Best Lawyers in Australia for Litigation

Ali Erskine is a Principal at Harwood Andrews and heads the Dispute Resolution and Litigation team. Ali has more than 15 years post qualification experience. Ali joined Harwood Andrews with significant experience in all areas of commercial dispute resolution and regularly advises business clients to resolve disputes and manage risk. Ali is a specialist in relation to terminal and non-terminal insolvency, securities, and security enforcement. Ali also has significant experience relating to sha...

Alex King is a disputes, litigation and insolvency lawyer. He has a broad client base, which includes private clients, family-based businesses, publicly listed companies, large institutions and government bodies, in Australia and overseas. Alex recognises that his clients’ commercial imperatives are often unsuited to the costs and inconvenience of full-scale litigation and works with them to explore ways in which a dispute or litigation might be resolved quickly and commercially. Howeve...

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

Michael has 20 years’ experience in construction law and litigation obtained at firms in Australia, London, and in-house at some of Australia’s leading contractors. Michael’s advice is clear, pragmatic and considered. His comprehensive understanding of how major contractors operate, based on his own experience, gives him an appreciation of how legal and commercial risks fit within the bigger picture. He has also been involved in many high profile and complex construction dis...

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.

Hector West is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Alternative Dispute Resolution, Insolvency and Reorganization Law and Litigation. Hector, who practices law in Perth, Australia, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Hector is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Nick acts for insolvency practitioners, major Australian and international banks, non-bank lenders, publicly listed companies and financial services providers. He is appointed by the Victorian Legal Services Board to manage legal practices in financial or operational difficulty. He is based in Melbourne. Nick advises across all aspects of corporate insolvency including receivership, voluntary administration and liquidation, and personal insolvency. He also acts for a range of parties involved...

Sean has practised in insurance litigation since 1992, acting on behalf of defendant insurers and self insured across the CTP, workers' compensation and public liability regimes. This has included providing advices on the interpretation of legislation and policy submissions on the strategic operation of schemes. Sean has also advised employers in respect of reviews of decisions by the Workers’ Compensation Regulator, and conducting and defending appeals challenging decisions under the Q...

David Thomas SC appears across Australia in a broad range of commercial and civil matters. He has a particular interest in class actions, regulatory, revenue and constitutional law. David appears at both trial and on appeal, including in the High Court. Commercial and corporate law : Recent clients include HSBC on appeal in the Dick Smith litigation, IAL in the Greensill disputes, Channel Seven in claims against Cricket Australia, the Rinehart children in litigation against Gina Rinehart, NAB...

Ben acts for clients across a diverse range of industries including mining, technology, medical and life sciences, building and construction, automotive, retail, food, and secondary and higher education. Ben also acts and has acted for major franchisors including G.J. Gardner, Lenard’s, Ray White Real Estate, Hog’s Breath Café, Domino’s Pizza and Refund Home Loans. He is based in Brisbane and advises national and international clients across the Federal Court of Austr...

Symoane Mercurio is a Director within Cowell Clarke’s Dispute Resolution team which incorporates Insolvency and Turnaround. Symoane Mercurio adopts a commercial and pragmatic approach on all matters to ensure she provides clear, practical and strategic advice to enable her client’s to meet their legal and commercial objectives. Her expertise has been recognised by her inclusion in Best Lawyers in Australia since 2021 for Alternative Dispute Resolution and Litigation Law. Symoane b...

Peter Leech is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Insolvency and Reorganization Law and Litigation. Peter, who practices law in Adelaide, Australia, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Peter is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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.

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

Graydon leads the Hall & Wilcox Litigation and dispute resolution team. He acts on behalf of a number of national and overseas clients on large and complex commercial litigation matters and advises on all aspects of dispute resolution. He has particular expertise in contract disputes, negligence cases, regulatory matters including ASIC and ACCC investigations, coronial inquests and commissions, and product liability. He has advised clients in both the private and public sector. Clients ap...

https://www.thelawyermag.com/au/news/general/laugh-every-day-says-mills-oakley-partner/228601 Bernice has a broad-ranging commercial-disputes practice, but her specialities are insolvency and debt recovery, shareholder disputes, and building and construction disputes. She is sought out for her sound technical advice, along with her straight-talking and commercially pragmatic approach to protecting the interests of her clients. Bernice has been described as 'formidable and practical', 'a brigh...