Evelyn has over 12 years of experience in litigation and resolving disputes and has a broad practice, predominantly in commercial, public and common law. 

Commercial law

Evelyn has advised and acted for listed companies, small businesses, governments and individual clients in a range of commercial and civil matters including in a high profile scheme of arrangement, breach of directors duties, contractual disputes, property disputes (including mortgagee’s obligations under s87A of the Transfer of Land Act), consumer protection, commercial arbitration, breaches of confidentiality, privacy matters, building disputes, property law, tenancy and planning law.  

Employment Law

Evelyn has advised and acted for both employees and employers in employment law matters, including in relation to anti-discrimination laws, sexual harassment and unfair dismissal.  She was on the legal team that achieved a financial settlement with the Commonwealth government on behalf of former associates who were sexually harassed by former High Court justice Dyson Heydon.   

Public law

Evelyn’s public law practice includes human rights, migration law, freedom of information, disciplinary proceedings and coronial inquiries.  Evelyn is currently on the legal team defending the decision of Love & Thoms (the precedent which established that Aboriginal Australians were not subject to the aliens power and could not be detained and deported) from being overturned. 

In 2019, she was awarded the Ron Castan AM pro bono award for her involvement in the Human Rights Charter case of Matsoukatidou v Yarra Ranges Council [2017] VSC 61 and for her work representing asylum seekers and refugees on Nauru and Manus Island.

Common law

Evelyn regularly advises and appears in defamation law matters, particularly in a social media context as well as breach of confidence. 

She has also been involved in many cases, some of which have been heard in the Federal Court, seeking urgent medical treatment for asylum seekers and refugees on Nauru and Manus Island on the basis of alleged breaches of a duty of care.

Criminal and regulatory law

Evelyn is also available to appear in relation to criminal offences, criminal matters involving administrative law or the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities, criminal breaches of the Corporations Act or work health and safety laws as well as fraud and environmental, building and planning offences.  Evelyn is also a holder of an Indictable Crime Certificate (ICC).   

Family law

Evelyn also appears in child protection matters and for clients seeking and defending family violence protection orders. 

Alternative Dispute resolution 

Evelyn is a nationally accredited mediator and welcomes briefs to mediate in broad areas of practice. 

Teaching 

Evelyn also teaches regularly at Leo Cussen Institute, including in advocacy and administrative law and at RMIT University in Civil Procedure.  She has previously lectured in administrative law with Professor Spencer Zifcak at Australian Catholic University.  She also regularly contributes to the Contracts Law chapter of the Fitzroy Legal Service Law Handbook. 

Prior legal experience 

Prior to coming to the Bar, Evelyn was Senior Associate to the Honourable Justice Almond in the Supreme Court of Victoria.  She practised for four years as a solicitor at Clayton Utz in the Litigation and Dispute Resolution team, during which she was also seconded to Justice Connect Homeless Law.

Community work

Evelyn has also worked for well over 15 years with various not-for-profit organisations. While completing her undergraduate degree, Evelyn founded and co-directed the Human Rights Arts and Film Festival and was Chairperson of the board until 2021.     

Evelyn read with Hamish Redd and her senior mentor was Peter Gray QC.

For a selection of the matters Evelyn has appeared in since coming to the Bar, please click here.

To view a copy of Evelyn's CV, please click here.