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.
She conducts mediations as a private mediator, particularly in IP, competition and consumer law, and defamation matters.
Natalie is identified by Doyles Guide as a Leading Technology, Media & Telecommunications Junior Counsel - Australia (2018), and a Leading Intellectual Property Junior Counsel - Australia (2018). She has been recognised in Best Lawyers 2019 in Litigation, Intellectual Property and Alternative Dispute Resolution.
Commercial law
Natalie is briefed in a range of commercial law matters.
Recent matters:
Babcock & Brown DIF III Global Co-Investment Fund LP & Anor v Babcock & Brown International Pty Ltd & Ors - Supreme Court of Victoria S CI 2013 05903 (briefed on behalf of Spin Holdco Inc, the 28th Defendant, led by Stephen Parmenter SC)
Directed Electronics OE Pty Ltd v OE Solutions Pty Ltd [2018] FCA 142 (19 February 2018) Federal Court (Interlocutory injunction - long term supply agreement by conduct - where suppliers have notified intention to terminate - led by Michael Wise SC)
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:
GM Holden Ltd & Ors v S.S.S. Auto Parts Pty Ltd & Ors; Federal Court VID 394/2015 (Designs - Led by Richard Cobden SC - judgment pending)
Jon Campbell v Target Australia Pty Ltd Federal Court VID1456/2016 (Copyright in artistic work - settled at mediation)
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)
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)
Chateau Constructions Pty Ltd v Neville Vassallo & Anor - Federal Court NSD1672/2017 (Copyright in house plans - settled at mediation)
Dahlia (Aust) Pty Ltd & Anor v Fulcrum Management Pty Ltd and Cellebrite Mobile Synchronization - Federal Court VID194/2017 (Trade Marks and other claims - settled at mediation)
One 4 Five Pty Ltd t/a The Emerson v GHT Hospitality Pty Ltd t/a The Emerson Bar - Federal Court VID 837/2017 (Misleading and deceptive conduct / passing off claim brought in relation to use of the name THE EMERSON by a Perth entertainment venue)
BMW AG & Anor v Samad Tyres Pty Ltd & Ors; Federal Court VID 913/2015 (Trade Marks - Led by Adrian Ryan SC for the Respondents - settled at mediation)
Anti-counterfeiting: A successful Anton Piller application in the Federal Court of Australia (unled)
Dick Smith Investments Pty Ltd v Roger John Ramsey: Federal Court (Syd) NSD 272/2014 ('OZEMITE' and 'AUSSIEMITE' trade mark dispute: Counsel for Respondent in four day trial)
Comite Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne v Rachel Jayne Powell: Federal Court VID 1373 of 2013 ("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.
Recent matters:
Helou v El-Halabi - County Court of Victoria (settled during trial)
Von Marburg v Aldred & Mourik [2015] VSC 467 and Von Marburg v Aldred & Mourik [2016] VSC 36 (and other rulings): Supreme Court (Defamation; Amendment of Pleadings; Immediate costs enforcement - Led by Dr Matthew Collins QC - settled prior to trial)
Lee v Korean Society & Ors: Supreme Court S CI 2013 06474 (Defamation - Led by Simon Wilson QC - settled after Week 1 trial)
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 is serving as a Counsel assisting the Cricket Australia Code of Conduct Commission for the 2017/2018 cricket season.
She is a Board Member of the Thoroughbred Racehorse Owners’ Association Inc. (TROA) (since May 2016).
Other
Natalie's blog, The Social Litigator, combines her passion for topics such as sports law with her desire to communicate legal issues to non-lawyers in a user friendly way. She is a frequent media commentator on sports law topics and social media legal issues.
A summary of media mentions and presentations can be found on The Social Litigator.
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
