Michela practices in commercial and regulatory law.
Michela has expertise and interest in class actions, regulatory investigations and proceedings, financial services litigation, consumer and competition law and privilege disputes.
Before joining the Bar, Michela was a Senior Associate at Allens in the Commercial Disputes and Investigations team where she worked for almost nine years. Michela has experience in a wide range of industries including banking and finance, mining, retail and pharmaceutical, and has led complex matters in the Federal Court of Australia and state supreme courts.
Significant cases in which Michela has been briefed include:
Commercial
- Bass Straight Freight Pty Ltd & Anor v Colac Otway Shire Council & Anor [2024] VSC 19 – Interlocutory injunction (led by Robert Heath KC).
- Leakes Road Rockbank Pty Ltd v Head, Transport for Victoria (S ECI 2023 02473 / 2023 02474) (Claims under the Planning and Environment Act 1987) (Led by Tom Barry and instructed by Russell Kennedy) (ongoing).
- Hyams & Anor v Blythe (CI2201251) (property dispute, including adverse possession) (Led by Daniel Aghion KC and instructed by Tisher Liner FC Law)
Class Actions
- Shimson & Anor v MLC Nominees Pty Ltd & Anor (S ECI 2020 00306) (MLC MySuper Class Action) (led by Matthew Darke SC; Kathleen Foley SC with Jerome Entwisle and Huw Whitwell and instructed by Allens).
- Ian Edo Janssen & Anor v OnePath Custodians Pty Ltd & Ors (VID9/2021) (OnePath Class Action) (led by Kristine Hanscombe KC with Alex Folie, James Page and Stephanie Brenker and instructed by Slater & Gordon) (ongoing).
- Nicholas John Gehrke and Lester Buch v Noumi Limited (formerly known as Freedom Foods Group Limited) & Anor (S ECI 2020 04505) (Freedom Foods Class Action) (Instructed by Arnold Bloch Leibler).
Regulatory
- Mawhinney v Australian Securities and Investments Commission (No 2) [2022] FCAFC 205 (Costs dispute following appeal acting for an interested party) (Unled and instructed by Allens).
Michela is a member of the Class Actions Committee
Michela has been recognised as a Rising Star in dispute resolution (Doyle’s Guide, 2020).
Michela holds a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws (with First Class Honours) from Monash University.
Michela read with Andrew Barraclough and her senior mentor is Penny Neskovcin KC.
A copy of Michela's current CV is available here.