Nick primarily practises in commercial, public, environmental and tort law. He appears in these areas led and unled.
Before coming to the Bar, Nick practised in commercial and public law, including at MinterEllison, Herbert Smith Freehills, the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency and the UK Government Legal Department. He also served as an Associate (Judicial Assistant) to the Rt Hon Lord Dyson in appeals before the UK Supreme Court and Court of Appeal.
Nick is a co-author of Annotated Queensland Human Rights Act (Thomson Reuters, 2023); has published in various journals including the Cambridge Law Journal, American Journal of International Law and Deakin Law Review; and teaches Legal Research on the Melbourne Law School JD program.
He holds a PhD in Law from the University of Cambridge, where he attended as a Gates Cambridge Scholar. His thesis focused on Australian constitutional law and was examined by the Hon Robert French AC. Prior to this, Nick was awarded a Master of Laws from the LSE, where he won the prize for top student in public international law across the six law schools comprising the University of London. Nick also holds bachelor degrees in Arts and Laws (Hons) from the University of Melbourne.
Nick read with Emrys Nekvapil SC and his senior mentor is Rowena Orr KC, Solicitor-General for the State of Victoria.
Selected matters
Public (including constitutional, administrative, human rights, regulatory, inquests and inquries)
- McCabe v Westin; McCabe v Pickering [2024] VSC 145 - judicial review (led by Liam Brown SC, Crown Counsel for Victoria)
- Yoorrook Justice Commission (led by Elizabeth Bennett SC and Nick Wood SC, with Helen Tiplady and Dr Laura Hilly)
- Ross v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs (FCA; QUD 383/2023) - judicial review; migration (with Chris Fitzgerald)
- Save the Children Australia v Minister for Home Affairs [2023] FCA 1343 - habeas corpus and judicial review applications; Australian women and children detained in Syria (led by Peter Morrissey SC and Emrys Nekvapil SC, with Rachael Taylor, Katharine Brown and Jessie Smith (Bar of England and Wales)).
- Riaz v City of Greater Dandenong [2023] VSCA 190 - appeal from SCV; planning; leave to appeal refused (unled)
- DJCS v [Suppressed] (CCV; CR-21-01484) - Application for Review of Supervision Order (unled)
- DJCS v [Suppressed] (CCV; CR-23-00956) - Application for Supervision Order (led by Georgina Coghlan KC)
- Denman Aberdeen Muswellbrook Scone Healthy Environment Group v Mach Energy Australia (NSW LEC, 22/367759) – judicial review regarding consent by the NSW Independent Planning Commission to approve a coal project at Mount Pleasant (led by Naomi Sharp SC, with Lauren Sims)
- Strzelecki Community Alliance Inc v Minister for Planning [2023] VSC 132 – judicial review in relation to a wind farm (led by Susan Brennan SC)
- Brown v Corrections Victoria & Ors [2022] VSC 217 – judicial review; Charter claims; summary judgment application (unled)
- Zaric & Ors v City of Greater Dandenong [2022] VSC 680 – planning; appeal from judicial registrar; application for summary judgment (unled)
- Inquest into the death of Veronica Nelson (Coroner’s Court of Victoria, COR 2020 0021) (unled)
- Li v Chief Commissioner of Police (SCV, S ECI 2022 01786) – judicial review; Charter claims (unled)
- ZWXT v National Disability Insurance Agency (AAT; 2022/1833) - appeal; review of NDIS plan (unled)
- Letson v National Disability Insurance Agency (AAT, 2021/8329) – appeal; review of NDIS plan (unled)
- VIT v McIntyre (Victorian Institute of Teaching Panel) – disciplinary proceeding (unled)
- Knight v VIT (VCAT, Z357/2022) – appeal; disciplinary proceeding (unled)
- Bailey v State of Victoria (SCV) – acting for addressee to subpoena for production of documents (unled)
- R v Turner (MCV) – acting for the addressee to summons; public interest immunity (unled)
- Advice to statutory entity regarding obligations under legislative regime (led by Rowena Orr KC, Solicitor-General for the State of Victoria)
- Charter Assessments (unled)
Commercial (including insurance, employment and land acquisition)
- Chiodo v Silk Contract Logistics [2023] FCA 1047 - employment (led by Marc Felman KC)
- LP v IPG and anor (CCV; CI-23-00606) - contract dispute; misleading or deceptive conduct (led by Jonathon Moore KC)
- Wilkinson v Wilson Security (FCA; WAD 138/2021) - employment (led by Marc Felman KC)
- Princess Theatre v Ansvar Insurance (SCV, S ECI 2021 03192) – insurance; business interruption in context of Covid-19 (led by Jeff Gleeson KC)
- Head, Transport for Victoria v Lantrak Developments (SCV, S ECI 2019 01454) – land acquisition compensation claim (led by David Batt KC)
- Alhaj v QBE (SCV, S ECI 2021 00341) – insurance (led by Claire Harris KC)
- Kostandinov v Head, Transport of Victoria (VCAT, P1041/2021) – land acquisition compensation claim (led by Paul Connor KC)
- Acting for a government entity in relation to a contractual dispute in a determination by an expert (led by Frances Gordon SC)
Environmental
Tort
- Manyiel v State of Victoria (CCV; CI-23-01331) - battery, false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, Charter (unled)
- Brown v State of Victoria, Martin Pakula, Lisa Neville; Koromilas v State of Victoria (CCV; 7 proceedings) - false impirsonment, battery, assault malicious prosecution (unled)
- Brown v State of Victoria [2023] VCC 1282 - false imprisonment; summary judgment (unled)
- Bush v State of Victoria - (SCV; S ECI 2023 02134) - malicious prosecution; misfeasance in public office (unled)
- Corbett v Northern Territory of Australia (NT Local Court, 21925654) – false imprisonment, battery (unled)
- Milovanovic v State of Victoria (CCV; CI-22-04453) – battery (unled)
- Abdulrahim v Adult Parole Board of Victoria [2023] VSC 101 - false imprisonment; interlocutory application for trial of preliminary question (unled)
- Minister for the Environment v Sharma [2022] FCAFC 35 – see above, under "Environmental"
- Senia v Brebner (MCV; M10655827) – defamation (unled)
- Various intentional tort claims for clients of the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (unled)