Richard Knowles KC has a broad practice in public law, regulatory law, commercial law and tort law. He is regularly briefed to advise and appear for private and government clients in significant litigation in Victorian and Commonwealth courts and tribunals.
Richard has acted in a diverse range of public law matters, including in recent times matters relating to aged care, defence procurement, financial services, animal exports, customs duties, credit providers, environmental and cultural heritage, immigration and citizenship, and whistleblowers. He is listed by Doyle's Guide as a leading senior counsel in administrative law and public law. From March 2019 until early 2021, he was one of the counsel assisting the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.
Some examples of matters in which Richard has recently acted are:
- Ismail v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs [2024] HCA 2 (with Nicholas Swan) (immigration)
- Frugtniet v Australian Securities and Investments Commission [2023] FCAFC 14 (with Felicity Bentley) (statutory interpretation) (application for special leave to appeal dismissed: Frugtniet v Australian Securities and Investments Commission [2023] HCASL 95)
- Australia Capital Financial Management Ltd v Australian Financial Complaints Authority Ltd [2022] NSWCA 204; (2022) 164 ACSR 215 (with Simon Thomas) (financial services) (application for special leave to appeal dismissed: Australia Capital Financial Management Ltd v Australian Financial Complaints Authority Ltd [2023] HCASL 27)
- Mullett v Nixon [2022] VSCA 174 (with Daniel McCredden) (misfeasance in public office; malicious prosecution) (application for special leave to appeal dismissed: Mullett v Nixon [2022] HCASL 213)
- Plaintiff M1/2021 v Minister for Home Affairs [2022] HCA 17; (2022) 275 CLR 582 (with Colette Mintz) (immigration)
Prior to coming to the Bar in 2004, Richard was a senior associate in the Litigation and Dispute Resolution team at Clayton Utz. Before Clayton Utz, he worked at the Australian Government Solicitor, the Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department, and the Victorian Department of Premier and Cabinet.