Nick practices primarily in the areas of public & administrative law, inquiries, criminal law, and in regulatory and disciplinary matters.

Nick also accepts briefs in planning law.

Recent and ongoing matters in which Nick has acted include:

• Kelly v National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIS – for the appellant in appeal to the Federal Court – ongoing – led by David Kelsey-Sugg)
• DSC22 v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs (migration – for the appellant in appeal to the Federal Court – ongoing – unled)
• Singh v Commonwealth Ombudsman (freedom of information – for the appellant in appeal to the Federal Court against a decision of the AAT – respondent conceded prior to hearing – led by Michael Gronow KC)
• CLB18 v Minister for Home Affairs [2023] FedCFamC2G 585 (migration – for the applicant in judicial review proceeding – unled)
• DSC22 v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs [2023] FedCFamC2G 559 (migration – for the applicant in judicial review proceeding – unled)
• Kelly and National Disability Insurance Agency [2023] AATA 776 (17 April 2023) (NDIS – for the applicant in AAT review – unled)
• CVG17 v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs [2023] FedCFamC2G 128 (migration – for the applicant in judicial review proceeding – unled)
• Matanga and Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs (citizenship – for the applicant in successful AAT review – reasons delivered ex tempore – unled)
• Toma and Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs (Migration) [2023] AATA 23 (17 January 2023) (migration – for the applicant – unled)
• Rose (a pseudonym) v The Queen [2022] VSCA 112 (crime – for the appellant in appeal against sentence – led by Megan Casey)
• Beckingham v Browne [2021] VSCA 362 (crime – for the respondent in appeal on a question of law – led by Chris Young KC)
• EIB18 v Minister for Home Affairs (migration – for the applicant in judicial review proceeding – respondent conceded prior to hearing – unled)
• FYVY and Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs (Migration) [2021] AATA 1513 (27 May 2021) (migration – for the applicant in AAT review – unled)

Public & Administrative Law

Nick accepts briefs in all areas of public & administrative law and migration law. He welcomes briefs in merits review before VCAT and the AAT, including NDIS reviews.

Nick advises clients on areas including statutory interpretation, public interest disclosures, freedom of information, the use of investigative powers, the conduct of inquiries, information privacy, the disclosure of official information, and judicial review proceedings. He is regularly briefed by government agencies to provide advice.

Criminal & Regulatory Law

Nick represents both government and private clients in criminal and quasi-criminal law. He has a particular interest in regulatory and disciplinary matters, and has experience in prosecutions by regulatory agencies (such as the EPA and WorkSafe), proceeds of crime proceedings, and disciplinary inquiries (including investigations by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission). In his time at the bar, he has also conducted workplace investigations into harassment and misconduct. 

Having worked at the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC), Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and the Victorian Ombudsman’s office, Nick has particular expertise in advising on strategic and legal issues relating to commissions of inquiry and regulatory agencies. 

Background

Prior to the coming to the Bar, Nick was a Senior Lawyer at IBAC, where he advised on a range of administrative law and criminal law matters, and regularly appeared as counsel assisting in coercive examinations. He also worked as a solicitor-advocate at Victoria Legal Aid, and at ASIC and the Victorian Ombudsman's office in legal and investigative roles.

Nick holds a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) and Bachelor of Arts (Politics) from Monash University, as well as a Master of Laws from the University of Melbourne.

Nick read with Peter Matthews.