Best Lawyers in Australia for Litigation

Melanie acts for Commonwealth government agencies, statutory entities and corporate clients. Melanie's clients operate across the full spectrum of Commonwealth activity. Her clients include Comcover, ATO and Departments including Finance, Defence, Home Affairs, Industry, Attorney-General's and Agriculture. Melanie joined Thomsons in July 2025 as part of the transition of the one of Australia’s premier Commonwealth government practices. Melanie’s practice spans litigation, dispute ...

Stephen acts for a broad range of commercial clients including ASX-listed entities, high net worth individuals, not-for-profit groups and professional services firms. He is based in Perth and advises clients in Western Australia and nationally, with experience in domestic and international matters. Stephen acts in complex corporate and commercial litigation in the superior courts, appearing as counsel for clients across a wide range of contentious matters. His practice spans major fraud inves...

Michael’s practice focuses on tax disputes, capital gains tax, business sales and acquisitions and restructuring. He also acts in matters that deal with domestic income tax, tax compliance, tax training tax due diligence.

Alicia is a Principal in the Dispute Resolution & Litigation Team. She is an Accredited Specialist in Commercial Litigation in Queensland and Victoria, a Nationally Accredited Mediator, graded arbitrator and has over 18 years’ experience as a lawyer. Alicia assists clients to understand the implications of the matter in which they are involved, the options available to them for resolution and works to achieve cost effective outcomes. She has acted for ASX listed companies, large pro...

Amanda Brady is an Associate Director in Cowell Clarke’s Dispute Resolution team and has been practising in this area since 2010. Amanda has many years’ experience in the resolution of general commercial and contractual disputes, building and construction disputes, and several insolvency, private client and estate disputes. Amanda has been involved in both small and large scale litigious matters. Her clients include individuals, small businesses, large commercial and construction ...

Lu is a pragmatic disputes and business lawyer who has built a practice helping people solve contractual and property disputes, shareholders disputes, building disputes and other commercial disputes. She also assists clients with debt recovery and insolvency. She is known for putting her clients’ goals and needs at the forefront of all work - and advising from a commercial perspective if they should be proposing a settlement or choosing to proceed with litigation. In any event she will ...

Since coming to the Bar Eliza has practiced in general commercial law, including employment and industrial disputes in both State and Federal jurisdictions, taxation proceedings in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, and in administrative and other public law matters. Eliza also acts regularly for both the Victorian WorkCover Authority and corporate defendants in occupational, health and safety prosecutions, and has appeared in pleas, committals and trials. Click here to view Eli...

Ben Cohen is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Alternative Dispute Resolution, Ethics and Professional Responsibility Practice, Legal Malpractice Litigation, Litigation and Professional Malpractice Litigation. Ben, who practices law in Brisbane, Australia, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Ben is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice...

Michael Astill is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Construction / Infrastructure Law, Government Practice, Litigation, Planning and Environmental Law and Real Property Law. Michael, who practices law in Sydney, Australia, has been recognized since 2008. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Michael is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Megan Scott is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation. Megan, who practices law in Sydney, Australia, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Megan is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Mark Farquhar is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation. Mark, who practices law in Melbourne, Australia, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Mark is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Richard Cowen is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Insolvency and Reorganization Law and Litigation. Richard, who practices law in Brisbane, Australia, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Richard is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Ralphed is a leading senior junior in commercial litigation at the New South Wales Bar. His expertise includes building and construction, corporations, competition and consumer, environment and planning, equity and trusts, insolvency and real property. Ralphed has been recognized by Best Lawyers since 2022 and most recently in the practice area(s) of Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Insurance Law and Litigation. He is a member of University Chambers, a premier floor of barristers who specia...

Katherine Czoch is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Information Technology Law, Insurance Law, Litigation and Professional Malpractice Litigation. Katherine, who practices law in Sydney, Australia, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Katherine is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Richard Leahy is the Legal Practitioner Director of Cochrane Leahy Litigation. Richard was a partner in an award winning, national firm, practising in commercial and insurance litigation. Identifying a gap in the Queensland legal market, he has now created his own boutique commercial litigation firm, with an emphasis on expert but commercially pragmatic service for businesses and individuals.

Penny is a commercial disputes lawyer with more than 20 years’ experience managing high value and complex claims and disputes for a wide range of commercial and government clients.Penny has a particular focus on construction, resources and energy and oil and gas disputes. Penny has successfully advised both principals and contractors in relation to the management and resolution of major disputes including through structured negotiation, mediation, adjudication, contested superior court ...