Nilanka is a commercial and public law barrister. She practices in a broad range of commercial disputes. She has a speciality in employment law and discrimination.

Nilanka’s commercial practice includes insolvency, contract disputes, consumer claims and partnership disputes.Nilanka has particular experience in employment and discrimination law. Nilanka’s employment law practice comprises of a diverse mix of work including general protections claims, underpayments, contractual disputes and civil penalty provisions under the Fair Work Act. Nilanka’s public law practice includes claims concerning statutory interpretation, judicial reviews and anti-discrimination legislation.

Before coming to the Bar, Nilanka practised as a solicitor for over 10 years in general commercial and employment litigation including in large-scale class actions.

Nilanka also has experience acting in interstate jurisdictions, namely the Australian Capital Territory and New South Wales.

Some of Nilanka’s key case involvements before coming to the Bar include:

• I-MED Radiology Network Limited v The Director of Professional Services Review [2020] FCA 1645 in relation to challenging the decision of an administrative decision maker. 
• Jones v University of Canberra & Ors [2016] ACTSC 78, Jones v University of Canberra (No 2) [2016] ACTSC 186 and Jones v University of Canberra (No 3) [2016] ACTSC 186 regarding an employment dispute.  
• Bywater v Appco Group Australia Pty Ltd [2018] FCA 707 acting for Mr Bywater (as the representative plaintiff in a class action) regarding substantive common issues of fact or law in representative proceedings in employment law.
• Other representative proceedings including an action involving the interpretation of a clause in an enterprise agreement in the context of a quasi-government organisation and matters involving the definition of a casual employee, offsetting provisions in contracts and claims for restitution.

Nilanka is also interested in health law and intellectual property law. She holds a Bachelor of Science (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology) and a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) from Monash University in addition to her legal qualifications.

Nilanka is currently reading with Eugenia Levine and her senior mentor is Jenny Firkin KC.

From 3 May 2024, liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.