Former contributor to Practical Guidance Commercial. Partner, Bartier Perry
Gavin has wide ranging experience in all manner of commercial litigation including debt recovery, banking/finance litigation and securities enforcement, insolvency, contractual disputes, intellectual property and insurance including professional indemnity. Gavin regularly manages cases arising out of secured loans, supply, manufacturing and construction contracts, property acquisitions, sale of business, partnerships and corporate/personal insolvency.
Barrister, Frederick Jordan Chambers
Called to the Bar in 2008, Lishan maintains a broad civil practice, with a particular focus on commercial litigation and advice. His principal areas of practice includes all aspects of commercial litigation, equity, real property, insolvency, common law and insurance claims.
Lishan has successfully appeared in a broad range of complex interlocutory matters, hearings and appeals in a wide variety of jurisdictions, including the Federal Circuit Court, Supreme Court of New South Wales and inferior courts, as well as the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT).
Associate (projects, infrastructure & construction), Piper Alderman
Angie is an Associate in the Projects, Infrastructure and Construction team based in Sydney.
Practising in the contentious and non-contentious space, Angie strives to assist her clients throughout the full lifecycle of a project, and with adjacent matters.
Angie has broad ranging disputes experience, having had matters in a variety of forums from NCAT to the Supreme Court. She is also very familiar with adjudication, acting for both claimants and respondents as principals, contractors and subcontractors within at times lengthy, contractual chain, seeking or defending against claims for payments. In addition to adjudication, Angie is experienced with other alternative forms of dispute resolution including mediation and arbitration, and has worked with liquidators and deed administrators on construction insolvency matters including proof of debt adjudications and appeals.
Angie’s front end work includes drafting, reviewing and negotiating contracts for government, infrastructure, residential and commercial projects for various stakeholders in the building and construction industry, combining a strong technical understanding of construction law with insight into her clients’ drivers.
MembershipsSociety of Construction Law AustraliaLaw Society of NSW
Former contributor to Practical Guidance Personal Injury Queensland. Principal, Maurice Blackburn Lawyers
Jillian is a Queensland Law Society Accredited Specialist in Personal Injuries Law and has advocated solely for those for whom access to justice may not otherwise be possible since beginning her legal career over 8 years ago.
She is passionate about making a difference in the lives of others by assisting them when they have been wronged. She is a member of the Queensland Law Society, Australian Lawyers for Human Rights, Australian Lawyers Alliance and Maurice Blackburn's Women's Law Section.
Senior Associate, Clyde & Co.
Justin is a Senior Associate in the Corporate & Regulatory team at Clyde & Co. He is experienced in advising clients on a range of complex commercial, regulatory and corporate governance matters, including the operation of Australia's autonomous sanctions regime. In addition, Justin has significant experience acting in large commercial litigation and disputes.
Senior Finance Counsel, Allens
Diccon is recognised internationally for his work on innovative and ground-breaking finance deals, working for borrowers, lenders and arrangers in which he blends creativity with a strategic and commercial approach and rigorous legal analysis.
He is sought after for his strategic advice, immense knowledge and depth of experience in syndications and corporate financing, project financing, structured financing, takeover financing, tax and asset-based financing and leasing, domestic and overseas capital markets and derivatives. Diccon is recognised in Chambers Asia Pacific 2013 as a 'leading lawyer'. He is a senior and highly respected member of the banking and finance team. A significant part of his work is centred around corporate financing.
Former contributor to Practical Guidance Personal Injury Victoria. Barrister, formerly at Aickin Chambers
Before joining the Bar, Fiona practised in personal injury and commercial law, the latter as a senior associate at Ashurst (then Blake Dawson).
At the Bar, Fiona’s personal injury practice includes serious injury applications and jury trials, statutory benefits claims and veterans’ entitlements proceedings in the AAT and the Federal Court.
Barrister
Neil’s practice is predominantly in the area of civil litigation with a focus on personal injuries cases. Prior to joining the independent bar, he was a solicitor at Bradford & Co.
