Alex practises primarily in commercial and regulatory law. He also practices in public law and in common law matters which are factually or legally complex.
Alex has a broad practice. He has been briefed in proceedings regarding financial services regulation, class actions, general corporate and commercial law, insolvency and bankruptcy, building and construction, administrative law, FOI, privacy, and common law.
Before coming to the Bar, Alex was a solicitor in Herbert Smith Freehills’ litigation team for over 4 years, and subsequently he was a Senior Solicitor in the Public Law & Planning Branch of the Victorian Government Solicitor’s Office.
At HSF, Alex’s work involved large, complex litigation in the Federal and Supreme Courts, including banking, tax, and insolvency disputes as well as class actions. He was also involved in investigations and corporate criminal matters, including for anti-bribery and corruption offences.
Alex holds a Master of Law from the University of Cambridge and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Adelaide, each with First Class Honours. He also holds a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in accounting, which assists him in dealing with financial evidence. Alex was associate to the Honourable Justice Vanstone in the Supreme Court of South Australia.
Alex read with Albert Dinelli KC.
Examples of some of his recent cases are:
Class Actions
Jane Jones v Waller Legal Pty Ltd S ECI 2023 04435 - Class action - Professional liability - (led by M D Rush KC) (ongoing)
Alford v AMP Superannuation Limited – VID572/2019 – Class action – Superannuation Trustee duties (led by NJ Owens SC and A Hochroth, S Chordia) (ongoing)
DBE17 v Commonwealth – VID 1392/2019 – Class action – Unlawful imprisonment (led by BW Walker SC, B Quinn KC, M Albert, and M Guo)
Endeavour River Pty Ltd v Murray Goulburn Corporation Ltd – Class action – Securities class action
Regulatory
ASIC v National Australia Bank Limited [2021] FCA 1013 – Corporations – Financial services regulation – Consumer protection – Misleading or deceptive conduct (led by P Collinson KC, C Archibald KC, and C Klemis)
ASIC - Advice regarding "greenwashing" (led by F McLeod AO SC).
General Commercial
Gasparotti v Financial Services Partners Pty Ltd (ACN 089 512 587) CI-23-05246 - Professional liability - (unled) (ongoing)
Asparq Consolidated Pty Ltd v Chameron Pty Ltd & Ors – VSC – Corporations – Oppression of minority shareholder (with A Segal)
Pre-Emptive Trading Pty Ltd ats Aura Energy Ltd – VSC– Corporations – Contract – Misleading or deceptive conduct – Oppression of minority shareholder (with D Lorbeer)
Zylux Distribution Pty Ltd v BOW France SAS [2019] VCC 1252 – Contract – Objection to jurisdiction by foreign defendant – Forum non conveniens (unled)
Property dispute – Real property (led by E Ruddell KC)
Clear Choice Nationwide Pty Ltd ats Milo Corporation Pty Ltd – Contract – Sale of business – Misleading or deceptive conduct (unled)
Ivankovic Enterprises Pty Ltd ats LS Developments Pty Ltd – Partnership – Dissolution of partnership (unled)
Kubale Constructions Pty Ltd ats Chandra – Building and construction – Domestic building (unled)
Insolvency & Bankruptcy
Xiang v Trustee in Bankruptcy – Bankruptcy – Application to set aside notice by official receiver under s 139ZQ of Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth) (unled)
Confidential construction client – Insolvency – Building and construction (unled).
Public Law
Samaras v Secretary to the Department of Justice and Community Safety - S ECI 2022 01755 – Judicial review – VSC – Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 (Vic) (unled) (resolved)
Chief Commissioner of Police v Accused - Judicial review - VSC - protocol for determination of legal professional privilege where documents seized under search warrant (led by AM Dinelli).
QEX v Department of Health (Review and Regulation) [2022] VCAT 349 – FOI – Exempt documents (unled).
Foster v Department of Health (Review and Regulation) [2021] VCAT 742 – FOI – jurisdiction of VCAT – Constitutional law – Inconsistency between Commonwealth and State law, s 109 Constitution (unled)
Pitman v WorkSafe Victoria (Review and Regulation) [2020] VCAT 487 – FOI – Exempt documents (unled)
Zeqaj v Victoria Police (Human Rights) [2019] VCAT 1641 – Privacy – Alleged breach of Information Privacy Principles (unled)
Fines Victoria ats Wol – Judicial review – Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 (Vic) (led by L Brown, Crown Counsel)
Caldwell v Towong Shire Council (Human Rights) [2019] VCAT 1560 – Human Rights – Discrimination – Summary dismissal (unled)
Jackson ats Unison (Pro bono) - Residential tenancies (unled)
Alex is often briefed to appear for the Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police, both led and unled, regarding claims for public interest immunity and the issue of subpoenas. He has appeared in such matters in the Supreme, County, and Magistrates’ Court. Examples include:
Common Law
Bird v DP (a pseudonym) [2024] HCATrans 16 - Common law - limits of vicarious liability (led by BW Walker SC, AM Dinelli SC)
Bird v DP (a pseudonym) (2023) 69 VR 408 - Common law - limits of vicarious liability (led by RN Annesley KC, AM Dinelli SC)
Stevens v DP World Melbourne - resisting application to amend on remitter from Court of Appeal (led by RN Annesley KC)
Miljon v Telstra Ltd – Common law – damage to real property (led by AM Dinelli)
Port of Portland ats Bartle – Common law – personal injury – indemnification (led by CP Young KC and AM Dinelli)