeared as Counsel for Scouts Australia and Scouts NSW in the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.  He has drafted or settled submissions to Government for various clients on areas of law reform, including on the establishment of the National Redress Scheme.

Jeffrey holds a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting)(with Merit) from the University of New South Wales.  He has completed postgraduate courses in legal practice management, notarial practice and in military law.  He is currently studying for a Graduate Diploma in Military Law with the University of Adelaide, sponsored by the Department of Defence.

Jeffrey accepts briefs from solicitors and from in-house legal counsel. He is commended by his clients for his attention to detail, depth of knowledge and his meticulous preparation of submissions on both law and facts.

Gillian Mahony SC



Gillian attained a B. Arts (Macquarie University) in 1992, and a B. Laws (Hons I) from the University of Technology (2000). Gillian was called to the NSW Bar in 2006 and was made a Life Member of the NSW Bar Association on 25 May 2023 for “exceptional service to the Bar Association and to the profession of the law”.  Gillian was appointed Senior Counsel in 2023.

Gillian has a broad practice, specialising in commission, inquests and inquiries, family provision claims, parenting, adoption and child protections matters, and tort claims, including appearing for the defendant in medical negligence and intentional tort claims.  Her varied practice has often crossed over into the Commission, Inquest and Inquiry work in which she has been briefed to appear.  Gillian is also regularly briefed to appear for the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions on questions of advice and also appearing on prosecutions and sentencing.

Gillian has been counsel in a number of significant matters, including as junior counsel assisting the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability, for interested parties in the Professor Dan Howard SC led Special Commission of Inquiry into the Drug “ICE” and the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements, and as both Counsel Assisting the NSW Coroner as as well Counsel for persons named as interested persons in coronial proceedings.

Gillian appeared in complex parenting and child protection matters including Re Adoption of E F – Anonymised [2020] NSWSC 410, Helen Fischer & Anor v Ashley Thompson and Others (Anonymised) [2019] NSWSC 773, EC v Secretary, NSW Department of Family & Community Services [2019] NSWSC 226, D v C; Re B (No 2) [2018] NSWCA 310, and NU v NSW Secretary of Family and Community Services [2017] NSWCA 221, as well as a number of unreported parenting cases in the FCFCOA, both Division 1 and Division 2.

Gillian is experienced in preparing and running matters to final hearing as well engaging in alternate dispute resolution to achieve the best outcome for her client.

Gillian was the Course Director for the NSW Bar Practice Course from 2016 to May 2023.  In addition, Gillian has been an advocacy coach for the NSW Bar since 2014 and a member of its Education Committee since 2016.

Faraz Maghami



Faraz was called to the Bar in 2009, after spending 18 months as a Judge’s Associate, prior to which he spent some 4.5 years with the in-house legal team of a large multi-national technology/e-commerce company.

He is a versatile barrister, with a focus on broad Corporate/Commercial/Equity disputes, especially Cross-Border and International matters, including Construction, Mining and Major Infrastructure and Property litigation. Further, he is an experienced trial and appellate advocate and appears in matters in the Pacific region, including advisory and appearance work for Governments and various agencies of several Pacific Nations and accepts briefs (including those on a pro bono basis) in matters involving Public Interest Litigation, Strategic Litigation as well as Constitutional and Administrative law more broadly.

Additionally, Faraz has cultivated a complimentary and growing practice in Criminal Law (including matters concerning Public International Law) with advice and appearances in serious Criminal Trials and Appeals, mainly of the White-Collar variety, including for alleged Corporate Misconduct, breaches of Directors’ Duties, Financial Crime, Money Laundering and Taxation Fraud, appearing for Corporate Entities, Office Holders and Board Members, including appearances before investigations and inquiries.

For many years, he has maintained a niche practice in work specific to National Security and Organised Crime, with appearances and advisory work on behalf of those summoned to appear before covert and Intelligence Gathering Commissions and other Clandestine Government Institutions. He accepts briefs to advise and appear on behalf of current and former Australian Defence Force personnel, in relation to Inquiries and Investigations, Military Discipline and matters arising out of or in relation to service within the ADF.

Faraz is an experienced advocacy coach and is actively engaged in various academic and training endeavours, both with the Bar Association and externally, including being an advocacy coach with the Australian Advocacy Institute.

Christopher Bevan



Chris Bevan is a member of Eight Wentworth Chambers, having joined the floor in 1998.

He came to the New South Wales Bar in 1991 and has been a member of the Victorian and Queensland Bars for over 20 years and is currently a member of Chancery Chambers in Melbourne.  A detailed curriculum vitae for Chris is available on this website.

Chris practises primarily in the areas of legal costs (both costs litigation and assessment), taxation (Commonwealth and State), company law (including shareholder disputes), trust law (including the law relating to charities and not-for-profit companies) and insolvency law.

He has appeared in a number of complex appeals during the last 25 years, including as leading counsel on 12 occasions in special leave applications and on three occasions in appeals to the High Court, in addition to conducting many appeals in the Full Federal Court and Courts of Appeal in New South Wales and Victoria as leading counsel.