In 2013 Neil completed a Master of Laws at the University of Western Australia with his primary research area being negligence liability. He has a special interest in trial and appellate advocacy and has appeared on behalf of clients in most courts. Neil’s notable cases include New South Wales v DC [2017] HCA 22 (led) (abuse of minors), Engine Protection Equipment Pty Ltd v Miller [2018] WASCA 55 (workers’ compensation), Cullen v Woodside Energy Pty Ltd [2021] WADC 56 (workers’ compensation), Gentle v Wright [2021] WADC 63 (landlord and tenant) and Jenner v Mundrabilla Roadhouse Pty Ltd [2021] WADC 59 (occupiers’ liability).
Neil is a member of the RSPCA’s pro bono legal panel and is the current Western Australian State President of the Australian Lawyers Alliance. Outside of work Neil is a fixed wing pilot and has ambition of mustering from the air.
Former contributor to Practical Guidance Governance. Partner, Mills Oakley
Vera heads up the Not-for-profit team at Mills Oakley and also practises in the areas of property and commercial law. Vera sits on numerous charity boards, associations and committees.
Vera acts for clients on the purchase and sale of businesses, corporate and general contract issues, as well as in purchasing, developing and selling residential, retail and commercial high density developments. She advises on easements, covenants, community title, strata leasehold, aged accommodation law and trusts.
Vera has more than 20 years’ experience acting for numerous charities, religious and not-for-profit organisations, as well as several property trusts and developers in the industrial, commercial and domestic fields. Vera focuses on governance and fundraising issues and regularly advises on ATO endorsements and constitutions.
Director and Principal, CDI Lawyers
Christopher is a Director and Principal of CDI Lawyers. He is a leading Queensland construction litigation lawyer (Doyles Guide, 2024-2018).
Christopher’s national practice, encompasses front-end, project delivery and back-end on major projects throughout Australia.
He has recently acted in an AU$1.2B international arbitration arising from the AU$50B Ichthys LNG project in Darwin, an AU$500M infrastructure dispute in the Supreme Court of Queensland, a commercial arbitration for a publicly listed mining company, several disputes arising from the AU$21B Sydney Metro project and has advised on the world-first Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain Project spanning Victoria to Kobe, Japan.
Christopher is the Queensland editor of the Building and Construction Law Journal. AwardsLeading Queensland construction litigation lawyer (Doyles Guide, 2024-2018)
Former contributor to Practical Guidance Criminal. Solicitor and Accredited Criminal Law Specialist, Couper Geysen
Julia began her career working as a taxation and management accountant in major accounting firms, investment banks and public companies both in Australia and London. She then spent 7 years working as a Senior Financial Investigator with the WA Police and the Crime and Corruption Commission in Brisbane, primarily focusing on organised crime and confiscation proceedings.
Julia commenced practice as a criminal lawyer in 2007 at a boutique criminal law practice. In 2014 she established a criminal law division within an existing firm. She represents clients in all areas of criminal law with a special focus on financial and white-collar crime.
In 2014 Julia successfully completed the program run by the Queensland Law Society to become an Accredited Specialist in Criminal Law.
Counsel, White & Case
Ashleigh is a Counsel in White & Case’s Global Commercial Litigation Practice.
Ashleigh advises on substantial construction disputes, with particular expertise in the infrastructure, energy and resources sectors.
Ashleigh has over 10 years’ experience in top-tier construction practices in Melbourne and London. Her broad practice includes assisting with contract administration and claims development, mediation, adjudication, litigation and domestic and international arbitration.
Ashleigh has extensive in-house experience, including secondments with INPEX, Built and the National Broadband Network.
Speaking EngagementsAshleigh lectures in ‘Avoid and Manage Construction Disputes’ in the Master of Construction at the University of Melbourne.
Angela practises in all aspects of Intellectual Property including patents, trade marks, copyright, designs and consumer protection. Angela has been featured in Doyle’s Intellectual Property list since 2021. Angela regularly appears in the Federal Court of Australia, including the Full Court, various state Supreme Courts, the Patent Office and the Trade Mark Office.
Prior to coming to bar, Angela was a solicitor in two specialist IP firms. Angela was also the Associate to Justice Nicholas of the Federal Court of Australia where she gained extensive experience in intellectual property disputes and large commercial matters.
