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

Natalie holds a Masters' degree in media and telecommunications law from the University of Melbourne. She has a background in publishing (Past Editor of Victorian Bar News: 2017 -  2021) and in social media (The Social Litigator, her sports law blog project: 2014 - 2020). She represents plaintiffs and defendants both led and unled.

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

Natalie is recognised in Best Lawyers 2023 in three categories: Litigation, Intellectual Property and Alternative Dispute Resolution. She is also identified by Doyles Guide as a pre-eminent Technology, Media & Telecommunications junior counsel in Victoria (2022), and as a leading Intellectual Property junior counsel in Australia (2022). She is also recommended in Who's Who Legal - Trademarks (2021).

Her sports law experience includes representing clients (whether athlete, corporate sponsor or professional sports teams) in disputes. Natalie has served as a counsel assisting the Cricket Australia Code of Conduct Commission since the 2017/2018 cricket season. She is a member of the Netball Australia Super Netball League Disciplinary and Appeals Panel (since 2018). She is a past board member of the Thoroughbred Racehorse Owners’ Association Inc (TROA) (2016 - 2022). 

Natalie believes in giving back. She has been a board member of Bell Shakespeare Theatre Company since 2017. She has also been a board member of Cottage by the Sea, Queenscliff since 1999. 

Set out below are examples of matters in which Natalie is or has been briefed:

Marcus Bastiaan v Nine Entertainment Co. Holdings Limited & Ors VID 471/2021 (defamation). Latest event: [2022] FCA 60 per Rares J (successful interlocutory injunction to restrain threatened contempt of court). Led by Simon Wilson QC.

State of Escape v Stefanie Schwartz & Anor (copyright - works of artistic craftsmanship - misleading and deceptive conduct) and appeal in VID 31/2021. Full Court judgment: [2022] FCAFC 63; First instance decision: [2020] FCA 1606. Led by Bruce Caine QC.

Duncan v Australian Broadcasting Corporation FCCA MLG 3418/2020 (copyright in relation to an animation children's television program) Latest Event: 2022 Trial part-heard; closing submissions pending. Also see 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).

Australian Competition and Consumer Corporation v Mazda Australia Pty Ltd [2021] FCA 1493 (false or misleading representations; unconscionable conduct in relation to consumer guarantees). Led by Nick De Young QC with Anna Garsia. Latest event: Leave to appeal sought by ACCC (re unconscionable conduct) and Mazda (re false or misleading representations).

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Sumo Power Pty Ltd VID 514 /2020 - Penalties by consent for admitted contraventions of the Australian Consumer Law. Led by Fiona Forsyth QC.

Directed Electronics OE Pty Ltd v Isuzu Australia Limited  VID 547/2020 (various commercial claims). Latest event: [2022] FCA 254 (resisting application for permanent stay). Led by Michael Wise QC.

Directed Electronics OE Pty Ltd v OE Solutions VID 1157 / 2017 (breach of fiduciary obligations and related claims) including interlocutory judgments No.1 - No. 7 and related proceeding Meneses v Directed Electronics OE Pty Ltd [2019] FCAFC 190 (privilege against self-incrimination). The trial included a witness examination process per Covid-19 protocol (s.46 Federal Court of Australia Act 1976). Latest event: Judgment pending. Led by Colin Golvan QC and Michael Wise QC.

Emergent Solutions & Anor v Penguin Random House Australia Pty Ltd  S ECI 2021 02618 (interlocutory injunction to restrain distribution of a book, "The Leading Edge"). Settled at mediation.

Pathmanathan v Healthscope Operations Pty Ltd [2020] FCA 65 (summary judgment / summary dismissal).

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

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 )

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)

Sapper v Special Broadcasting Corporation S CI 2017 00938 (breach of confidence and related claims) - settled at mediation

Dick Smith Investments Pty Ltd v Roger John Ramsey [2016] FCA 939; 120 IPR 270 ('OZEMITE' and 'AUSSIEMITE' trade mark dispute)

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 )

Click here to download my List G Barristers CV.