Natalie J Hickey | Victorian Bar

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Date of Admission:

11 Apr 1994

First Signed Bar Roll:

23 Oct 2014

Division of Bar Roll:

Victorian Practising Counsel

Qualifications:

BA.LLB (Hons) (Uni of Melbourne); LLM (Media & Telecommunications) (Uni of Melbourne)

Previous Occupation:

Partner at King & Wood Mallesons

Profile:

Natalie is a commercial law barrister with expertise in intellectual property law, competition and consumer law, and media law. She also has an interest in sports law. Natalie was previously a litigation partner of King & Wood Mallesons (formerly Mallesons Stephen Jaques) from 2005 to 2013.

Natalie is recognised in Best Lawyers 2020 in Litigation, Intellectual Property and Alternative Dispute Resolution. She is also identified by Doyles Guide as a Leading Technology, Media & Telecommunications Junior Counsel in Victoria (2019 - preeminent), and a Leading Intellectual Property Junior Counsel - Australia (2019).

Natalie is available as a private mediator, particularly in IP, competition and consumer law, and defamation matters.

Commercial law

Natalie is briefed in a range of commercial law matters.

Recent matters include:

Weatherbeeta Limited v Hammersmith Nominees Pty Ltd [2019] VSC 559 (contracts dispute - led by Garry Fitzgerald QC)

Directed Electronics OE Pty Ltd v OE Solutions Pty Ltd No. 3 [2019] FCA 285 (Privilege against self-incrimination - first consideration of s.128A Evidence Act (Cth) - led by Michael Wise QC - Full Court appeal decision pending)

Access Group Australia Pty Ltd v Topper Hydraulic Platforms Pty Ltd [2019] WASC 265 (led by Anthony Willinge - transfer application from WASC to FCA)

DIF III - Global Co-Investment Fund LP v Babcock & Brown International Pty Ltd [2019] NSWSC 527 (equity - fiduciary relationships - promoters - contract; led by Stephen Parmenter QC )

Directed Electronics OE Pty Ltd v OE Solutions Pty Ltd [2018] FCA 142 (Interlocutory injunction - long term supply agreement by conduct - where suppliers have notified intention to terminate - led by Michael Wise QC)

Intellectual Property

Natalie is a specialist in intellectual property law. She has acted in many disputes concerning marketing, brands, confidential information, the Internet and digital technology.

Recent matters include:

Duncan v Australian Broadcasting Corporation [2019] VCAT 1172 (application for summary dismissal - VCAT's equitable jurisdiction for breach of confidence - whether conduct in trade and commerce; unled)

GM Holden Ltd & Ors v S.S.S. Auto Parts Pty Ltd & Ors [2019] FCA 97 (Designs - test case on spare parts provision - Led by Richard Cobden SC)

REA Group trade mark oppositions concerning REALESTATE.COM.AU: First National Group of Independent Real Estate Agents Limited v REA Group Ltd [2016] ATMO 102; Real Estate Institute of Australia Limited AND Real Estate Institute of Western Australia Incorporated AND Professionals Global Limited v REA Group Pty Ltd [2017] ATMO 82 (4 August 2017); and Fairfax Digital Australia & New Zealand Pty Limited and Fairfax Media Limited v REA Group Ltd [2018] ATMO 21 (15 February 2018); Real Estate Home Loans Pty Ltd v REA Group Ltd [2019] ATMO 129 (28 August 2019).

A trade mark opposition (BLACK MARKET DEAL) and opposed Removal Applications on behalf of Vinomofo: Vinomofo Holdings Pty Ltd [2018] ATMO 14 (2 February 2018) and Black-market.co.nz Limited and Blackmarket.com.au Pty Ltd v Vinomofo Holdings Pty Ltd [2018 ATMO 42 (28 March 2018)

Dick Smith Investments Pty Ltd v Roger John Ramsey [2016] FCA 939; 120 IPR 270 ('OZEMITE' and 'AUSSIEMITE' trade mark dispute: Counsel for Respondent in four day trial)

Comite Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne v Rachel Jayne Powell [2015] FCA 1110 ("Champagne Jayne case": Australian consumer law; use of 'champagne' - Counsel for Respondent in closing submissions and costs phase with co-counsel Evelyn Tadros )

Media Law

Natalie holds a Masters' degree in media and telecommunications law from the University of Melbourne. She practises in defamation law, advises on open court issues, and has a strong interest in social media. Natalie has represented plaintiffs and defendants in defamation proceedings in the County Court, Supreme Court of Victoria and Federal Court of Australia both led and unled. Her clients include individuals and media organisations. She also undertakes manuscript analyses for one of Australia's leading publishing houses.

Competition and Consumer Law

Natalie is experienced in issues concerning unconscionable conduct, misleading and deceptive conduct, and consumer law generally.

Sports Law

Experience includes representing clients (whether athlete or corporate) in sponsorship disputes, and contractual disputes concerning professional sports teams.

Natalie has served as a Counsel assisting the Cricket Australia Code of Conduct Commission since the 2017/2018 cricket season.

She is a Board Member of the Thoroughbred Racehorse Owners’ Association Inc. (TROA) (since May 2016).

She is also a member of the Netball Australia Super Netball League Disciplinary and Appeals Panel (since 2018).

Other

Natalie is a Board Member of the Cottage by the Sea, Queenscliff (since 1999).

She is a Board Member of Bell Shakespeare Theatre Company (since 2017).

Committees and Memberships

Editor of Victorian Bar News (with co-editors Justin Wheelahan and Annette Charak)

Intellectual Property Society of Australia and New Zealand

Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation. The information referred to above has been supplied by the barrister concerned. Neither Victorian Bar Inc nor the barrister's clerk have independently verified the accuracy or completeness of the information and neither accepts any responsibility in that regard.