Stephanie practises in commercial law, with particular experience in corporate insolvency, banking and finance and building and construction matters. She is recognised in Doyle's Guide for her construction expertise.

Stephanie comes to the Bar after six years in private practice. Most recently, Stephanie practised in Herbert Smith Freehills’ dispute resolution team and, prior to that, in Norton Rose Fulbright’s insolvency and restructuring teams in both Melbourne and London.

Stephanie holds a Bachelor of Civil Law (Distinction) from the University of Oxford. She graduated from Griffith University with a Bachelor of Laws with first class honours and a Bachelor of International Business, for which she was awarded the International Business Medal. She is a co-author of Zuckerman on Australian Civil Procedure.

Stephanie read with Carl Möller.  Her senior mentor is Nicholas Pane QC.

Cases

Some recent and ongoing matters in which Stephanie has been briefed include:

Commercial

• Guildford International Group Pty Ltd v Aviation 3030 Pty Ltd & Ors (FCA): acting for the plaintiff in a shareholder oppression proceeding (led by Jonathan Evans QC).
• Fortune Holding Developments Pty Ltd v Hendrix Property Group Pty Ltd & Ors (VSC): acting for the plaintiffs in a derivative action concerning director and fiduciary duties (led by Jonathon Moore QC) (resolved prior to hearing).
• Re SRW Nominees (No.2) [2020] VSC 323; (No. 3) [2020] VSC 475: acting for the defendants in an oppression proceeding concerning the 'fair value' of the plaintiffs' shares and costs respectively (led by Chris Archibald QC).
• Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry.
• Royal Commission into the Management of Police Informants.
• Royal Commission into the Casino Operator and Licence.

Class actions

• Bolitho v Banksia Securities Limited (Receivers & Managers Apptd) (In Liq) & Ors (VSC): acting for the third defendant in a class action concerning alleged breaches of Chapter 2L of the Corporations Act (led by Ian Waller QC, with Paul Liondas and Fleur Shand) (resolved prior to hearing).
• Webster v Murray Goulburn Co-operative Co Ltd & Ors (FCA): acting for the fourth defendant in a class action concerning alleged breaches of continuous and product disclosure provisions (led by Lisa Nichols QC, as her Honour then was, and Carl Möller) (resolved prior to hearing).
• Wetdal Pty Ltd v Estia Health Limited [2021] FCA 475: acting for the applicant in a securities class action concerning alleged breaches of continuous disclosure provisions and misleading and deceptive conduct (led by William Edwards) (resolved prior to hearing).

Insolvency

• Fonua v Mitrov [2017] FCCA 2465: acting for the respondent in successfully opposing a creditor's petition (unled).
• Stellar Projects (Vic) Pty Ltd v Cambridge Plumbing Pty Ltd [2017] VSC 532; (2017) 324 FLR 279: acting for the plaintiff in a successful application to set aside a statutory demand (unled).

Common law and equity

• Chang v Chang (VSC): acting for the defendant in a misuse of confidential information claim (led by Leslie Glick QC) (resolved prior to hearing).
• In a Resolution Institution arbitration concerning purported contractual variations: acting for the respondent in an arbitration involving contractual variation, quantum meruit and restitution claims (unled) (resolved prior to hearing).
• In an ICC arbitration concerning contractual interpretation: acting for the successful claimant in a high-value ICC arbitration concerning the proper construction of bespoke contractual provisions and a related claim for payment (led by Nick Pane QC, with Brian Mason).

Practice and procedure

• Asset Interiors Pty Ltd v Grocon Constructions (Vic) Pty Ltd & Anor (Building and Property) [2018] VCAT 483: acting for the respondents in a successful application for security for costs (unled).
• Zhang v Fortune Holding Group Pty Ltd & Ors (No. 2) [2018] VSCA 70: acting for the respondents in successfully resisting an application for leave to appeal against custodial sentence (unled).
• Fortune Holding Group Pty Ltd & Ors v Zhang (No. 2) [2017] VSC 738; (No. 3) [2018] VSC 22: acting for the plaintiffs in a successful contempt application arising out of breaches of a freezing order (unled).
• Lock, in the matter of Cedenco JV Australia Pty Ltd (In Liq) [2017] FCA 1036: acting for a US trustee in bankruptcy in a successful application for leave to intervene, and subsequent intervention, in a privilege dispute (led by Peter Collinson QC).

Please click here to view Stephanie's List A Barristers profile.