Tom Rawlinson practises in all areas of commercial, regulatory and public law. He has particular interests in class actions (including commercial class actions, product liability, and mass torts), business litigation, judicial review (in all contexts), and advising government on issues of statutory interpretation and executive power.
Tom also accepts briefs involving commercial, corporate and financial crime, criminal appeals (in all areas), and employment law.
Tom is also a Lecturer at Melbourne Law School, where he lectures in administrative law.
Before coming to the Bar, Tom practised as a senior associate at Phi Finney McDonald in Melbourne, an associate at Kaplan Hecker & Fink in New York, and an associate at Allens in Melbourne. Tom is admitted as an attorney in New York and has appeared in U.S. federal courts and New York state courts.
Tom was an associate to the Hon Justice Nettle AC at the High Court of Australia and the Hon Chief Justice Riley AO at the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory.
Tom graduated from Melbourne Law School ranked second in his cohort, winning four subject prizes and the prize for Top Student. He was an Editor of the Melbourne University Law Review. Tom also has a Master of Laws from Columbia University, where he graduated a James Kent Scholar.
Tom read with Sarala Fitzgerald and his senior mentor is Elizabeth Bennett SC.
Recent cases
LCM Funding Pty Ltd v Stanwell Corporation Limited [2022] FCAFC 103 (Full Court of the Federal Court of Australia). Appeal regarding application of managed investment scheme legislation to class action litigation funding. Junior counsel to court-appointed contradictor William A D Edwards SC.
Southernwood v Brambles Limited, VID972/2018 (Federal Court of Australia). Shareholder class action; briefed by the representative applicants to appear at trial. Led by Bernie Quinn KC, with William A D Edwards and Tim Chalke. (Judgment reserved.)
Yong v Westpac Banking Corporation, VID1373/2019 (Federal Court of Australia). Shareholder class action; briefed by the representative applicant. Led by Elizabeth Collins SC, with Leana Papaelia and Dion Fahey. (Ongoing.)
Stallard and Napier v Treasury Wine Estates Ltd, S ECI 2020 1590 (Supreme Court of Victoria). Shareholder class action; briefed by the representative plaintiffs. Led by Fiona Forsyth KC, with Tim Chalke. (Ongoing.)
Lay and Batchelor v Nuix Ltd (Supreme Court of Victoria). Shareholder class action; briefed by the representative plaintiffs. Led by Lachlan Armstrong KC, with Min Guo. (Ongoing.)
Pabai v Commonwealth (Federal Court of Australia). Briefed for the applicants in class action against the Commonwealth alleging breach of common law duties owed to Torres Strait Islanders to mitigate climate change and resulting harm. Member of large counsel team led by Fiona McLeod AO SC and Melanie Szydzik SC. (Ongoing.)
Corum Systems Pty Ltd v Fred IT Group Pty Ltd [2023] VSC 208. Joint venture dispute involving breach-of-contract and restitution claims; briefed by plaintiff to assist in evidence preparation and to appear at hearing of discovery dispute (did not appear at trial). Led by Peter Wallis KC, with Sam Ure.
Yoorrook Justice Commission. Briefed by Commission to assist Counsel Assisting with preparation for examination of key government witnesses, including the Hon Jaclyn Symes MP, Attorney-General for Victoria.