Chris is the author of texts on corporations law, insolvency law, capital gains tax and stamp duty and has chaired, or has been a member of, a number of eminent committees at the Tax Institute, Bar Association of New South Wales and Australian Bar Association over 30 years.

Having had 30 years’ experience as a senior advisor to the Inspector-General of Taxation and on boards of various companies, Chris brings to his work for clients this expertise in areas including taxation law and corporate governance.

He has a particular interest in advising and appearing for managers and owners of small and medium enterprises, an interest reflected in his membership as a senior advisor on a Panel of Legal Advisors of the Federal Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman.

Chris has extensive experience in drafting and vetting legislation, with a particular interest in legislation in the areas of tax, corporate and costs law, as reflected in his work as a member of committees on the enactment of Commonwealth and State tax legislation and costs assessment and in reforms to the Corporations Law undertaken by the Federal Attorney-General’s Department under the Corporate Law and Economic Reform Program (CLERP).

He also has experience lecturing at the University of New South Wales on international tax and corporate taxation law within the ATAX postgraduate taxation teaching program and has given many seminars for the Tax Institute, Bar Association of New South Wales, Law Society of New South Wales and many continuing legal education seminar providers over the last 25 years.

Charles Carroll



Charles Carroll began practising at the NSW Bar in 2002.
He is regularly briefed in a range of areas including contractual and equity disputes, corporations law matters, professional negligence, litigation over real property, trade practices and crime.

Charles frequently appears in all NSW State courts. In recent times, his practice has focused on professional negligence matters following his appearance in Tomasetti v Brailey [2012] NSWCA 399 and property disputes following Galafassi v Kelly (2014) 87 NSWLR 119.

Additionally, Charles is a casual teacher in Contracts at the University of Sydney.

Bradley Dean



Bradley was admitted to practice in 2005 and called to the Bar in 2019. He has a broad practice in public and commercial law, and accepts briefs in all areas of law.
Before coming to the Bar, Bradley worked as a solicitor for over a decade, primarily in the area of public and administrative law. He practised as a solicitor at the Australian Government Solicitor for over 7 years and at the NSW Crown Solicitor’s Office for 3 years.

Bradley also worked as an adviser to former Commonwealth Attorney-General, the Hon. Robert McClelland MP, and former Minister for Justice, the Hon. Brendan O’Connor MP.

Bradley has an LLM from the Australian National University, and an LLB (First Class Honours) and BA from the University of Western Sydney

Senior

Anthony Cheshire SC

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Anthony was called to the English Bar in 1992 and practised at the bar in London before moving to the New South Wales Bar in 2004. He practices from the 8th Floor of Wentworth Chambers in a broad range of areas, but with a particular focus upon general commercial, corporations, insolvency, equity, probate, charities, associations, inquiries, property, licensing, insurance and professional negligence. He was appointed Senior Counsel in 2015.

Anthony has been involved in several hearings of note, including the Walker inquiry into Camden and Campbelltown Hospitals, the ICAC inquiries involving Craig Knowles and Bob Carr, Melissa Hawach’s efforts to discover the whereabouts of her ex-husband after he had abducted her children, Patrick Power’s disciplinary hearing, the Callinan inquiry into equine influenza, the Beasley inquiry into Auburn Council, the Trade Union Royal Commission, the Financial Services Royal Commission and the NewCap Reinsurance Company litigation that ran for over a year and then for a month on appeal.

Anthony is regularly briefed to advise and appear in interstate matters and in States and Territories across Australia.

In 2017/18 Anthony was Counsel Assisting the Inquiry before the Hon Patricia Bergin SC under the Charitable Fundraising Act 1991 into the Returned and Services League of Australia (New South Wales Branch), RSL Welfare and Benevolent Institute and RSL LifeCare Limited.

Anthony acts as a mediator and arbitrator. He also lectures and gives legal training extensively.

Anthony is currently the floor Head of Chambers.

Adam Butt



Adam Butt is an Australian Barrister based in Sydney who specializes in international arbitration, commercial litigation and human rights law. Prior to joining the New South Wales Bar he practiced as a solicitor at Allens Linklaters and as a senior associate in the international arbitration team at Clayton Utz.

Adam has acted on numerous international investment and commercial arbitrations with seats in Europe, Asia, Australia, North America and the Caribbean, including several matters as assistant to Hon James Spigelman AC. He acts on complex commercial and human rights cases and regularly leads teams in Federal and state Supreme Courts, in cases both for and against the Crown. He has won major native title and Aboriginal land claim disputes across Australia, in addition to significant claims brought under the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth).

During 2020 to 2023, Adam was a finalist each year in Australia’s Lawyers Weekly Barrister of the Year Award, including winning the Award in 2021.

Adam has postgraduate degrees in law and politics from New York University and Cambridge where he placed first in several subjects, and has been a visiting scholar in negotiation at Harvard. He is also admitted as an attorney in New York. Previously, Adam worked with the judges at the ICTY in The Hague, on the trial of Slobodan Milošević, and as a permanent part time assistant to two eminent international arbitrators.

Adam is a current member of the NSW Bar Association’s Human Rights Committee. He regularly publishes and presents in Australia and overseas on ADR, expert evidence, contract and civil procedure. He has been a board member of several international ADR bodies in Australia and overseas.