Robert has a broad commercial practice with a particular focus on general commercial, construction, competition/trade practices and class action litigation in the Federal and State Courts, as well as on commercial arbitration matters.
Robert has acted in a wide range of commercial disputes in the Federal Court, the Victorian Court of Appeal, the Supreme Courts of Victoria, South Australia and the Northern Territory, and the High Court of England and Wales. Robert has also acted in a significant number of arbitrations, including ACICA, ICSID, ICC, LCIA and IAMA arbitrations, and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (MCIArb) and ACICA.
Before coming to the Bar, Robert was a Senior Associate in the Dispute Resolution group at King & Wood Mallesons (previously Mallesons Stephen Jaques). Prior to that, he was an Associate in the Litigation/Arbitration group at Shearman & Sterling LLP in London. He was previously also an Associate to Justice Mansfield in the Federal Court of Australia.
Robert holds a first class Master of Law degree from the University of Cambridge (with a commercial law specialisation) and a Bachelor of Law degree with first class honours from Bond University.
Robert is also a member of Hanson Chambers in Adelaide and is available to appear in, and/or advise in relation to, proceedings in South Australia. To see Robert's Hanson Chambers profile, please click here.
Robert's matters include:
- ACICA arbitrations concerning a major infrastructure project in South Australia (led by D Miller SC)
- ICC arbitration concerning a major Australian infrastructure project (led by N Pane QC)
- Thrower v SA Power Networks & Ors [2021] SASC - representative proceedings, negligence, nuisance (led by T Cox QC)
- Roberts v Roberts [2021] SASC 72 - contract, proprietary estoppel, constructive trust (led by T Cox QC)
- Adelaide Brighton Cement Ltd v Hallett Concrete Pty Ltd [2020] SASC 161 - pleadings, contract, misleading or deceptive conduct, unconscionable conduct, tort (led by RJ Whitington QC)
- Contract Mining Services Pty Ltd v Adelaide Brighton Cement Ltd [2020] SASC 69 - contract, judicial bias (led by RJ Whitington QC)
- Halikos Hospitality Pty Ltd & Ors v INPEX Operations Australia Pty Ltd [2020] NTCA 4; [2019] NTSC 10 – appeal, contract, estoppel, misleading or deceptive conduct, legal professional privilege, subpoenas (led by RJ Whitington QC)
- Maxilift Australia Pty Ltd v Donnelly [2020] SASC 8; [2019] SASC 115 - contempt (led by B Roberts QC)
- Core Trading (SA) Pty Ltd v Southport Bottles & Cans Pty Ltd [2020] SASC - interlocutory injunction, contract (unled)
- Italia Ceramics International Super Pty Ltd v CM Corporation Pty Ltd [2019] SASCFC 54 - appeal, leases (led by RJ Whitington QC)
- Micro-X Ltd v Allora Services Ltd [2019] FCA and related arbitral proceedings - breach of contract, misleading or deceptive conduct, copyright (led by B Quinn QC)
- Exencion Advisory Pty Ltd v Commercial & General Wholesale Office Pty Ltd & Anor [2019] SASC - contract, restitution (unled)
- CPB Contractors Pty Limited v Celsus Pty Limited (No 2) [2018] FCA 2112 – constitutional law, arbitration (led by Dr A Bell SC)
- Leadenhall Australia Pty Ltd v Cape Lambert Limited [2018] FCA 558 - application to inspect company’s books pursuant to s 247A Corporations Act (led by RJ Whitington QC)
- John Holland Pty Ltd & Ors v ACN 008 275 296 Pty Ltd (In Liq) & Ors [2018] SASC - negligence, nuisance (unled)
- AAM Adelaide Pty Ltd v Davis & Anor [2018] SASC - confidential information, employment (led by M Hoffmann QC)
- Scully and Co Pty Ltd v Melbourne Market Authority [2017] VSC - contract, estoppel, misleading or deceptive conduct (unled)
- Reschke v Reschke [2017] SASC 192 - trusts, wills, probate (led by R Whitington QC)
- Vancer Group Pty Ltd v Betswap Pty Ltd [2016] VSC - oppressive conduct (unled)
- Flinders Operating Services Pty Ltd & Anor v Downer EDI Rail Pty Ltd & Anor [2015] SASC - contract, negligence (unled)
- Huntley Management Ltd v Koonara Management Pty Ltd & Anor [2015] SASC - debt, contract, misleading or deceptive conduct (unled)
- MIS Funding No 1 Pty Ltd v Symington [2014] VSC - debt, contract, misleading or deceptive conduct (unled)
- Westpac Banking Corporation v Preston & Anor [2014] VSC - debt, contract, unconscionable conduct (unled)
- Asahi Holdings (Australia) Pty Ltd & Anor v Pacific Equity Partners Pty Ltd & Ors [2014] FCA 481; (2014) 312 ALR 403 - legal professional privilege (led by Dr S McNicol QC)
- Love v Roads Corporation & Anor [2014] VSCA 56 - damages (led by J Delany QC)
- Perfection Fresh Australia Pty Ltd & Ors v Melbourne Market Authority [2013] VSC - representative proceeding, unconscionable conduct, breach of contract (led by J Karkar QC and M Wyles QC)
- Trility Pty Ltd v Ancon Drilling Pty Ltd [2013] VSC 577 and related IAMA arbitration before M Shand QC - security for costs, breach of contract (led by Dr M Collins QC)
- Westpac Banking Corporation v Aitken [2013] NTSC (pro bono) - debt, contract, unconscionable conduct, National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009, National Credit Code (with A Rodbard-Bean)
Please click here to view the List A Barristers profile of Robert Williams.