Phil Corbett KC practices in commercial, construction and property law in all jurisdictions. He has more than 30 years of experience in litigation and dispute resolution. His expertise includes contract disputes, corporations law, administrative review, commercial arbitration, employment law, unincorporated associations, trusts, shareholder disputes, franchising, retail leases, real property, professional negligence, equitable remedies, trade practices and insolvency.
Phil has appeared as counsel at royal commissions, public examinations, disciplinary proceedings, internal reviews and regulatory investigations. He has worked with large corporations, regulators, government agencies, independent schools as well as small businesses and individuals. Phil has a wealth of commercial and practical experience acquired from a broad commercial and private client base. He is available to take direct briefs in appropriate cases and is an experienced mediator of complex disputes.
He was Chairman of the Victorian Bar Health and Wellbeing Committee from 2014 until 2019. He was also the Chairman of the International Advocacy Training Committee and a member of the Victorian Bar Education Executive. He is an accredited advocacy coach with over 20 years of advocacy teaching experience in Australia and the South Pacific.
Phil is a Sessional Member of the National Sports Tribunal appointed 2021, a representative of the Victorian Bar on the Federal Court Users Group-Insolvency Section and a Nationally Accredited Mediator (NMAS).
Phil is currently ranked as "Leading Senior Counsel" in the Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2024 Edition for the Australian Bar.
List of Recent Significant Cases
Abdo v Said [2022] VSC 372 (Contract for Sale of Land, termination, loss of opportunity damage. Approval of compromises)
Atg Lanka (PVT) Ltd v Safety Mate Pty Ltd [2021] VSC 820 (Contract, Termination, Good Faith, breach and damages)
Mediations: appointed by Commonwealth Ombudsman to mediate disputes between private health insurers and health service providers
Investigations: Review unincorporated association constitution, dispute resolution procedures and disciplinary action
Queenfield Pty Ltd v Gordon Finance Pty Ltd [2020] VSCA 282 (Appeals, contract law, rectification and estoppel).
Mediator appointed to assist resolution of national franchise dispute between franchisor and franchisees throughout Australia
MWL Financial Group Pty Ltd v Focus Australia Holdings [2020] FCA 548 (Injunctions, shareholders rights and remedies, derivative proceedings)
Safer Storage Systems v Dexion (Australia) Pty Ltd (2019) 148 IPR 450 (Injunctions, restraint of trade, misleading and deceptive conduct)
ATG Lanka (PVT) v Safety Mate Pty Ltd [2019] VSC 634 (Injunctions, wrongful termination, restraint of trade, declaratory relief)
Application for review and appeal of the suspension of building practitioner by Victorian Building Authority in relation to use of combustible cladding (November 2019, VCAT)
Asic Investigations arising from Banking Royal Commission (2019- 2020)
Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety (2019 -2020) (retained to act and appear for various Victorian Aged Care Service providers)
Shao v AG Advanced Construction Pty Ltd [2019] VSCA 93 (Judicial review, building and construction, domestic building contracts, breach and damages)
JPA Finance Pty Ltd v Gordon Nominees Pty Ltd [2019] VSC 171 (Contract, breach, equity, relief against forfeiture)
Westpoint Corporation Pty Ltd (in Liquidation) v Yeo [2018] VSC 705 (Corporations, insolvency, liquidator’s remuneration)
Bowden v Murray Valley Aboriginal Cooperative [2018] VSC 591 (Practice and procedure, pleadings, director’s duties, employment law)
Northway Panels v Warry [2018] VSC 581 (Corporations, injunctions, insolvency, winding up)
Colin R Price & Associates v Four Oaks Pty Ltd [2017] FCFCA 101 (Appeals, unconscionable conduct, misleading conduct, contract, building and construction)
Byrne v Javelin Asset Management Pty Ltd [2016] VSCA 214 (Appeals, Class actions, settlement and compromise)
Vicwest Community Telco Limited [2016] VSC 1133 (Corporations, schemes of arrangement mergers and acquisitions)
ASIC v Sino Australia Oil and Gas Limited [2016] FCA 934 (Breach of director’s duties, disqualification, false representations and penalties)
ASIC v Sino Australia Oil and Gas Limited [2016] FCA 16; [2016] FCA 201 (Provisional liquidation and winding up on just and equitable grounds)
Whirlpool (Australia) Pty Ltd v Castel Electronics Pty Ltd [2015] FCA 906 (Cross-vesting, antisuit injunctions).
LHRC v DCT [2015] FCAFC 184 (Appeals, administrative law, judicial review and taxation)
In Re Gunns Limited (No 6) [2015] VSC 425 (Managed investment schemes, liquidators' approval, schemes of arrangement)
Legal Services Board v Forster [2015] VSC 136 (Disciplinary proceedings, freezing orders, injunctions, variation of injunctions)
Falkingham v Peninsula Kingswood Golf Club Limited [2015] VSCA 16 (Appeals, sale of land, incorporated associations and civil procedure)
Bryant & Ors (in their capacity as Liquidators of Gunns Plantations Limited in Liquidation) [2014] VSC 369 (Managed Investment Schemes, corporations, insolvency and reconstruction)
Bob Jane Corporation Pty Limited v Jane [2014] VSC 27 (Jurisdiction of Courts and cross-vesting, family law)
L & H New Developments Pty Limited v MYR Investments Pty Ltd [2013] VSC 689 (Partnership, receivership and winding up of partnership business) and (No 2) [2015] VSC 89 (taking of partnership accounts and preliminary questions)
AJB Group Pty Ltd v Qanstruct Construction (Aust) Pty Ltd (November 2013- Private Commercial Arbitration, Building and Construction Contracts and latent defects)