Angela graduated with first class honours in law from the University of New South Wales. Angela is also on the Editorial Panel for the Australian Intellectual Property Law Bulletin, is a co-author of the LexisNexis Australia Copyright & Designs chapter on International Copyright and has also authored a number of publications in intellectual property law.
Former contributor to Practical Guidance Employment. Principal, Maurice Blackburn
Giri advises and represents employees nationally and his clients include unions and their members, senior executives, medical professionals and senior public servants. He is a NSW Law Society accredited specialist in employment and industrial law, a member of the NSW Law Society Employment Law Committee, and is recommended as an Employment Law and Workplace Relations lawyer for employees in NSW in the Doyles Guide to the Australian Legal Profession, 2011 Edition.
Special Counsel, Norton Rose Fulbright
Stephen is a corporate technology lawyer based in Sydney. His practice focuses on advising businesses, funds and strategic investors/buyers in relation to M&A and investment work in the tech sector. He has extensive networks with VCs, private equity funds and banks. Prior to joining Norton Rose Fulbright, he was a senior in-house counsel to UK’s largest listed investment manager.
Stephen has also represented the Federal Government, investment and commercial banks, funds and companies in various corporate finance and securitisation matters. In addition, Stephen has led and overseen teams working on international and domestic bond transactions, leveraged loan deals, mergers & acquisitions, litigation, complex restructurings and dealings with local regulators, governments and The IMF.
He was an advisory board member for: xbullion, a blockchain settlement layer; Shape History, a for-purpose social impact consultancy; and was a guest lecturer at London Business School. Stephen is admitted as a solicitor in NSW, Australia and in England & Wales.
Email: stephen.pattersonfang@nortonrosefulbright.com
Phone: +61 2 9330 8536
Former contributor to Practical Guidance Insolvency & Restructuring, Partner, Piper Alderman
Thomas is a Partner of Piper Alderman Lawyers and the head of Piper Alderman’s Sydney Insolvency team. He is recognised as a leading restructuring and insolvency practitioner, as well as an expert in Personal Property Security Act (PPSA) litigation and securities enforcement.
Thomas’s expertise includes advice and representation to company boards, liquidators, receivers, administrators and bankruptcy trustees, with specific expertise in voidable transaction claims, remuneration and priority issues, statutory and regulatory compliance and stakeholder negotiations.
Thomas also regularly assists directors of companies in financial distress, bringing to the table not only his industry connections and knowledge of the technical rules and regulations, but also years of real world experience in assisting company directors to work their way through the commercial realities of a financial crisis.
During his career, Thomas has acted in a number of high-profile insolvency and turnaround matters across a range of industries including property, retail, manufacturing, logistics, information technology and communications, automotive and aviation. Thomas is also active with industry associations and is a member of the Law Council of Australia, the Australian Restructuring Insolvency and Turnaround Association (ARITA), the Turnaround Management Association (TMA) and others.
He is also the author of a widely distributed bulletin on updates in insolvency law and practice and is known throughout the industry for his pragmatic approach.
Special Counsel, Baker McKenzie
Gillian is a key senior member of Baker McKenzie's IP practice. She specialises in advising clients on brand strategy, trade mark clearances and registration and manages global trade mark portfolios on behalf of her clients. She also represents clients in trade mark opposition proceedings and advises in relation to corporate transactional due diligence projects. Gillian acts for key international clients of the firm including a global FMCG corporation which owns one of the largest brands portfolios in the world, a multinational that owns a number of well-known quick service restaurant brands, a global play and entertainment company with familiar games and entertainment brands and corporations which have portfolios of prestige and renowned cosmetics and beauty care brands.
Mobile: +61 2 8922 5486, +61 466 752 772
Email: gillian.woon@bakermckenzie.com
Senior Associate, King & Wood Mallesons
Karen Litherland is an IP commercialisation lawyer and future leader. She advises the public and private sectors across a range of industries on intellectual property commercialisation, data and technology law matters, including in relation to strategy, ownership, enforcement, rebranding, and corporate transactions.
Karen has advised a number of high-profile organisations on complex strategic projects involving the commercialisation of patents, software, data, trade marks and plant breeders rights. She has also advised organisations on a number of IP ownership issues, including spin-off arrangements and disputes.
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