Natalie has expertise in commercial law, intellectual property law, competition and consumer law, and defamation law. She also has an interest in sports law.
Before joining the Bar, Natalie was a litigation partner of King & Wood Mallesons (2005 to 2013). She holds a Masters' degree in media and telecommunications law from the University of Melbourne. She represents plaintiffs and defendants both led and unled.
Legal publications have recognised Natalie for many years. She is listed as a leading Intellectual Property junior counsel in Australia in Doyles Guide 2023, and recommended for Technology, Media & Telecommunications in Australia as well. In Best Lawyers, Natalie is ranked in Litigation, Intellectual Property, and Alternative Dispute Resolution. The Legal 500 Asia Pacific further recognises Natalie as leading in three categories: Litigation, Intellectual Property and Competition Law (2023). She is also recommended in Who's Who Legal - Trademarks (2023).
Other positions:
Natalie 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.
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).
At the Bar, Natalie is a co-ordinator of Emmerson Chambers.
Natalie has a background in publishing (Editor of Victorian Bar News: 2017-2021) and in social media (The Social Litigator, her sports law blog project: 2014-2020).
Matters:
Set out below are examples of matters in which Natalie is or has been briefed:
Australian Competition and Consumer Corporation v Mazda Australia Pty Ltd – Federal Court of Australia, led by Nick De Young KC with Anna Garsia (Competition)
Directed Electronics OE Pty Ltd v OE Solutions – Federal Court of Australia, led by Michael Wise KC (and Colin Golvan KC at trial and on appeal) (Commercial Litigation; Intellectual Property)
Duncan v Australian Broadcasting Corporation – Federal Circuit Court of Australia (Intellectual Property)
Louder v Mauk & Anor – Federal Court of Australia, opposed to W Rothnie – copyright in sports assessment documents – settled at mediation (Intellectual Property)
Marcus Bastiaan v Nine Entertainment Co. Holdings Limited & Ors – Federal Court of Australia, led by Simon Wilson KC (Defamation)
Directed Electronics OE Pty Ltd v Isuzu Australia Limited – Federal Court of Australia, led by Michael Wise KC (Commercial Litigation)
State of Escape v Stefanie Schwartz & Anor – Federal Court of Australia, led by Bruce Caine KC (Intellectual Property)
Parchem Construction Supplies v Gately & Ors – Federal Court of Australia, opposed to I Horak (now KC) and L Merrick (now SC) – breach of contract, tort of inducing breach of contract, trade mark infringement and misleading or deceptive conduct / passing off – settled (Commercial Litigation; Intellectual Property)
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Sumo Power Pty Ltd – Federal Court of Australia, led by Fiona Forsyth KC – penalties by consent for admitted contraventions of the Australian Consumer Law) (Competition)
Emergent Solutions & Anor v Penguin Random House Australia Pty Ltd – Supreme Court of Victoria before Connock J, opposed to J Watson – Interlocutory injunction to restrain distribution of a book, "The Leading Edge" – Settled at mediation (Commercial Litigation)
Pathmanathan v Healthscope Operations Pty Ltd – Federal Court of Australia (Commercial Litigation)
Weatherbeeta Limited v Hammersmith Nominees Pty Ltd – Supreme Court of Victoria, led by Garry Fitzgerald KC (Commercial Litigation)
Access Group Australia Pty Ltd v Topper Hydraulic Platforms Pty Ltd – Supreme Court of Western Australia, led by Anthony Willinge (Commercial Litigation; Intellectual Property)
DIF III – Global Co-Investment Fund LP v Babcock & Brown International Pty Ltd – Supreme Court of NSW, led by Stephen Parmenter KC (for Spin Holdco) (Commercial Litigation)
GM Global Technology Operations LLC v SSS Auto Parts Pty Ltd – Federal Court of Australia, led by Richard Cobden SC (Intellectual Property)
REA Group trade mark oppositions concerning REALESTATE.COM.AU including: (Intellectual Property)
Vinomofo trade mark oppositions and removal applications (Intellectual Property)
Sapper v Special Broadcasting Corporation – Supreme Court of Victoria, breach of confidence and related claims – settled at mediation (Intellectual Property)
Dick Smith Investments Pty Ltd v Ramsey – Federal Court of Australia, opposed to R Cobden SC and P W Flynn (now SC) (Intellectual Property)
Comite Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne v Powell – Federal Court of Australia, with E Tadros, opposed to P Crutchfield KC and L Merrick (closing submissions) (Intellectual Property)