Whilst his acknowledged advocacy skills have been honed across diverse practice areas and jurisdictions, Geoff now practises predominantly in commercial and regulatory law.
His accounting background, analytical legal skills and keen knowledge of the law ensure that major issues in a particular set of facts will be identified and he is known by his instructing solicitors not only to find issues but have strategies to address them. Geoff’s case analysis also includes a strong understanding of the likely commercial outcomes and he understands what a commercial client is looking for.
Over the last nearly 20 years at the Victorian Bar Geoff’s work has included advising and on occasion appearances for the Victorian Government in regulatory affairs (gas and electricity) as well as appearing in numerous administrative law, trade practices, commercial litigation matters, professional negligence and general matters in all jurisdictions (State and Federal) including appellate.
For a period in the early 1990’s Geoff was Corporate Counsel at Telecom Corporation of New Zealand Ltd during which he developed a keen understanding of commercial imperatives and how to address them as a lawyer.
Geoff has lived and worked in New Zealand, Hong Kong and Australia. He has been admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor in New Zealand, a Solicitor in Hong Kong and England and Wales and as a Barrister and Solicitor in Victoria.
He communicates well with clients across social and ethnically diverse backgrounds and has a working knowledge of (although he disclaims any great fluency) French, Cantonese and Thai.
Geoff is a member of the Rotary Club in Camberwell and enjoys his family and the occasional glass of an excellent wine, as well as running.